Spoilers Shannara revisisted

[Procutus]

About a week ago, I discovered a new novel by Terry Brooks in his ongoing Shannara series - Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara. As it's been seven years since I had read anything of Shannara, I decided to check it out of our library to have a look.

In the Shannara timeline, this novel takes place about 500 years after the Legends of Shannara duology and 500 years before the events of First King of Shannara and the Second War of the Races. Galaphile is the elf who established the first Druid Council and has been mentioned in previous novels.

Although I'm only seven chapters in, I'm finding it to be an enjoyable read. One of the things that drew me to it is when it takes place in Brooks' fictional future history and the fact that it continues to fill in the gaps between our modern world and how it eventually morphs into the Four Lands. The indications are that this is the first novel in what is likely to be another trilogy.

If you're a fan of the Shannara saga, I think that like me, you'll find it worth your time.

 

[Procutus]

A few more thoughts, having now finished it.

It was only after I had started reading it that I found out that Brooks had announced his retirement from writing in March, right around the time of the book's publication - and that he is leaving the legacy of continuing the Shannara novels to another fantasy writer, Delilah Dawson (who work I'm not familiar with).

This led me to wonder as I continued reading just how much of this one TB had written himself, of if Dawson was already involved. All in all, I have to see that it still felt like Brooks' writing at this point. I'm guessing that the second volume of this trilogy will be presented in much the same way as Clive Cussler's series are now - with Brooks' name in big letters, and with Dawson's at the bottom. The implication of what I read about their partnership is that TB intends to be something of a consultant, even though he's handed of the brunt of the writing to Dawson.

All in all I enjoyed it, though I was hoping for a bit more connective tissue to the duology that preceded it, such as an explanation of where the 'Valley' in that story was, in relation to other areas of the Four Lands.

But the thing I liked most was the foreshadowing the end, hinting at the origins of Brona, the Warlock Lord from the first novel in the series. Like me if you're a fan of Shannara, you'll appreciate the groundwork laid by this one.

 

[Helix98]

Procutus - I came upon your post because after plunging into Galaphile I realized something was different. A lightbulb went off as I read your comments about Delilah Dawson having future writing duties for Terry's epic series. Perhaps Mr Brooks has dropped off, perhaps she has participated significantly, who can know, but Galaphile isn't like the others even if the themes are there...Evien Cogline was off...still enjoying it but agree with your assessment. Cheers!

 

[Procutus]

Greetings, Helix98! It's always nice to meet a fellow Shannara fan. I agree totally, a lot seemed different to me, and not just because it was set several generations before the events of either First King or Sword of Shannara. I do think that Dawson may have had a hand with the actual writing and I say this based on how different the NUMA series has been since the passing of Clive Cussler and the series is now being written by Graham Brown. Still a good read, but not Cussler's writing. So I'll be curious to see how the second novel in this new trilogy reads when it comes out - and how much of Brooks' hand is really in it.

Thanks for responding - I look forward to your future thoughts on the series.

 

[Helix98]

Thanks for sharing. When I'm finished I'll come back. I'm not disappointed, just rolling with it. Cheers!

 

[Procutus]

The final page is a bit of a kicker. I'll say no more.