The Sword of Shannara (Original Shannara Trilogy 1) by Terry Brooks

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Description

Long ago, the wars of ancient Evil had ruined the world and forced mankind to compete with many other races--gnomes, trolls, dwarfs, and elves. But in peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knew little of such troubles.

Then the giant, forbidding Allanon, possessed of strange... read more

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Summary

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Cast of Characters

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Shea Ohmsford: The protagonist, Flick's adopted brother and the only remaining descendant of Jerle Shannara. Shea must find an ancient magical sword, the Sword of Shannara, and use it to destroy the antagonist, the Warlock Lord.
Flick Ohmsford: Shea's brother. He helps Shea escape Shady Vale and 'tags along' with the group that goes to recover the Sword.
Menion Leah: A friend of Shea and the Prince of the small country of Leah. He guides Shea and Flick to Culhaven after their escape of Shady Vale and the Skull Bearer. He is the first of many from the House of Leah to befriend a member of the Ohmsford family.
Allanon: A Druid who has been alive for around 400 years through the use of Druid Sleep. He guides and mentors the group on their quest to find the Sword. Allanon has been described as a parallel to Merlin from Arthurian legend.
Balinor Buckhannah: The Crown Prince of the country of Callahorn and the "charismatic commander of <the> Border Legion". He left the capital, Tyrsis, after a fight with his insane brother, Palance;
Hendel: A "taciturn" Dwarf warrior. He first appears in the novel when he saves Menion Leah from a Siren, and was part of the company that went to find the Sword.
Durin Elessedil: The older brother of Dayel and cousin to King Eventine. He was part of the company that went to find the Sword.
Dayel Elessedil: The younger brother of Durin and cousin to King Eventine. He was part of the company that went to find the Sword.
Stenmin: A traitor to Callahorn now working for the Warlock Lord. He poisoned both Palance and Ruhl Buckhannah, the King of Callahorn, eventually killing Ruhl and driving Palance insane.
Palance Buckhannah: The brother of Balinor Buckhannah and a prince of Callahorn. He was driven insane as a result of drugs fed to him by Stenmin, and at his urging, took control of Callahorn when his father 'took ill'.
Panamon Creel: A one-handed "con man" wanderer whose left hand is now a pike.
Keltset Mallicos: Panamon's mute companion. He is mute as a result of the Warlock Lord. He saves Panamon and Shea after they were captured by Trolls--he was awarded the Black Irix, the highest honor any Troll can receive, and therefore is considered incapable of treachery. The Trolls then helped them get to Skull Mountain so that Shea could confront the Warlock Lord.
Brona (aka the Warlock Lord): The former Druid and antagonist of the novel. In days long ago, Brona was a Druid before he was subverted by dark magic.
Acton: One of four Legion commanders. He was locked up by Palance for disputing the Legion's disbandment.
Breen Elessedil: The brother to King Eventine. After Eventine was freed, Breen was sent to Arborlon in Eventine's place to mobilize the army to go to the aid of Callahorn.
Curzad Ohmsford: Father of Flick and adoptive father of Shea.
Eventine Elessedil: The King of the Elves. He was captured by forces of the Warlock Lord, thus paralyzing the Elves and preventing them from aiding Callahorn (they did not want to get their hostage king killed).
Fandrez: The second of the four Legion commanders. He helped Janus Senpre recapture Tyrsis from Palance's control.
Fandwick: A Legion veteran. He aided in planning the evacuation of Kern.
Ginnisson: The third of four Legion commanders. Like Fandrez, he helped Janus Senpre recapture Tyrsis from Palance's forces.
Janus Senpre: A lieutenant commander of the Legion who was stationed in Kern. After helping to plan the evacuation of Kern, he journeyed to Tyrsis, where he found Fandwick and Ginnisson. They reassembled key elements of the Legion and seized the gates and army barracks. He was placed in charge of the defense of Tyrsis for his achievements.
Jon Lin Sandor: Eventine's personal advisor. He was searching for Eventine after he disappeared.
King of the Silver River: An ancient Faerie creature who has been around for all time.
Messaline: The last of the four Legion commanders. He was also locked up by Palance for protesting the disbandment of the Legion; after being freed by Balinor, he commanded part of the defense.
Orl Fane: A Gnome deserter.
Pahn: A Dwarf soldier.
Ruhl Buckhannah: The King of Callahorn, father of Balinor and Palance.
Shirl Ravenlock: The daughter of the ruler of Kern. She was kidnapped by Stenmin to prevent her from reaching Palance.
Sheelon: A captain in the Border Legion. Sheelon had not protested the disbandment as much, so he wasn't locked up until he was approached by Balinor.
Bremen: Once a Druid. He had died many years before, but his shade, a 'ghost' or 'presence,' has been kept in the Hadeshorn.

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First Sentence

The sun was already sinking into the deep green of the hills to the west of the valley, the red and gray-pink of its shadows touching the corners of the land, when Flick Ohmsford began his descent.

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Glossary

Skull Bearers: Winged black destroyers" who "sacrificed their humanity" to become the Warlock Lord's most trusted servants. They fly around at different points of the novel, demoralizing troops. They are usually seen only at night, though one does fly during the day over the city of Tyrsis on the last day of the battle.