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,
Hope your summer is going well and you are getting some sort of vacation from your regular job, be it work or school. Most of my summer is being spent going to big conventions and talking about The Shannara Chronicles. But there is a ten day trip to Paris squeezed in there with Judine and daughter Amanda and some time at the beach. And the NW weather this year has been great.
But down to business. Yet another Ask Terry needs some attention.



Chris Roung writes: I read the Elfstones and Sword when they fist came out and really enjoyed them. The last one I fully read was the First King of Shannara before I stopped for some reason. Now I’m re-reading the series, but I recall now why I stopped. You introduced Airships which really turned me off your series (my brother as well). It may not bother me now but it might I thought it really dampened the stories for some reason I think they would have been much better. In my opinion it would have been better to use ROCs or something. Why didn’t you use that route and why did you add airships?
Terry Brooks replies: Introducing airships and the various new weapons that the Federation uses is part of my ongoing plan to reintroduce science into the new world of magic. The Shannara saga from the first has been about the conflict that arises when magic replaces a failed science and then itself begins to fail to help in the ways intended. Science is being slowly introduced back into the world in new forms, and the ultimate conflict will be between the two as the population begins to embrace science once again. How will this resolve itself?



Scott Williams writes: Are you going to write a series about Galaphile and the First Druid Council, including the construction of Paranor?
Terry Brooks replies: I am going to bring the pre-history forward to the formation of the First Druid Council, but I haven’t yet decided on how much I am going to reveal or how far I will take the story. That remains something to be decided down the road.



Emma Williams writes: Having just finished reading A Princess for Landover, I am champing at the bit for the next installment! When might we expect the next chapter in this brilliant series, Magic Kingdom?
Terry Brooks replies: Warner Brothers Studio has finally settled on a new and improved writer for the series. He will begin work shortly on a new version of a script. This is very good news for all of us. My plan has always been to write the next Magic Kingdom story when we get close to filming the movie and have both come out at the same time. Please be patient.



David Bean writes: How long do you think we will have to wait for any production photos or screen shots that might give us a feel for what The Shannara Chronicles will look like?
Terry Brooks replies: There was a big rollout of the show at San Diego Comic-Con, so you probably already have your answer. Keep you eye out and watch for news on the website and Facebook about more pictures and trailers.



Lon writes: I’m noticing Bearers of the Black Staff to be a bit ‘preachier’ than any other book in the Shannara series. I haven’t found current-events to play so strongly in the Shannara universe before. What influenced that seeming change?
Terry Brooks replies: I don’t think it is all the much of a change. I have been writing about current events in the Shannara series from the very first. You might remember that bits and pieces of things like environmental destruction and preservation, moral fraud, struggles between hard choices when there are no good choices to be made, and questions of whether redemption out of transgression is always a possibility and what form it will take. Now, as well, we have the beginnings of a new science encroaching on Four Lands magic. These are large issues, but you can find smaller behavioral issues in the stories, as well. Sorry that you feel I am being preachy. I just want to make people think a bit about their own world and see the similarities with their own lives.



Okay, back to writing the new trilogy that takes place after The Sorcerer’s Daughter, next year’s book. More news soon. I promise.
Be well,

Please completely fill in the form below and send the two questions you want to ask Terry this month.
One response to “April ASK TERRY Posted”
I found “Bearers” to be one of my favorites of the Shannara pre-history saga. I didn’t find it to be preachy at all, but depict some of the consequences of the character’s choices. There have always been consequences for what people choose. In real life and in fiction.