The name Terry Brooks invariably makes us think of the Shannara Chronicles, which has been recently turned into a popular TV series as well. However, reading the Terry Brooks books in order means also tapping into the author’s other magical series and books, including the Magic Kingdom of Landover, and the World and the Void series.
Here are the Terry Brooks books in order for his fantasy novels, including the original Shannara Chronicles and the new related and unrelated series as well.
The Shannara Chronicles will be listed by series in the reading order that Terry Brooks recommends for new readers of the series, with the publication order listed at the end of each book. If you are new to Terry Brooks Shannara, this is where you start.
Alternatively, you can also check out the Shannara Timeline for the proper chronological Shannara books order.
Part of the Shannara Chronicles
In the Terry Brooks books, the Shannara timeline that outlines the major events that took place in the world are listed below. If you want to read the Shannara books in order of the proper timeline and chronology, this is the list to follow.
It all starts with the Word & Void books, as they are the precursor of the apocalypse that ended with the world as see in the Four Lands, which is the home to the four different groups of people.
Word & Void
Genesis of Shannara
Legends of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara
The Heritage of Shannara
Voyage of the Jerle Shannara
High Druid of Shannara
The Dark Legacy of Shannara
The Defenders of Shannara
The Fall of Shannara
Not Part of Shannara Chronicles
Terry Brooks was born in Sterling, Illinois in 1944 and he lived there for many years. He started writing fiction novels from the time he was in high school.
He attended Hamilton College, where he got his B.A. in English literature in 1966. Next, he went to the Washington and Lee University, where he got his law J.D. degree.
While in college, he got to read a Tolkien novel, and this is the genre he started writing since then as well. After all that writing for himself, he published his debut novel, The Sword of Shannara, in 1977. He wrote the next two sequels to Shanara, which together would become known as the original Shannara series, following which he started a new series, unrelated to Shannara, called Landover.
Over the years, he alternated between writing Shannara stories and Landover books.
The World and Void series, while it is considered urban fantasy, is, in fact, the ultimate prequel to the Shannara Chronicles. However, it does not actually include any characters from Shannara.
The Shannara series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world of our own called The Four Lands. Our Earth has been destroyed in a chemical and nuclear holocaust called The Great Wars, so the futuristic world Shannara is set in is very different from our own. In this world, magic and primitive technology are available and used by the people. The world is populated by elves, druids, and humans alike.
The Shannara Chronicles DVD (Shanara Chronicles), 2016
The Shannara Chronicles have been made into an MTV television series with the name Shannara Chronicles, starting in 2016. The show is an adaptation of The Elfstones of Shannara, the second Shannara book, since it included several strong female characters which were not present the author’s debut novel.
In addition, the first book had no love story, which is a recipe for losing all the female viewers of the TV show.
The second season of the TV series started airing in 2017 and is not based on any specific Terry Brooks book. While season one was produced by MTV, season two went to Spike.
The latest series, The Fall of Shannara, which will include four Terry Brooks books, will effectively end the Shannara Chronicles for good, much to the disappointment of the author’s readers. Terry Brooks mentioned in an interview that “The reason I’m writing the end is because I don’t want someone else to.”
Without sounding too morbid, it also means that now the author Terry Brooks can finally start on his long promise of writing the story’s past since the story’s future is already done.
Currently, Terry Brooks lives in NW Oregon with his wife.
Terry’s place is at the head of the fantasy world (Philip Pullman)
I can’t even begin to count how many of Terry Brooks’s books I’ve read (and re-read) over the years (Patrick Rothfuss)
The Sword of Shannara is an unforgettable and wildly entertaining epic, animated by Terry Brooks’s cosmically generative imagination and storytelling joy. (Karen Russell)
If Tolkien is the grandfather of modern fantasy, Terry Brooks is its favorite uncle. (Peter V. Brett)
If you haven’t read Terry Brooks, you haven’t read fantasy (Christopher Paolini)
Terry’s place is at the head of the fantasy world. (Philip Pullman)
Terry Brooks is a grandmaster of the fantasy genre, and his latest will both captivate and surprise readers. . . . It’s truly magical. (Associated Press)
References
Books Reading Order » Fantasy Authors » How to Read the Terry Brooks Books in Order
Picked up a sale book in the book store, “Bearers of the Black Staff” and was hook just by the cover and intro. I discovered that it was part of a series so needed to order the entire series no matter how many before I could read it. I can never wait till the next volume comes out, so I always wait until the entire series is available and they once I have all, devour them all. Once I read that series I went on line to see what else Terry had written and was blown away by how many. I printed a list in numeric order of their publishing dates and ordered the earliest series, when I got to the last book I was reading would order the next printed series. I have them all, and let me tell you I was not a kid when I first started reading his stuff, and thank God that my latest place has enough room for all of the books. I don’t just read Terry’s works but he is my number one favorite. When I moved I couldn’t bring all books, too many, but did bring ALL of Terry’s. If like fiction even a little you must read his stuff, you’ll love them. My daughter is visiting for a couple of months and wanted something to read, wasn’t interested in anything current that i had until she saw Terry’s latest on my coffee table. I had printed her a list of all Terry’s books in order and this way she can order by series as she does like me. These series are timeless and appeal to both young and young at heart like me. I could bit get into the Harry Potter books with all those hard names and other stuff to remember . Love Love these books, am now going to get into the latest series now that I have all three and I am making the time to enjoy. Do yourself a favor and discover reading and syfy by the best.
On holiday in the 70s, I went into a bookshop and found The Shannara books, The Sword, The Elf stones and the Wish song. I couldent put them down so did’nt see much of Cornwall, I’ve been a Fan ever since, And I’m in my 70s now. Carry On Terry !
I have the huge condensed version. Not to morbid but, I told all that I wish to be buried with it clutched in my hands.
Though the world of Shannara may be dark at times, it is also filled with wonder and imagination we all could use.
oh yeah, that series was useless.
Just reading this for the first time and Your Chronological timeline does not include Paladins of Shanara why is this?
