Shannara is an epic fantasy series of novels written by Terry Brooks, beginning with The Sword of Shannara in 1977 and continuing through The Gypsy Morph which was released in August 2008. The series is probably best known for its blend of magic and primitive technology. It is also known for where it is set, as the setting is on Earth long after civilization as we know it was destroyed in a chemical and nuclear holocaust called the Great Wars. By the time of the prequel First King of Shannara, the world has now reverted to a medieval state and magic has re-emerged to supplement science.
The Shannara consists of over 20 books grouped in various miniseries. Here is a brief description of the whole series and if you're wondering which books you should be reading first, take a look here: Shannara reading order .

The Word/Void Trilogy

The Word/Void trilogy consists of Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, and Angel Fire East and is predominantly set in present-day Illinois. It follows Nest Freemark, a girl with magical abilities who has no known relationship to any Shannara character. Before the publication of Armageddon's Children it was unclear whether this trilogy existed within the Shannara universe. It has since been revealed as the "ultimate prequel" to the Shannara novels.

The Genesis of Shannara Trilogy

The Genesis of Shannara series connects the Word/Void series with the Shannara novels. The trilogy consists of Armageddon's Children, The Elves of Cintra and The Gypsy Morph. It takes place eighty years after the Word/Void story, and approximately 1500 years before the events of The First King of Shannara.

First King of Shannara

The prequel to the Original Shannara Trilogy, The First King of Shannara is set during the lifetime of Jerle Shannara, a predecessor of Shea (about 500 years before the first book of the original Shannara Trilogy) and chronicling the second war of the races.

The Original Shannara Trilogy

Also called The Sword of Shannara Trilogy, the first three published Shannara novels (The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara) follow Shea Ohmsford and his brother Flick Ohmsford, Shea's grandson Wil Ohmsford, and Wil's children Brin Ohmsford and Jair Ohmsford during the times of the third war of the races and the war of the forbidding.

The Heritage of Shannara Tetralogy

The next four books, known as The Heritage of Shannara, are set 300 years after The Original Shannara Trilogy. This series consists of The Scions of Shannara, The Druid of Shannara, The Elf Queen of Shannara and The Talismans of Shannara. They follow four of Shea Ohmsford's descendants: Walker Boh, Par Ohmsford, Coll Ohmsford, and Wren Elessedil.

The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Trilogy

The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy consists of the books Ilse Witch, Antrax, and Morgawr. Set aboard the airship Jerle Shannara (named after the olden king), the story follows Walker Boh as he guides the crew across the ocean in search of an ancient source of power. This is set 130 years after The Heritage of Shannara.

High Druid of Shannara Trilogy

The High Druid of Shannara trilogy includes the novels Jarka Ruus, Tanequil, and Straken. It focuses on the disappearance of the High Druid Grianne Ohmsford and is set 20 years after The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara.

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