joecooper's Full Review: Terry Brooks - The Secret of the Sword: The Secret...
The Sword of Shannara is one of famous author Terry Brooks' earlier efforts at the writing game, and it shows. With a plot and a cast of characters with a tremendous amount of potential, The Sword of Shannara falls well short of what it could have been.
The storyline goes like this. Flick Ohmsford and his adopted brother Shea live in the quaint and painfully quiet village of Shady Vale. They live a quite existence helping their father run the local inn until a mysterious stranger enters their lives and changes their world forever. So far so good. It's a similar start to some of the great fantasy novels.
Shea, not being a blood Ohmsford, is actually half elf and half human. The mysterious stranger relays an incredulous story to Shea and his brother. Shea is the blood descendent of a great Elven king, and the survival of the peace-loving peoples of the world depends on Shea locating and wielding a magical sword. The Sword of Shannara. Thus begins a long and arduous quest to find the mythical sword and stave off the dark forces of the Warlock Lord who threatens the very survival of mankind.
From the plot synopsis above, it all sounds very promising. A standard fantasy genre premise and an epic stage for it to be acted out. Unfortunately, Brooks falls short in many areas.
I like to think that I'm a fantasy genre afficianado. I've read just about everything in this field. Literally hundred of novels. Unfortunately, I must say that The Sword of Shannara is a terrible disappointment.
The characters are all stereotypes. The dwarfs are ALL solid, hard-working, and dependable. The elves are ALL noble, wise, and misunderstood. The gnomes are ALL cunning and malicious. The list goes on. The characters are not individuals and therefore their actions are predictable based on their stereotypes. Brooks has failed dismally with his character formulation. Even the main characters are shallow beyond belief. Flick Ohmsford is the loyal and dependable brother and this is repeated annoyingly time and time again by Brooks. It's as if his every waking thought is about how he can be a better brother to Shea. He has no aspirations of his own. He's not even remotely close to being a believable character.
One of things I love about the fantasy genre is the ability of many authors to paint a picture of a fascinating and colourful world in which their story takes place. Terry Brooks paints a very shallow and lifeless picture. For example, the characters venture from one end of a continent to the other chasing the much wanted sword. During this quest, only about 20 character are encountered. That's it! It's like they operate on a deserted planet. However, Brooks is forever reminding the reader that future of the world's masses depends on the heroes locating the mythical sword. What masses?
There's one particular scene that illustrates where Brooks falls short in his skill as a storyteller. The questing heros have to cross an abyss via a single rope strung across the chasm. Brooks writes that it's hundreds upon hundreds of feet down. A slip is certain death. The heroes make their way across the divide by hanging off the rope and moving hand over hand. Brooks makes not a single reference to the fear involved with accomplishing such a feat. It's made to look perfunctory! Even an expert climber would have concerns in such a situation. Brooks' village boys don't give it a second thought.
The Sword of Shannara is disappointing. It has the depth of a children's book, but it's over 700 pages long. I was lead to believe that Terry Brooks was up their with the leading fantasy authors such as Robert Jordan, Raymond E. Feist, David Eddings etc. Brooks couldn't proof read for those guys!
If you're into fantasy, you'll be frustrated by the blandness of Brooks. I'm quite amazed that it's sold so well. I really am. I'd avoid this one if I was you. There's far better material out there! I'll endeavour to write some reviews on some of my favourites soon. In the meantime, do yourself a favour and stay clear of Brooks' drivel.
Fantasy - General Fiction - The Sword of Shannara is Book One of the beloved New York Times bestselling fantasy saga of the same name. The Sword of Sh...More at Barnes and Noble
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