What is your opinion of Shannara?

[Edena_of_Neith]

It seems to me that there is a bias against Shannara on the ENBoards.
This is my opinion only, of course.

However, in case I am right, I do not wish to ask directly (ala, a thread about Shannara.)
For in such a thread, there would inevitably be a lot of flaming of Terry Brooks and his works, and that would be undesirable ... not to mention the Moderators would close the thread.

So, instead, I have created a poll to find out.
That way, if you do not like Shannara (or, if you do like Shannara) you can anonymously say so.

I will be open about it: I really like Shannara.

However, that's me. What do you think? That is what this poll is for, to give you a chance to give your thoughts.

 

[Eternalknight]

I, too, like Shannara, though I admit I have only read Sword, Elfstones, Wishsong and Scions, but I do like what i have read (in fact, I read Sword twice). I liked the fact the Dragon did a mini-campaign too. I rated it a 7.

 

[John Crichton]

The series has been going for 25 years and it is still going strong so I'd say that's pretty special. It's it the most original fantasy series ever made? No. But it is very entertaining and that's what really counts.

I won't go too into it but I have fond memories of of the first trilogy. I also remember going crazy when I found out their was a 4th book to the Heritage series. And after recently picking the series up again (I finished First King a few months back) I was reminded of how much enjoyment it has given me over the years.

I voted legendary because the series has been around so long and I believe it still has life in it. It carries Tolkien's legacy nicely I think. Brooks isn't the only one, but he is one of the best.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

The series has been going for 25 years and it is still going strong so I'd say that's pretty special.

I disagree with that. The length of a series has very little to do with quality--it's just a measure of....something else. Sales, usually, but could be something else....

I am in a postion that might be rather unique. I read Sword of Shannara only about five years ago, but that was before I had read LotR.

Anyway. Too me, the only way I can describe it is to use the following analogy: DePalma is to Hitchcock as Shannara is to Lord of the Ring. DePalma has defended such criticism in the past by saying that Hitchcock wrote the language, and he (DePalma) was just using the vocabulary. I don't buy that interpretation.

Nothing horrible about the writing in the Shannara books per se (the nouns and verbs all make sense, the adjectives and adverbs are used artfully, the sentences have structure and the characters are not boring). But, my god!, it could hardly be more of a rip-off of LotR, unless you ripped the cover off of LotR and glued on a Shannara cover instead.


P.S. I didn't vote. There was no it's well written plagiarism option.


[edit - add PS]

 

[John Crichton]

I disagree with that. The length of a series has very little to do with quality--it's just a measure of....something else. Sales, usually, but could be something else....

So, the fact that it has endured this long and there are current novels still being written isn't a testament to how good the books are? It's not a crowning achievement but I think it does mean something.

I am in a postion that might be rather unique. I read Sword of Shannara only about five years ago, but that was before I had read LotR.

Same here. I read Shannara before LotR.

Anyway. Too me, the only way I can describe it is to use the following analogy: DePalma is to Hitchcock as Shannara is to Lord of the Ring. DePalma has defended such criticism in the past by saying that Hitchcock wrote the language, and he (DePalma) was just using the vocabulary. I don't buy that interpretation.

Tolkien's work has inspired countless fantasy novels. Many just like his own. But the Shannara series as a whole is different than LotR. There are striking similarities, but they are different.

Nothing horrible about the writing in the Shannara books per se (the nouns and verbs all make sense, the adjectives and adverbs are used artfully, the sentences have structure and the characters are not boring). But, my god!, it could hardly be more of a rip-off of LotR, unless you ripped the cover off of LotR and glued on a Shannara cover instead.

There are similarities, no more. Of course the work is inspired by LotR, there are no doubts about that. Also, considering that the LotR series is basically 4 books and Shannara is 11 and counting it's even harder to compare the two properly. Either way, both are entertaining works of fiction and I have gained much enjoyment from both.

 

[reapersaurus]

Any series that brought Garet Jax to life is worth a nod of respect, in my book.
I voted 8, because your description of 7 was just too low.

 

[Ranger REG]

The Sword of Shannara was the first book I have read that turned me into fantasy genre. After that, I met someone who recommended I read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Even though that top my fantasy reading list (which help me define "modern fantasy"), I went back to complete Terry Brook's Shannara Trilogy.

 

[madriel]

I loved the first three books. I still reread them all these years later. My favourite of the Shannara series is Elfstones.

I've read one of the later ones and tried to get into a couple of others, but they lacked something the first three had. I barely remember any of the plots or characters. The first three were great books but the others I've tried have been mediocre.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

Holy Mackeral!

There sure are some really varied opinions about Shannara - it's already gotten both a 10 and a 0, so far!
And all the other votes are all over the map.

I wonder, if a truly large number of people vote on this poll, how it's going to turn out?

I gave Shannara an 8, by the way, as I previously said (above.)

 

[Eternalknight]

Well at this point in time, 4 is the leading vote getter, and the average of all votes is 5.33.