July Ask Terry Posted

Pete Dutcher, Jr. writes: Maps. Back when you wrote the original Sword of Shannara novel, did you draw your own map of the lands in which the story took place and would you be able to share what it looked like?

Terry Brooks replies: I did draw my own map. It was crude, but serviceable. I believe it is currently on display at the Science Fiction & Fantasy division of Paul Allen’s EMP in Seattle, where there is a 2 year retrospective of my work in progress, along with artifacts, art, and the like from Tolkien, George Martin, Philip Pullman and so on. Pretty great experience, if you happen to be in town. Don’t forget to pull the dragon’s tail when you pass its den.

Anonymous writes: What is the status of the Word & Void omnibus? That series is one of the few I missed getting in hardback, I’ve destroyed several paperback copies, and would now like to get a reasonable edition. Please tell me I will not have to wait until 2017 for a 20th anniversary edition…

Terry Brooks replies: Just at the moment, it is scheduled for release sometime in the spring of next year. That is as much as I’ve been told. There is some negotiating going on between publishers so that we don’t have separate Brooks books being published at the same time. They try to avoid that happening.

Thomas Learnihan writes: Why isn’t Walker the Shade whom appears at the Hadeshorn instead of Allanon? It would make more sense that it would be him, now relieving Allanon of his self imposed stay. I was GREATLY DISAPPOINTED at the death of Walker in the previous series and would like to know when we will see another strong male in the role of Druid; especially since my son was named Walker after him.

Terry Brooks replies: As to the first, Walker was always the reluctant Druid. He never wanted the position and resisted it right to the end. He was never comfortable in the role. It wouldn’t be any different after death. Allanon, on the other hand, was born to the position and has always been available to respond when asked. As a shade, it would be no different. He looks for the opportunities that Walker would avoid. As to a reappearance of Walker, I am looking into that for a future piece of writing. It might well happen in a short story.

Veronica Bickle writes: I recently finished reading the original Shannara trilogy and am now reading Scions of Shannara. I am curious about what (or who) inspired you to include a deaf character who uses sign language like Garth and was aware that a mute Rock Troll like Keltset will need an interpreter during his trial? Did you know someone who was deaf?

Terry Brooks replies: No, I don’t know anyone who was deaf. But I have known people who were physically challenged in other ways. To tell the truth, I never gave thought to Keltset when I was writing about Garth. Couldn’t say why. The choice of another deaf person was purely coincidental. I chose the characteristics of my characters based on what the story requires in order to work. So Walker loses his arm for a specific reason. It is always about how to tell the story in the best way possible. Also, writing about physical handicaps forces you to think about them in a way you might otherwise not. You learn some things by doing so; you get a better feel for how it must be to have a handicap. That’s an important thing to know.

Anonymous writes: If Grianne was sent into the Forbidding, why was Tesla not able to stay outside?

Terry Brooks replies: We are talking apples and oranges here. The switch of a resident of the Four Lands for one of the Forbidding was magic induced and limited to that one incident. There is nothing to say that something cannot wander out of one world into the other is there is a break in the wall of the Forbidding. Thus the escape of all the demons at once in both Elfstones and Witch Wraith. Grianne was sent back into the Forbidding because she had reverted to her demon form with her release from service to Mother Tanequil. As such, she became another of the creatures intended for imprisonment. Tesla Dart, while a good and kind Ulk Bog, could not remain in the Four Lands once the Forbidding was restored because she was of a species orignally sent into the Forbidding by the Elven magic. As such, there was no reprieve for her. Unfair? You bet. But that’s sort of the point of profiling, isn’t it?