March ASK TERRY Posted

Ryan Kohler writes: Do you have any ideas what the plans are for Season 2 of The Shannara Chronicles? Are they picking up where the season ended, or are they going to blend together a book and also continue the developing story?

Terry Brooks replies: It appears they are going to pick up the threads and characters from Season One and go from there. They are looking closely at Sword and Wishsong, and my guess is they will use characters and plotlines from both. But don’t quote me. I really don’t know quite yet. I will know more in about 60 days when things ramp up for the season.

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David Kaczor writes: Terry…I am a long time (64 years old) fantasy and science fiction fan. I just finished watching The Shannara Chronicles on MTV. I find that I am now hooked on the characters and overall concept of the series. I am very much interested in reading more of your books tied to the series. I confess that I have to this point never read one of your books. Obviously a mistake on my part. I am looking for some direction on what books of yours I should purchase to continue the saga of The Shannara Chronicles. I am not sure what books were covered in season 1 and what the chronological order of reading would be. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.

Terry Brooks replies: You warm my heart, David. Always happy to win over a new reader. And you are younger than I am, so you have plenty of time to read them all. Shannara Chronicles, Season One, is based entirely on Elfstones. This will be the jumping off point for the series. As for the books, you should probably read Wishsong of Shannara next and then work your way down the chronological line. There are five pre-history books, as well, and First King, which is a stand-alone some time and space before Sword, the book that started it all. Best to read a set of two, three or four straight through. You can tell which constitutes a set by looking at the bibliography at the front of one of the newer books. Have fun!

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Clark W. Patrick writes: I have been an avid reader since 1977. I still have my first paperback copy of Sword. I just finished watching the abomination that was the MTV version of Elfstones. How anyone could take a great book and turn it in to that drivel is completely beyond my comprehension. I read online that you were “happy” with and approved the script. Please tell me that was not true. Thank you.

Terry Brooks replies: Well, calm down, Clark. The TV show really isn’t all that bad, especially if you accept that it is an adaptation (read “reimagining’) of Elfstones and not a copy. I agree and gave my blessing to a companion work with the TV show, primarily to bring new readers to the books. I did read the scripts and now and then did not necessarily agree with some of the plotlines or ideas. Most of the changes I did agree with though. But my showrunners are good guys and talented writers, and sometimes you just have to back off. TV, like movies, is art by committee, so other voices have to be paid attention to. Overall, I thought they did a good job. But if you are displeased, just remember the books never changed and never will.

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Michael Roark writes: I have become a bit of a Shannara junkie. Now that Defenders of Shannara series is done, what’s next for the Four Lands?

Terry Brooks replies: The Sorcerer’s Daughter will come out on May 24th. Next up is the concluding set of books in the final Shannara series, publishing one by one over the next four years (starting 2017). I am not releasing the titles to anything just yet. I will say there are four books, and after they are done I will not be writing any further Shannara stories set beyond that time but I will probably go back to earlier times and write more pre-history and some others. That’s the plan for the moment, but nothing is written in blood just yet.

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Brian Miller writes: A while back, I heard about a Magic Kingdom for Sale movie. Is that still happening and if so when can we expect to hear more about it?

Terry Brooks replies: Magic Kingdom for Sale has been optioned over at Warner Brothers for a number of years. Steve Carell is set to star as Ben Holiday. A final draft of the screenplay (we all hope) will appear late in May. After that, cross your fingers that the studio approves and the movie gets green-lit. Obviously, you will read about approximately five minutes after I get the news.

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