For many years the only chance a fan had of speaking to Terry was to meet him at tour events or conventions.
With the establishment of this website in 2000, Terry began accepting two questions from each fan per month. On the last day of the month, five questions are randomly drawn. Terry answers these five questions and they are posted monthly for your enjoyment.
Below are the questions selected last month and Terry’s answers! Enjoy!
Note: This section may contain spoilers!
Dear Readers,
It’s that time again. ASK TERRY for the month of May. Already history, that month. But the questions linger on. Since the weather is so beautiful up here in the Northwest, I thought I would stay indoors and answer these questions.
That way I won’t get sunburned.
David Calhoun writes: Of course, being an avid reader, many of my favorite books have been made into movies (or in the case of Shannara, a TV series). Some are great films and keep to the book, while others completely ignored key components from the books they are based off. I would hate to see the Shannara TV series fall away from the books. So I was wondering how much control/input you will have in the making of the show?
Terry Brooks replies: I do have some control and a great deal of say in how the series goes. Fortunately, everyone involved is on board with keeping close to the storyline of Elfstones. I have already seen and reviewed the pilot episode and found it excellent. I have also seen the overview of the various following episodes and they are right on track, too. The writers and I have a similar vision for this story. While there will be changes in the way characters are introduced and interact – for dramatic effect and to adapt better to the medium of television – the basic story will remain unchanged. You can stop worrying until I tell you it is time to start again.
Robert White writes: Is there to be further development in the Landover series? Movie and books?
Terry Brooks replies: Magic Kingdom for Sale is optioned to Warner Bros. Studios with Steve Carell set to produce and star. Writer Patrick Ness is at work on a rewrite of the initial draft (which was pretty good). I expect we will have something more to report no later than Fall. As for further books, when they make the movie, I will write a new Magic Kingdom book. See you then.
Michael Cowin writes: Will you or do you have any plans to reintroduce black staff bearers into the ongoing Shannara series? I feel that it would be a great tie in, especially if the Word decides to help civilization again where the Druids have so many times fallen. It saddened me to see the last black staff bearer fade away as the races parted ways leaving the protective valley.
Terry Brooks replies: Let me just say that Measure of the Magic is not the end of that string of books I promised leading up to the formation of the First Council of Druids. So we have not seen the last of the black staffs or their bearers. All of that has yet to be resolved. So I guess the answer to your question is YES, I will be doing more with the bearers and staffs.
Dennis Klett writes: Any plans for annotated vesions of Elfstones and Wishsong?
Terry Brooks replies: Not at present. Maybe not ever. But there are stories about how each of those books came about, particularly Elfstones. So I will keep that in mind.
Michael Strebing writes: Are you a football fan? 49ers or Seahawks?
Terry Brooks replies: I live in Seattle. Seahawks forever. Look for them to be in the hunt again this year and for the foreseeable future. The 12th Man rules up here.
Caught up. You didn’t think I could do it, did you? See you next month!
All my best,
Please completely fill in the form below and send the two questions you want to ask Terry this month.
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4 responses to “May Ask Terry Posted”
Any word on when we might see a trailer or a teaser for Elfstones?
I wonder who has the big task as Allanon?
It feels like the Shannara God Terry will never answer
at least one of my (in my opinion good) questions. 🙁
I mean, a question about sports? Really? Why not
ask him what he eats for breakfast?! How do
Shawn pick the questions? I’m disappointed!
This will probably be my last comment here…
1
You have a good sense of
humor. Have you considered
writing a pure comical book
or do you think that would
be a terryble (<– pun) idea?
2
Will you ever release a
written guide or a video
telling us how to pronounce
all the names of people and
places in your books?
3
Have you ever named a
character after yourself?
If yes, name the character.
4
Have you considered implementing
time travel in Shannara? Maybe
someone from the old world
escaped with a time machine
and land in the time of
the next Shannara book?
Or perhaps they'll find
someone frozen in a cryo
tube and awaken her/him?
5
Who was the oldest druid
at the time of their death?
Allanon?
6
Who was the most powerful
druid? Grianne? Allanon? Galaphile?
7
Comparing Garet Jax, Cymrian
and Stoon, who's the best
fighter? Please rank them
1, 2 and 3.
8
Where was the Sword of
Shannara during the latest
trilogy? Couldn't it have
been used against the
restored Ilse Witch?
I honestly thought it was
stupid that she was sucked
into the Forbidding! She's
been through enough!
9
What can the other elf
stones do?! I think it's
stupid that they got lost
again!
10
Would you rather live in
a world with magic or
science? I would choose
a magic world even if I
weren't able to use magic.
11
Did you know that they have
unfortunately stopped releasing
your books in my native language
Swedish? I don't know why.
I buy and read them in English
now.
12
Do you think there will come
a day when a fantasy author
is awarded the Nobel prize
in literature? I think that
they should've given it to
Tolkien! I'm Swedish by the
way.
13
What is Allanon's surname?
Will we ever get to meet
relatives to him in modern
day Shannara? I would like
that!
14
Why haven't you been arrested
for brutally killing all those
great characters?! It's not like
there's a lack of evidence…
Do you regret someone's death?
15
Did you name the character
Tesla Dart with the brilliant
scientist Nikola Tesla in mind?
If yes, then I guess it's a
subtle way to point out the
legacy of the old world.
16
Have you considered a storyline
where there's a plague spreading
in The Four Lands and the heroes
have to try and cure it? Perhaps
it was created by an evil entity
that they have to defeat and perhaps
the plague can be known as SAID?
17
Has there ever been a
troll druid? I think you've
written that trolls can't
use magic, but I'm not sure.
18
Couldn't The Tanequil take
The Ellcrys place and
keep The Forbidding
intact? The Tanequil
seems to be powerful
and I wonder how it
was created…
Are there more magical
trees out there? Perhaps
a magical tree in The
Forbidding…
19
For how long must one study
to become a druid? I've been
thinking of joining the druid
order if I can get a student
loan.
20
Have you ever considered
becoming the narrator of
the Shannara audiobooks?
Maybe you don't have time
for it?
I haven't heard the narrator
because I prefer to read so
I don't know if he's good or
not. I just think that you
have a pleasant reading voice
and it's always nicer if the
author is the narrator as well
(assuming the author is able
to pull it off).
Thank you for everything, Terry!
Best regards, Mattias
Wow, an ASK TERRY released less then a week after the previous month; you’re spoiling us with timely content Terry!