May ASK TERRY Posted

Gabe writes: Most of your Shannara stories seem to come in groups of three or four books with the exception of Legends. Do you have any plans to add another book to this generation of the story?

Terry Brooks replies: Probably not. I sort of like that I have at least one set-of-two series. Why change it to three and add it to all the others when now it is so unique? Okay, seriously. That story picks up with a new set of books that I have still to write in the prehistory. Don’t know yet exactly how it will play out, and we are probably at least five years away from it happening. So please be patient while I write the last book in the Fall of Shannara series, a Magic Kingdom book, a collection of existing and soon to be written shorts stories with a novella and then we will see.

David Salchow writes: Any significance or special meaning behind the name “Skaar.” It certainly has a menacing sound to it. I can’t imagine a protagonist going by that name.

Terry Brooks replies: It is the name of a people, but only in my books. It has a scandenavian sound and feel to it, and that was where I posited these people would be from. Yes, the name is menacing – deliberately. But the name – as is frequently the case – doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. Read on.

Max West writes: During all the time that passed between First King of Shannara and The Sword of Shannara, why did Allanon not rebuild the Druids? He had a few centuries between the two books and sometime before the Warlock Lord returned. Surely, Allanon could have found suitable candidates during those years. A few extra Druids or potential Druids would have been a boon during the events of “Sword”.

Terry Brooks replies: He tried. He really did. He sent out bulletins, put up posters, asked around and hoped for someone to come forward, but no one did. So he had to wait it out, his time occupied with the Druid Sleep and with looking for a descendant of the Shannara. Or, maybe that story has yet to be written? What’s your guess?

Keith writes: I am very new to your books. I became interested in them after binging the first season of the TV show. I quickly read through the first two books and loved them. I do have one question though, do you ever plan to revisit past characters? I became very much attached to Shea, only to be disappointed to find out in the second book that we had moved on 50 years and now would be following the grandson Wil. Who again I loved. Only to see in book 3 that we have moved on again. Your characters are great, and I’m sure the next ones will be as well. I just wish we could have gotten more from Shea and Wil.

Terry Brooks replies: There is an ebook short online only titled The Black Irix, which features Shea. It will be part of a collection to be published in paper in a year or two. But that might be it at present. Maybe I can come up with something else between now and then.

Nate Weinand writes: Are you at liberty to say anything about Street Freaks yet? The anticipation for that book is driving me crazy. I’ve loved all your work (though I haven’t quite gotten around to the last two Shannara books you’ve written, haha).

Terry Brooks replies: Street Freaks is a futuristic thriller, rather than a fantasy, and it involves issues surrounding genetic manipulation, gender and species identity, all in a country we used to call the United States but is now called the United Territories. At its center is a young man searching for his father and trying to stay ahead of police forces who are hunting him for reasons he cannot figure out. Also, there is a girl. That’s all for starters.