The Sword of Shannara

Rating:
Summary: BORING!
Review: Good gravy, there could not be a more boring fantasy novel. It was extremely difficult to read just a few pages of this perticularly monotonous book. This thing gave me the impression that all fantasy novels were this way. I give it three stars for originality...because that's all there is in it. Nothing more. I enjoyed Brooks's Star Wars adaptation so I decided to start on this. I swear, I haven't the foggiest why I didn't fall asleep while reading this.

Rating:
Summary: Tolkien would be proud
Review: Easily the best in the "Shannara" series, this book is a must-read for any fantasy fan. Yes, I will admit that this book takes its premise directly from "The Lord Of The Rings." However, judging the story itself, this book is spellbinding. While not nearly as deep as the ones in George R.R. Martin's "A Song Of Ice And Fire" series, the characters are memorable and charismatic nonetheless. There is plenty of action, and the some more suspenseful scenes are absolutely captivating. Contrary to the opinions of many, I think that the large number of pages (somewhere around 700) really adds to the epic scale of the plot. Unless you are such a die-hard Tolkien fan that you would rather spend your money on a Big Mac than read a fantasy novel modeled after LOTR, buy this modern fantasy classic now.

Rating:
Summary: Tolkien ripoff?
Review: I've read the majority of the criticism of this book and its companion novels and see the recurring complaints of the books being "Tolkien ripoffs." It seems to me that these critics must feel that tolkien copyrighted the fantasy "quest to destroy evil" theme. They seem to have had their minds set before even opening the book. Although the novel bears obvious similairities, (as any such novel would with this theme) it is far from being a Tolkien ripoff. That is not to say that I don't like the writings of J.R.R Tolkien myself, but the whining about plaguresm and such has to stop. The novel may have its inadequicies, but they do not stem from unorigionality, reguardless of what the few bitter critics who can't stop jocking Tolkien will tell you. What you will find is an imaginative new world and a quest for an artifact to destroy evil. If you enjoy the fantasy genre, this novel contains entertaining characters and a good amount of suspense. However, if you are a huge Tolkien fan and refuse to give the book a chance or are reading it to prove me or some other fan wrong, spare us your misery and go read The Lord of the Rings again. =(

Rating:
Summary: A++
Review: The Sword of Shannara completely turned me on to the wonderful world of fantasy. It is possibly the greatest fantasy work ever written. With masterfully developed characters and an exciting plot, you won't be able to put this book down. Even though it's a hefty book by some standards, it'll be a breeze of a read. If you are a fantasy enthusiast or if you want to try fantasy, get this book. Then get everything else written by Terry Brooks. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: I'm pretty sure this is the shortest amount of time it has ever taken me to read such a long book. It went so fast I didn't even notice how how many pages there were. I had trouble putting it down. It was just an overall outstanding book!

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable tolkienesque story
Review: Well, its not quite 'The Lord of the Rings', and despite the obvious influence of Tolkien, to the point where some points of the plot seem almost directly ripped off from Tolkien's classic, this book does eventually stand on its own merits as a very enjoyable and engrossing read. Some gripes- despite its seven hundred-odd pages, the characters don't quite all seem fully revealed to the reader by the end, and the end itself comes rather abruptly and could possibly have explained a little more about the fates of the various lines of the story. However, I have to admit that I enjoyed the book more and more as it progressed, and by the latter stages was getting quite desperate to know what happened next. Certainly this book is worth a look for anybody who has enjoyed 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' and while it doesn't quite seem as real, or measure up to their standard, it is still a good story and the best fantasy novel I have read outside of Professor Tolkien's genre-defining works.

Rating:
Summary: Great job!
Review: This is a wonderful book! It is filled with action and adventure that won't let you put it down. Terry Brooks has an amazing way of letting you get to know the backround of the races in little bits and pieces that keeps you guessing until the end, and thinking about it for months afterward. It has been a year since I read this book, and I'm still pondering over it. This is the start of a great series, and I highly recomend it to anyone of any age.

Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC!
Review: The Sword of Shannara was the first fantasy book that I read. I was 13 at the time, and I enjoyed it immensly. Just resently, I re-read it, and the magic that was present during the fisrt reading was not gone. Terry Brooks is one of the best author out there. I have read all of his books (minus Hook and The Phantom Menace), and each of them is creative and unique. He allows the reader to be drawn into the plot, and to take part in the adventures of the characters. I reccomend this book to anyone who loves a good novel. You will love it!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books ever
Review: Whatzup ? Read the damn book. Thats it. It was amazing. The charectors jumped out at u and u felt that u were really there. Just buy it and read it now. Dont hesitate.

Rating:
Summary: Rip-Off? I don't think so
Review: Alright, mabye Brooks took some elements from the Lord of the Rings and used them in his book, but there is not a modern fantasy author out there who hasn't. After all, Tolkien was the father of fantasy, so how could someone write a fantasy book without copying elements from his book?

I have read the Lord of the Rings Three times, and the Sword of Shannara three times. I love both books, and I do not think that one is copied purely from the other.