He wrote that sentence in 2002 and it has come around full circle for the bestselling author. Terry is best known for his Shannara series and specifically the first three books The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara. The original trilogy is considered a masterpiece of fantasy literature, the epitome of post-Tolkien epic fantasy, the set of novels responsible for bringing hundreds of thousands of readers to the genre.
In my opinion, the original trilogy did this with deft storytelling, great writing, and wonderfully realized characters. One of those great characters is the Druid Allanon. He has been a fan favorite since Sword and especially since Wishsong. Dark, mysterious, and powerful with a penchant for hiding the truth, Allanon is a historian, scholar, and a lone mystic responsible for keeping the Four Lands safe from those that would see it subjugated or destroyed. He is a gray character, one of the best in the fantasy genre, one that old and new readers alike have asked to learn more about over the last three decades.
During those three decades, Terry has said the time was not right but one day he would get to it.
As Jair Ohmsford learned in Indomitable,the past has caught up to the present. This is the news Terry featured on his website yesterday:
Mark Smith writes: Have you ever thought of writing about the life of Allanon between the books First King of Shannara and The Sword of Shannara?
Terry Brooks replies: Funny you should ask, Mark. I have just finished a 10,000 word short (?) story that takes place just before Allanon sets out to find Shea Ohmsford in Sword. I will be posting it online in a few months on all the major sites as an ebook for readers who want something new leading up to publication of the Annotated Edition of The Sword of Shannara and the first book in the new Shannara’s Dark Legacy, coming in late August. I haven’t done anything with Allanon in almost 30 years, so it really was time for a new story. Keep your eye out for it on our website and on all the major book burying sites.
For Terry Brooks fans, this is exciting. I’ve been Terry’s webmaster for almost 13 years and the fans have asked repeatedly for this. That the short story is set before the events of The Sword of Shannara makes it even more intriguing. Will it be the powerful Allanon we all know? Or will it be an Allanon still learning to be the crafty Druid we have come to love? Time will tell.
When will the short story be published? It should be released as an ebook in July or August 2012.
More news when I know it!
Get ready, Terry Brooks fans. 2012 is going to be a great year!
Yes!!!!! The original Shannara series was my introduction into fantasy literature and Allanon was and is still one of my favorite characters of all time in any genre. Allanon is still the exempli gratia for all gray characters and magic users that I come across in literature. The original series will always hold a special place. Allanon is the best!
Yay! Allanon was one of the characters that really stuck with me. Another story about the character is fantastic news!
Heck yes!! Allanon will forever be my all-time favorite character.
Great news! Sword was my first foray into the fantasy realm and Allanon was such a cool and intriguing character that he kept me wanting more. Can’t wait for this to come out!
I am so excited to hear that there will be more on Allanon. I first read The Sword of Shannara in 1979 and loved the Allanon character so I was very upset when Allanon was killed off in the Wishsong. Thanks Terry – we have been waiting a long time for this!!!!