Sword Of Shannara

Terry Brooks is one of the most popular fantasy authors. He’s been writing fantasy for decades and is a household name. His books are pretty simplistic -- boy finds special talisman, sword, item and fights against some impossible evil. While the books are not original, they can be entertaining for some who like that sort of tale. If you are looking for a simplistic fantasy tales without all the dark, gritty complexities of more "modern" fantasy as penned by the likes of George Martin, Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie, then you may enjoy the Sword of Shannara series. You could literally fill a wheelbarrow a couple of times with the number of books Brooks has written over the past twenty years. I suggest you read his Shannara trilogy first -- they are what launched his career as a fantasy writer. The books that follow are mediocre (but you may find them interesting). However, Brooks’ newest series Genesis of Shannara has been his best work in a long time, so read it if you like Brooks' style. It’s a tie together of his Word and Void series. I personally find Brooks is best when he does not write standard Tolkienesque fantasy. His best work by far is his Word and the Void series -- a sort of urban horror fantasy in the vein of Steven King’s The Stand. Not as good by far, but not that bad either.