Shannara Books In Order

Publication Order of Original Shannara Books

Chronological Order of Original Shannara Books

Publication Order of Heritage Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Word & Void Books

Publication Order of Voyage Of The Jerl Shannara Books

Publication Order of High Druid Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Genesis Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Legends Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Dark Legacy Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Paladins Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Defenders Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Fall Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Shannara Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Shannara Companion Books

Shannara refers to a series of books by author Terry Brooks. The long running high fantasy series began in 1977 with the release of The Sword of Shannara. The series featured many novels and sub-series over the years before finally finishing up in 2020 with The Last Druid, the final book in the Fall of Shannara sub-series. The series is known for its blend of magic and technology as well as its setting, the Four Lands.

The books are written by fantasy writer Terry Brooks who is considered by many to be one of the greatest fantasy authors of all time. Brooks grew up in Illinois before heading off to Hamilton College where he would study English literature, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1966. He would then go on to Washington and Lee University where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. Brooks would work as an attorney before becoming a full-time writer.

Terry was a writer since high school after having been inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and William Faulkner’s style of writing. His very first book was published in 1977, The Sword of Shannara. That book was the first in the series and his next two books were sequels to that book. He would then write another series, not related to Shannara, before returning to the world of Shannarra. All in all, Brooks wrote 42 distinct works (novels, short stories, and graphic novels) in the Shannarra series.

The world of Shannara was adapted into a television series in 2016 for MTV. The show was known as The Shannara Chronicles and was crated by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The first season of the show is based on the storylines from The Elfstones of Shannara and is set in the Four Lands. However, there are changes from the original source material. The first season aired on MTV and the second season aired on Spike TV. The series was not renewed for a third season. The series earned mixed reviews in its time on air, but it was nominated for a Saturn Award for “Best Fantasy TV Series” for the 2015–2016 season.

The Sword of Shannara is the book that started it all and the recommended first book to read in the series. A long time ago, the world was ruined by the wars of the ancient Evil. Now, in the peaceful area of Shady Vale, the half-elfin Shea doesn’t know anything about this and is living a peaceful, happy life. What they don’t know is the Warlock Lord who everyone thought was dead is making plans to destroy everything in his wake. The only weapon that can fight the Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara. However, the Sword can only be wielded by a true heir of Shannara. That means Shea who is the last of the bloodline who now has the hope of all the races on their shoulders.

The Word and the Void series is the first series in the actual chronological order of the series. The first book in this sub-series is Running With the Demon. The story takes place in the small mill town of Hopewell, Illinois. What the residents here don’t know is that in Sinissippi Park there has long been hidden a mysterious and powerful evil that was locked away from humankind by powers greater than the locals could imagine. Now, the malevolent creatures who are normally in the shadows are growing bolder. John Ross is drawn to Hopewell. Ross is a Knight of the World who has been plagued by nightmares that something evil is coming to unleash a horror upon the world. Between the Knight and the Evil is Nest Freemark, a fourteen-year-old girl who knows that something is wrong, but has no idea how to wield the incredible power that she holds. The future of humanity will depend on Hope and Nest coming together to stop this ancient Evil.

Another sub-series in the Shannara series is the Genesis of Shannara. The first book in this series is Armageddon’s Children. The story takes place in our world’s near future when civilization has fallen and the world is chaos. Logan Tom navigates the land that was once the United States, guided by a powerful talisman. His mission is to seek out a remarkable being of magic to lead in the fight against the darkness. Along the way, Logan will build a team as he meets Angel Perez and a makeshift family of refugees forced to survive among street gangs, mutants, and marauders. The allies will be drawn together by a common purpose to take back the world from the darkness.

Bearers of the Black Staff is the first book in the Shannara sub-series, Legends of Shannara. This story takes place five hundred years after the demon-led war that tore the United States apart. The ones who were able to escape the carnage headed to a sanctuary in a valley, protected by powerful magic. Over the years, the protective magic has vanished and there are predators beginning to stalk the valley. Sider Ament is the last of the Knights of the Word and he fears the worst. Two members of the community are found dead and now they are all vulnerable. Ament will team up with two young trackers and an Elf princess to defend their home.

The long-running series came to an end with The Fall of Shannara. The first book of the final four-part conclusion to the series is The Black Elfstone. The Four Lands have been living in a time of peace for generations, but now that peace is threatened. In the far north there is an enemy gaining strength. The enemy’s attackers are wielding a strange and wondrous power — a breed of magic unfamiliar even to the Druid order. The High Druid fears the worst and dispatches a party to confront the mysterious force.