Shannara: Publication Order

publication Order by Terry Brooks

The recommended core reading order for first-time readers. Follows the publication history from the original 1977 fantasy trilogy through the final 2020 tetralogy.

1

The Sword of Shannara

Recommended Start / Original Trilogy

Start here. Shea Ohmsford is called upon by the Druid Allanon to recover the legendary Sword of Shannara.

2

The Elfstones of Shannara

Original Trilogy

Wil Ohmsford must protect the Elven princess Amberle on a quest to save the Ellcrys.

3

The Wishsong of Shannara

Original Trilogy

Brin Ohmsford uses the magic of the wishsong to destroy the evil Ildatch book.

4

The Scions of Shannara

Heritage of Shannara

Set 300 years later. The scions of Shannara must recover lost magic to fight the Shadowen.

5

The Druid of Shannara

Heritage of Shannara

Walker Boh seeks the black Elfstone to restore Paranor.

6

The Elf Queen of Shannara

Heritage of Shannara

Wren Ohmsford journeys to find the vanished Elves.

7

The Talismans of Shannara

Heritage of Shannara

The final battle against the Shadowen and the Federation.

8

Running with the Demon

The Word and the Void

Prequel urban fantasy trilogy. John Ross and Nest Freemark defend their town from the Void.

9

A Knight of the Word

The Word and the Void

Nest must help John Ross reclaim his lost faith and magic staff.

10

Angel Fire East

The Word and the Void

Ross and Nest protect a rare creature of wild magic from corruption.

11

Ilse Witch

Voyage of the Jerle Shannara

An airship expedition sets sail to find ancient magic, pursued by the Ilse Witch.

12

Antrax

Voyage of the Jerle Shannara

The crew is stalked by a malevolent supercomputer in the ruins of Castledown.

13

Morgawr

Voyage of the Jerle Shannara

The final confrontation with the Morgawr and redemption of the Ilse Witch.

14

Jarka Ruus

High Druid of Shannara

Grianne Ohmsford, now High Druid, disappears into the demon world.

15

Tanequil

High Druid of Shannara

Pen Ohmsford seeks the magical Tanequil tree to save Grianne.

16

Straken

High Druid of Shannara

Pen and allies fight to restore the High Druid and defeat her enemies.

17

Armageddon's Children

Genesis of Shannara

Crossover trilogy connecting Word & Void to Shannara. The world collapses into apocalypse.

18

The Elves of Cintra

Genesis of Shannara

Logan Tom and Angel Perez guide survivors and Elves toward safety.

19

The Gypsy Morph

Genesis of Shannara

Hawk leads the remnants of humanity and Elves into the protective valley.

20

Bearers of the Black Staff

Legends of Shannara

Set 500 years later. The valley's protective barrier drops, revealing the outer world.

21

The Measure of the Magic

Legends of Shannara

The valley residents must defend themselves from an invading Troll army.

22

Wards of Faerie

Dark Legacy of Shannara

A quest to find the lost Elfstones to secure the barrier to the demon world.

23

Bloodfire Quest

Dark Legacy of Shannara

The search for the Bloodfire to restore the Ellcrys tree.

24

Witch Wraith

Dark Legacy of Shannara

The final struggle to seal the breach to the Forbidding.

25

The High Druid's Blade

Defenders of Shannara

Paxon Leah discovers the magic of his ancestral sword.

26

The Darkling Child

Defenders of Shannara

Paxon must track down the user of the wishsong magic.

27

The Sorcerer's Daughter

Defenders of Shannara

Paxon defends the Druid order from the dark sorcerer Arcannen.

28

The Black Elfstone

Fall of Shannara

The four-part conclusion of the saga begins. An army of Skaar invades from the north.

29

The Skaar Invasion

Fall of Shannara

The Skaar invasion intensifies, threatening all of the Four Lands.

30

The Stiehl Assassin

Fall of Shannara

An assassin carrying the deadly Stiehl blade seeks revenge.

31

The Last Druid

Fall of Shannara

The final book of the Shannara saga. The Skaar conflict reaches its ultimate conclusion.