Pictures: The Annotated Sword of Shannara

The Annotated Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks is publishing November 13, 2012!

We are getting close to that release finally. I started my work on the book in November 2011 when I began re-reading The Sword of Shannara and took notes / asked Terry questions that would eventually lead to the annotations. Now, after a year and after all of the steps in the process to publish a book, it has finally come full circle.

The book is almost here. And soon, fantasy fans will learn a great deal more about the creation of The Sword of Shannara and how it became a bestseller in 1977.

It has been a fun journey. I’ve known Terry a long time now but it was fun to learn more about Lester del Rey and how the book got published.

If you haven’t been following my journey since last November, you can follow many of those different parts of Creating The Annotated Sword of Shannara here:

  • Part I – Why I was hired to work on this project!
  • Part II – Interviewing Terry at his Oregon home!
  • Part III – The final annotations being edited by Anne Groell!
  • Part IV – Placing the annotations where they belong!
  • Part V – Proofing the final book!
  • Part VI – Creating Cover Art!
  • Part VII – The Book Arrives!

Today, I decided to take some pictures of the actual book. My copy arrived a few days ago much to my great surprise. It is a gorgeous book. Del Rey Books spent no expense on it, giving it several different cool features that I think fans are going to love.

Here are some pictures of The Annotated Sword of Shannara to prove that point:


The book arrives

The title page featuring the Sword!
The first annotation!
The original Hildebrandt Bros. pre-painting pencil art has been inserted!
The back of the dust jacket has Hildebrandt Bros. art on it?!

Yup! That’s the artwork from the original release’s full-color foldout now on the back of the dust jacket!

The Annotated Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks will be published November 13, 2012!

The quest for the Sword begins again!


5 responses to “Pictures: The Annotated Sword of Shannara”

  1. WOW! This looks incredible. A while back, I ordered my copy from the Signed Page autographed by Terry and Shawn. Can’t wait to dive into this one (again).

    Shawn, any news regarding when Terry will be signing and shipping?

  2. I have it pre-ordered and can’t wait. I love that it will have the original artwork in it! I am going to read this copy of Sword in November/December then re-read Elfstones and Wards of Fairie after that in preparation for Bloodfire Quest.

    It is a good year forTerry’s fans!

  3. I pre-ordered this and can’t wait to get my hands on it. Terry Brooks fans are really getting spoiled for a couple of years!

  4. OH Great!, now I have to buy two copies so I can trim out the Hildebrandt Bros pic and frame and mount it with a nice frame to hang on the wall! But hey, it’s that GOOD! That way I will have a coverless reading copy AND my Signed by Terry & Shawn copy will remain protected behind its Mylar cover!

    Awesome job guys!

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