Like Dune and Pern, readers can’t get enough of Shannara and the authors or their descendants keep cranking out the novels. In May, Terry Brooks finished The Defenders of Shannara trilogy with The Sorcerer’s Daughter, which is chronologically the most recent story in both the publishing and fictional history of the series. There also several short stories, a graphic novel, and a computer game. And of course, the TV series. Note: Brooks recommends reading the series in publishing order rather than fictional order.
The Sorcerer’s Daughter:
The mysterious, magic-wielding Druid order has existed for long ages, battling any evil that threatens the Four Lands — and struggling to be understood and accepted by outsiders. But their hopes of building goodwill are dashed when a demon’s murderous rampage at a peace summit leaves their political opponents dead — casting new suspicions upon the Druids and forcing them to flee from enemies both mortal and monstrous.
Paxon Leah, the order’s appointed protector, knows that blame lies with Arcannen Rai, the vile sorcerer he has battled and defeated before. But there’s no time to hunt his nemesis if he is to lead the wrongfully accused Druids to their sanctuary. It is a quest fraught with danger, as a furious government agent and his army snap at their heels, and lethal predators stalk them in the depths of the untamed wilderness.
But Arcannen is playing a deeper game than Paxon realizes. Paxon’s sister possesses a powerful magic that the sorcerer longs to control — but Arcannen has not reckoned with the determination of his own estranged daughter, Leofur, who is also Paxon’s devoted lifemate. Leofur sets out on a perilous quest to thwart her father’s desires — while the vengeful Arcannen conjures his blackest magical skills, determined to destroy them all . . . and claim the most powerful of magics for his own.
FICTIONAL CHRONOLOGY:
Word & Void
Genesis
Legends
First King
Sword
Heritage
Voyage
High Druid
Dark Legacy
Defenders
PUBLISHING CHRONOLOGY:
ORIGINAL SHANNARA TRILOGY
The Sword of Shannara (1977)
The Elfstones of Shannara (1982)
The Wishsong of Shannara (1985)
HERITAGE OF SHANNARA
The Scions of Shannara (1990)
The Druid of Shannara (1991)
The Elf Queen of Shannara (1992)
The Talismans of Shannara (1993)
FIRST KING OF SHANNARA
First King of Shannara (1996)
WORD & VOID
Running with the Demon (1997)
A Knight of the Word (1998)
Angel Fire East (1999)
THE VOYAGE OF JERLE SHANNARA
Ilse Witch (2000)
Antrax (2001)
Morgawr (2002)
HIGH DRUID OF SHANNARA
Jarka Ruus (2003)
Tanequil (2004)
Straken (2005)
THE GENESIS OF SHANNARA
Armageddon’s Children (August, 2006)
The Elves of Cintra (August 28, 2007)
The Gypsy Morph (August 26, 2008)
LEGENDS OF SHANNARA
Bearers of the Black Staff (August 2010)
The Measure of the Magic (August 2011)
THE DARK LEGACY OF SHANNARA:
Wards of Faerie (August 2012)
Bloodfire Quest (March 2013)
Witch Wraith (July 2013)
THE DEFENDERS OF SHANNARA
The High Druid’s Blade (July 8, 2014)
The Darkling Child (June 9, 2015)
The Sorcerer’s Daughter (May 24, 2016)
