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The advertisement for a fantasy kingdom in a Christmas catalog catches the eye of Ben Holiday, who was recently widowed and dissatisfied with his life; he finds a make-believe world of medieval splendor appealing. But when he arrives in the alternate world of Landover, all is not fun and jousting. Dangers abound, and his actions have a life-and-death reality. The castle is a rusted heap, its army disbanded, and the entire kingdom decayed from the loss of magic. Only a ragtag handful of retainers remain in the castle to serve the new king. Even worse, the feudal lords are in revolt, a dragon ravages the land, and the first pretty girl Ben meets turns into a tree. A demon lord has pledged to kill any king, and the ghostly knight intended to protect the throne is an empty pile of armor. Ben tackles things head on and finds the strength to conquer problems both mundane and supernatural. This is the first episode of the "Magic Kingdom of Landover" series. Narrator Dick Hill demonstrates his talent and imagination by giving each fantasy character a unique voice. Written in 1986, this is recommended for all collections that include fantasy fiction.
—Janet Martin
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Terry Brooks published his first novel, The Sword of Shannara, in 1977. It was a New York Times bestseller for more than six months. He has published twenty-four New York Times bestsellers since. Two of those the novels Running with the Demon and A Knight of the Word were chosen by the Denver Rocky Mountain News as among the best fantasy novels of the 20th century. Brooks lives in Seattle with his wife, Judine.
The most rewarding aspect to writing for Brooks is “when someone who never read a book reads [one of mine] and says that the experience changed everything and got them reading.” Because of his very engaging, quick-flowing writing style, countless numbers of young people have been introduced to the wonderful world of reading through Brooks’s adventures. The miraculous thing, however, is that these same fans – whether they’re now 20, 30, or 40 years old – still devour each new release like a starving man would a steak dinner. Credit Brooks’s boundless imagination, endearing characters, fresh storylines and underlying complexities for keeping his older, more discerning audience hooked.
Brooks began writing when he was just ten years old, but he did not discover fantasy until much later. As a high school student he jumped from writing science fiction to westerns to adventure to nonfiction, unable to settle on one form. That changed when, at the age of 21, Brooks was introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien provided Brooks with a forum “that would allow him to release onto paper his own ideas about life, love, and the wonder that fills his world," according to his web site.
In 1977, after six trying years, Brooks published novel his first novel, The Sword of Shannara. And quickly it gave him – and his publisher (the newly created Ballantine imprint, Del Rey) – quite a thrill; the fantasy adventure featuring the young Halfling, Shea Ohmsford; the mysterious wizard Allanon; Flick, the trusty companion; and the demonic Warlock Lord, was not only well received -- it was a smash, spending over five months on The New York Times bestseller list. In 1982 Brooks released the follow-up, The Elfstones of Shannara (which Brooks says may be his favorite), to equal success. He closed out the initial trilogy in 1985 with The Wishsong of Shannara, and has since completed two more Shannara sets, The Heritage of Shannara books and the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara books.
As fans of Brooks know, the man doesn’t like to stay put. “I lived in Illinois for the first 42 years of my life, and I told myself when I left in 1986 that I would never live any one place again,” Brooks said. He now spends his time between his homes in Seattle and Hawaii; he and his wife also spend a great deal of time on the road each year connecting with the fans. These same nomadic tendencies are also apparent in his writing. Instead of staying comfortably within his proven, bestselling Shannara series, Terry frequently takes chances, steps outside, and tries something new. His marvelous Landover and Word & Void series are the results. While both are vastly different from Shannara, they are equally compelling. Word & Void – a contemporary, dark urban fantasy series set in a fantasy-touched Illinois – is quite possibly Brooks’s most acclaimed series. The Rocky Mountain News called the series’ first two books (Running with the Demon and The Knight of the Word “two of the finest science fiction/fantasy novels of the 20th century.”
The Sword of Shannara was also the first work of fiction to ever hit The New York Times trade paperback bestseller list. Thanks to a faithful and growing fan base, the books continue to reach the list.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was not Terry's first novelization. He also novelized Steven Spielberg's 1991 movie, Hook.
Brooks’s The Phantom Menace novelization is also not his only connection to George Lucas. Both The Sword of Shannara and the original Star Wars novel, A New Hope, were edited by Judy Lynn del Rey and published in the same year (1977) to blockbuster success.
The Sword of Shannara was initially turned down by DAW Books. Instead, DAW sent Terry to Lester del Rey, who recognized Terry’s blockbuster potential and bought it. And the rest, they say, is history.
Brooks’s influences include: J.R.R. Tolkien, Alexander Dumas, James Fenimore Cooper, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Mallory's Morte d'Arthur.
Another great series from Terry Brooks! If you are looking for something that is not quite as serious, with insurmountable odds that the stories in the Shannara series triumphantly give the reader, then the Magic Kingdom of Landover is for you. With its quirky characters and a fun sense of humor, it still delivers with the mystical fantasy, awing magic, and with big scary monsters and demons. (It may seem to some readers that Terry Brooks may have plagiarized from Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series. The magic kingdom of Landover is another world entirely, with its several moons, and alien plant life. Ben just arrives in Landover through the Fairy Mists, not on a spaceship through the stars.)
Ben Holiday is a lawyer, (which Terry Brooks knows something about), who has lost his wife in a car accident. Because of his traumatic lose; he is not able to move on with his life. When one of Annie's catalogs comes in the mail, it pisses him off at first, but then he starts to look through it and finds an entire magical kingdom for sale, and at just one million dollars, it is a steal! Ben makes up his mind that he is not going to be happy going on without Annie and continuing working in a legal system that he finds is broken. Therefore, he buys himself kingship of Landover. (Makes sense to me, right.)
Unfortunately, he bought a lemon. Only four remain to run the magnificent castle Sterling Silver. Questor is the king's wizard who is not capable of performing magic very well. Abernathy is the court scribe who suffered at the hands of Questor, and refuses to forgive him for it. Finally, there are the two kobolds that cook, run errands, and protect the king. However, they are not able to speak. They only hiss. Ben's castle Sterling Silver is failing and suffering from the Tarnish. The dragon Strabo is tormenting the lands. His people have absolutely no faith in him, or the good that he is capable of doing for Landover. The magic is running out for Landover.
Things seem to turn around for him when he meets Willow, a creature of fairy. In addition to his four friends, she helps Ben realize that he cannot hide from Nightshade, the witch who everyone is scared to death of. Willow also helps him to learn what the link is between the king of Landover and the Paladin, in order to defeat the demon the Iron Mark, in a combat to the death. Ultimately, Ben is able to put his wife at rest, and to move on with his life because that is what she would want him to do. Ben will become more than just a play-king to Landover and its people. He will be their fair and just King of the magic kingdom of Landover!
Anonymous
Posted December 22, 2004
This book is great if you like ti read Fantasy, but it has it draw back like it takes a long time to get to the action of the story.
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Posted January 2, 2004
I loved this book. It mixed the 'real world' with the fantasy world. ONe of the best Terry Brooks has written
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Posted September 12, 2003
I found this book to be very entertaining. I had to fight with myself to put it down. I find reading it to be much lighter than the Shannara Series, however, it is still an excellent book.
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Posted May 22, 2003
wow. not as good as wish song and talismans, but darned good. it has 8 main charachters. ben questor abernathey willow bunion parsnip fillip and sot. my favorites are questor and abernathey, because they fight alot and they're funny.
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Posted March 17, 2003
This is THE best book I have ever read. When my cousin recommended it to me it didn't sound like a fun book, but as soon as I oened it I had trouble putting it down. I would stay up until 2 in the morning because I didn't want to leave the wonders of Landover. I STRONGLY recommend this book to any fanatsy-atics.
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Posted April 25, 2002
This was a very good book! Enough action with a very interesting plot and good character development. Terry Brooks has succesfully created another exiting universe for all fantasy lovers. Not as good as the Shannara books, but I still recomend buying it!
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Posted April 20, 2002
This Book was very Good. I Liked it alot. I just got finishd a while ago I am glad that I read it. I would recomend this book to any one who likes this subject
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Posted January 24, 2002
Terry Brooks makes magic come to life with this epic dale of Ben Holiday and his purchase of the Fairy Tale kingdom of Landover! I loves this book! You can have your ¿Harry Potter¿ and your ¿Lord Of the Rings¿ but all five of the Magic Kingdom of Landover books are a must!!!!! Five stars all the way! THANK YOU FOR THIS BOOK TERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted January 13, 2002
Forget Harry Potter,this leaves you wanting more.This book is the story of man named Ben Hoilday steps out of our world and becomes king of a werid world called Landover.***********GREAT THIS IS A MUST READ.
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Posted September 22, 2001
this books mixes fantasy with reality, love,heroism,and all that good stuff lol. i had to read this book for school,and i soooo glad i did. in fact, i wanna read all of the sequels!
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Posted November 1, 2001
Ok, this book may not be for everyone. If you are looking for an intense, epic fantasy ( The Lord of the Rings, etc...), this book prob. isn't for you. But, if you're looking for a very good 'escape from reality' book, this is it. With characters you will care about, and adventure after adventure, it is one of the easiest books to read there is.
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Posted June 25, 2001
This was a great book. If you like it you should read all the others.
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Posted May 7, 2000
This book is great, the characters are very intriging. The book allows you visit a strange land where magic is all over and nothing is what you think it is.
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Overview
After Ben Holiday purchased Landover, he discovered the magic kingdom had some problems. The Barons refused to recognize a king and the peasants were without hope. To make matters worse, Ben learned that he had to duel to the death with the Iron Mask, the terrible lord of the demons--a duel which no human could hope to win....From the Paperback edition.