Armageddon's Children (Genesis of Shannara Series #1)

Yet Another One Out of the Ballpark!

I have been a fan of Terry Brooks for 13 years and counting and yet this was my first intro to the world of the Word. As a Shannara fan I had to pick his latest up and was worried that I'd be lost because of the crossover but boy was I wrong. Terry deftly combines the two series for fans and newbies alike and neither will be disappointed. I've already purchased all the books in the Word and Void collection and can't wait for the next installment!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Armageddon's Children, Genesis of Shannara trilogy, Book 1

Set 15 years after Nest, Knights of the Word, Logan is in search of the gypsy morph by the guide of Nest's bones. And, Angel is guided in search of the elfstone Loden. The Chosen are told by the Elcrys to move them to a safer home because the Void is threatening her survival. This is a fast and exciting read that I found very hard to put down.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A wonder

Like all the other books by this writer this was a wonderful read. Could not put it down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Typical sci fi/fantasy blend

The premise is that the world is ending and humanity has to save itself. It's a good book, especially if you're just getting into fantasy, but I don't think I would have bought it if I could have found it in a library. The pace is slow moving and there are a lot of characters with side-stories to keep track of. I managed to power through it in two days, but I could have put it down at any time. It does bring up a few relevant points about human nature, technology, and the like, so if you're interested in the end of the world, give it a go.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A new beginning

I've loved Brooks' writing for many years now and this new series continues his great tradition of excellent stories with great thoughts and values.

With this novel, Terry begins to bridge the gap between two of his main story threads...that of the world of Shannara and that of the world in the "Word and Void" series.

The characters are approachable and each filled with their own strengths and flaws. As readers, we are taken on a voyage of self discovery along with the characters as they interact with the struggle between good and evil in the post-apocalyptic society.

You can certainly approach this story without having read Brooks before, but it would be advisable to have at least read the Word and Void series before starting on this journey. Even though set a hundred years or so beyond the first Word/Void book (Running with the Demon), it builds on the framework created there and your understanding will be greatly enhanced by starting with Word/Void and working your way into this novel. Reading the various Shannara series before this one are unnecessary and it could be argued that you should wait for this series to be done before you start Shannara, just to keep the chronology right...but then you're just depriving yourself of other fabulous works while you wait for this series to complete.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

New to Brooks

I thouroughly enjoyed this book and am excited to read the books that follow. Armageddon's Children kept me on the edge of my seat and up late at night. It may be to my advantage that I do not have a history with the Brook's novels. I now consider myself a new fan.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Wars Beginning!

For those fans who want more of what Terry Brooks has to offer, as well as fantasy fans who have been too daunted to try a Terry Brooks book due to the length of his series, this book is for you! In a world that has been effectively destroyed by humanity's twisted misuse of power, a new world is about to be born. But for the phoenix to rise there must be death, and our world has reached its apocalyptic finale. Terry creates a world that is gray and desolate, and yet echoes all facets we can see in our own world today. Armageddon's Children is our future, and a bleak future it is. Attempting to bring light to the world's existence are two Knights - given great power and a far great responsiblity for those who need to survive the coming holocaust. The characters of Logan and Angel are particularly well constructed, and the reader really gets a sense of what it means to carry the Knight mantle for an extended amount of time in the worst of times. Logan's haunting ghosts and Angel's toughened heart remind us that although humanity has its difficulties, compassion and strength of character can overcome any evil that the world may have. Coming after them is an evil darker and more sinister than humanity has ever known. This book was great. It is a compelling story with real characters set in a world that could be our future. It is more literary compared to Terry's earlier work, and the only thing that keeps the story from being depressing is the hope that the characters light. I give this book a four stars, but it could have been five if I had the other two books of the trilogy in hand! It can be read by new readers without any prior knowledge of what Terry has written and it is assured to delight old Brooks fans.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Brooks tells the story of Shannara's origin in this combination

Brooks tells the story of Shannara's origin in this combination of his Knight & Word and Shannara series. If the Shannara series had been feeling a little repetative this is a great book to read to break that cycle. Even if you're not a Shannara fan this book was a great read. If you like apocolipitc fiction this is definatly for you

loved it

I loved the book but had not realized it may be book one but it is only a branch of the many books in the whole world of shannara. so I read this one and now have to start with the real book one and catch up to this bunch.

Readable over and over...

This is most certainly a book I will be rereading in the future. It's such a fantastic melding of his Word and Void and Shannara series. It throws in the apocalypse element I love in other stories too. The world is so vivid and sometimes terrifying. One of the best he's written in my opinion.

Fantastic!

Once again, Terry Brooks gives readers a fantastic trip into new worlds. As always a good read, I never have to worry if I'm getting what I pay for.

Good Start to the Armageddon's Children Trilogy

Since I've enjoyed most of the Shannara books, I figured this would be no different and wasn't disappointed. I'm glad that Brooks has gone back to fill us in on the events that happened after the cataclysm that shaped the world in which he's told so many stories. The action/pace actually seemed faster than his previous works, which I was also thankful for as some of the longer Shannara books have dragged in places. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

great begginning

finnaly a beginning to shannara. this was and is one of my favorite series. the story arc, along with the elves of cintra and gypsy morph is the perfect origin for the later stories. highly recommended.

So good I have read it twice!

Terry Brooks is bringing the Shannara world he created for us to escape to into, into the conflict of the Word which he created to captivate us. The result is this, the first book of the Genesis of Shannara series.

I personally find this concept to be amazing and wonder ... was this planned over 20 years ago? If not, what compelled Mr. Brooks to bring them together? Whatever the case, I cannot thank him enough. It is delightful to be totally captivated (yet again) with the story he is weaving.

If you have not read any of Terry Brooks' work, I would suggest starting with the Landover series. Yes, they are written for teens (and younger) but they are lighthearted and very interesting for a wonderful afternoon read. If you begin with the Shannara series, be prepared to read late into the night. In my opinion, they are that good. You will discover how easy it is to escape into the world of Shannara.

Enjoy yourself and thank you Mr. Brooks

GOOD GOOD GOOD

I started reading this in the am and finished it right before bed. It kept me awake half the night couldn't get it out of my mind. very mind blowing - good story - a little 'out there' but a good read none the less. I've always enjoyed Terry Brooks books they do entertain. highly recommend this one. looking for the next since this one was published in '06.

Not His Best Work, But Still a Brooks

I've been a fan of Terry Brooks for decades and have read and loved every book in the Shanarra series. This book did not live up to those standards. The background and setting of the story is contrived, with heavily political overtones, which detracts from the 'magic' typically found in Brooks' writing. That said, the characters are exceptionally well-written and the excitement behind the conflicts that occur speeds the story along in classic Brooks fashion. Despite my distaste for the forced circumstances of the setting and the plethera of unanswered questions that arise as a result, I abosolutely must read the next book as soon as possible.

Great Story

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting and well developed. I would certainly recommend this book!

A reviewer

If you have read this and not the Word and The Void series you should go back to the begining. This is the latest and best story in this line so far and I can't wait to read the next one.

Another Amazing Book

An amazing book which will like the world as we know it to the world of shannara. I cannot wait to read the next one.

Mr. Brooks shows his true colors

I've always been a fan of Terry Brooks' fantasy novels, and I have twenty of them on my shelves to prove it. His style and prose make him easily one of my favorite authors. But for the first time I've ever noticed, he decided in this title to paint a picture using references to current events which, taken as a whole, rather clearly inform the reader of his political views. I found this to be an unnecessary distraction from my enjoyment of the book (the story would be able to stand on its own without blaming the Bush administration by name for 'planting the seeds' of a nuclear holocaust). The issue isn't whether I'm sympathetic to the author's worldview, rather it's that I am forced to contemplate it at all in a fantasy fiction book. The country is already polarized on these matters, and it's the last thing I want to think about when I'm ready to lose myself in a good fiction novel. I used to very much look forward to the next Terry Brooks release, but my usual anticipation has been tempered by this latest one. My hope is for Mr. Brooks to go back to using his considerable skills to help us FORGET about what's actually going on in the world, or at least find a more appropriate outlet for his editorials.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.