December ASK TERRY Posted

terry-brooksFor 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,

You see what I have to put up with. My faithful Web Druid feels it necessary to test me every now and then to make certain I shouldn’t retire. So he withholds questions for three months and then dumps them on me all at once. Can the author handle 15 questions from Ask Terry all at once? While working scripts for the TV show? While editing Book 3 of the latest batch? While giving his all to make certain the Seahawks win the Super Bowl?

You bet your sweet patootie, he does.

So it continues:

Philo Vinson Carter III writes: Are any characters from the Defenders of Shannara series going to carry over to the final Shannara trilogy that follows thereafter?

Terry Brooks replies: Highly unlikely, since that set of books will probably take place several hundred years later. I am still considering this time/space aspect of the final three. Maybe a Druid or two might still be around, but i am leaning towards an entirely fresh cast. This does not mean, however, that I won’t be using a descendent or two of characters from Defenders.

Ron Eldridge writes: What will be one major difference between the Elfstones book vs TV show? Are you taking this opportunity to rewrite some parts that you wish you had done differently (like Robert Kirkman did with the Walking Dead TV show)?

Terry Brooks replies: The visuals will lend an astonishing new perspective to your imagining of the story – hopefully in a good way. Also, the writers are fleshing out and adding new material to the book, so that we have some new characters and some new plot lines for the series. This will be a change – again – from the book, but I think we all have to remember that a change of medium requires an understanding that each new effort is an adaptation of the old, not a paint by the numbers. I am way cool with the changes, and I find it interesting to imagine how I would have incorporated them in the book, had I thought to do so. But I think once you’ve done something, you should leave it alone. This is a different imagining, but one that I have kept watch over while it is being developed and which I very much approve.

Mike Evans writes: Kind of a dark question, and I am in no way trying to rush things, but does Mr Brooks have notes from unused storylines and/or plans for the World of Shannara after he is gone, perhaps along the lines of Tolkien’s Lost Tales or Robert Jordan’s WoT series?

Terry Brooks replies: Wait. What do you mean, Mike? “After he is gone?” Gone where? Oh, wait. No, I’m not going anywhere. I plan to live forever! Didn’t I say as much to everyone a while back? I’m sure I did. But let’s just say there really ought to be a Plan B. So with that in mind, no, there are no notes or unused story lines written down. I don’t think. But here’s guessing someone will find some and new books will appear. That’s the way these things go. So be prepared.

Sam Thieler writes: Is there any chance of us seeing a Knight of the Word in recent story lines. Meaning as recent in the line as he’s been so far.

Terry Brooks replies: Well, I’m not entirely sure I understand your question, but here’s my best attempt at an answer. All of the Knights of the Word died out in the aftermath of the Great Wars. In Bearers of the Black Staff and The Measure of the Magic we saw descendants of those knights, but no actual knights. So unless I write a short story or a fresh tale for Word and Void, there will only be Druids further down the road. One era gives way to another, even though the magic and talismans of magic survive.

Amberle Elessedil writes: Do you know who is doing the special effects for the TV show? Since you are filming in New Zealand, will it be WETA (the people who did the CGI for Lord of the Rings)?

Terry Brooks replies: Well, this is just scary. I’m not sure how to respond to one of my own characters. Usually, they don’t ask questions. They just do what I tell them. But I am guessing you are maybe named for the Amberle in Elfstones? How is that working out for you? Okay, an answer. WETA is not involved at the present time, although other NZ special effects companies are. This might change at a later date.

Thanks, one and all, for your questions and your continued interest in my work. I will be leaving for New Zealand to meet cast and crew at be on set for the beginning of filming. Should be exciting, and once returned, we will have pictures and a full report. Meanwhile, please visit both the website and Facebook pages for updates and pictures, I imagine most of you are already doing this, and I hope you are getting the info you need and the reassurance that things are going well on all fronts.

Until later, be good to each other,

Please completely fill in the form below and send the two questions you want to ask Terry this month.

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7 responses to “December ASK TERRY Posted”

  1. As always, love Terry’s sense of humor. Especially in these ones. Gives me a good laugh and still answers the questions. Love it.

  2. When I read the last part of that answer to the question regarding the Knights of the Word, it occurred to me that one of their staves could possibly have survived? I think it would be fun to see one in the Shannara books, even if only in a detailed mentioning of some sort. It would signal that they could somehow return. I know it was answered that there won’t be any more Knights down the road, but I would love to see a Black Staff! 😀

  3. I’m looking forward to the TV show because I want to see where it expands on the book while still remaining true to it. It doesn’t have to be the book on TV verbatim.

  4. I’ve had a feeling lately that the shannara series isn’t going to end all that peacefully. Probably the demon apocalypse. and the last time the apacalypse happened, some strange forces of nature created a gypsy morph…