[Soma]

Originally Posted by RedOne

Actually, not so much ripped off of LotR as the Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan, apparently.

EDIT: And just noticed someone else also made the connection. Though the Wheel of Time books appeared on the scene first, I think.

Actually, Sword of Shannara came out in the late 70's. The series has been ongoing since that time. Wheel of Time started in the 90's.

[RedOne]

Come to think of it - is the Sword of Shannara part of the Sword of Truth, or separate works? From what I understand, WoT was similar to SoT, and vice versa. Not sure if it's the same as Shannara?

[YeahBee]

Originally Posted by Ian Coe

Thats true, I hadn't thought about that.

The narrator makes or breaks a audio book.

How long owuld you say the wheel of time takes to read. It seems like a lot of hours worth.


Is it a entertaining story as well?

best fantasy ever, goes fly's by when you are reading them, if you read slowly one book a week, like a chapter or two before bed

it is really awesome thou

Also KAterine kerr and the Deverry series is cool, more adult then Shannara IIRC, I don't think I finished the Shannara series

[2short]

Originally Posted by RedOne

Come to think of it - is the Sword of Shannara part of the Sword of Truth, or separate works? From what I understand, WoT was similar to SoT, and vice versa. Not sure if it's the same as Shannara?

Sword of Truth is by Terry Goodkind. It appears he lifted some ideas from Wheel of Time which came first and was written by Rober Jordan before he passed away. The final volume is being ghost written by someone else.

Shannara does not share the similarities other than the whole "hero cycle" storyline.

[kartaron]

I wanted to get into Shannara but everything about the first book was too generic and simple to be interesting.

[AdamL]

Better than Brook's stuff is the Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist, if you want something that's a good read that goes by fast. A hell of a lot more original than the Shannara series, too. Basically follows a kid named Pug as he starts off stumbling upon his latent powers as a magician in a sword & sorcery fantasy setting.

[Saith]

Originally Posted by Big Nic

I'm a big fan. Slightly formulaic, but good reads nonetheless. My favorite series was the scions of Shannara, and the best book of the series was "The Druid of Shannara"

Very dark book.

The Magic Kingdom For Sale series was also good. Much lighter in tone, without being too whimsical. All of his books would make great movies.

Not true. I am a fan of his earlier works but his latest Word/Void series sucks major balls. I couldn't finish the second book and the first was painfully slow.

[2short]

Originally Posted by AdamL

Better than Brook's stuff is the Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist, if you want something that's a good read that goes by fast. A hell of a lot more original than the Shannara series, too. Basically follows a kid named Pug as he starts off stumbling upon his latent powers as a magician in a sword & sorcery fantasy setting.

Riftwar, like Shannara and Rings, all have the same basic story arc. A nobody gets thrown into huge situation that is critical to the survival of everyone and triumphs. Pug = Shea or Wil Ohmsford.

With that said, the Riftwar series is great and should be a must read. Feist like Brooks starts to fail with some later books such The Riftwar Legacy Tilogy. Those three books were unreadable. Conclave of Shadows, Exile Returns was bad as well. The latest trilogy is also subpar.

[2short]

Originally Posted by Saith

Not true. I am a fan of his earlier works but his latest Word/Void series sucks major balls. I couldn't finish the second book and the first was painfully slow.

I thought the first book (Armageddon's Children) in the new series (Genesis of Shannara) was excellent, but the second book (Elves of Cintra) was very hard to get through.

[AznTrojan]

i used to read robert jordan's stuff in high school.. unfortunately... i don't have the time or inclinination to re-read all the books to catch-up to his newest editions..

great reading though.. better than brooks.. and i read all his stuff