8. Which Story To Start With?
The rumour, much like the potential WB movie a couple of years back, is that the show will start with Terry Brook's second novel, 'The Elfstones Of Shannara'. The reasons are obvious. It's quite possibly the most exciting of the early novels. It has our heroes chased by all manner of monsters, making for some very exciting sequences. But will it work? Is it the right novel to start with? Let's take a look what I consider the possible contenders. The Sword Of Shannara The very first book published in the saga (though not the first chronologically), I suspect the main reason this never comes up as the main choice is because the overall plot shares similarities with another fantasy story. Lord Of The Rings. (Heard of it?) Our heroes are chased from their sleepy vale by mysterious figures in black, guided by a mysterious druid in a quest to defeat the dark druid Brona even as he threatens to wage war on the Four Lands. Had this been a film adaption, I would have been fine with another story to adapt first. But this is a TV series, so the scope for adaption is very different. It also serves as the original introduction of the Ohmsfords, Allanon's big quest to defeat Brona, a powerful force that betrayed and killed his people and a lot of set up for the motifs that run through each novel. The city of Leah for example. The struggle between the dwarves and gnomes. As an introduction to this world, this surely has to be the best place start? The Elfstones Of Shannara Let's take a look at why this is more obvious choice. The Forbidding is closing and hordes of darkness threaten to sweep across the four lands, starting with the lands of the elves first. Allanon leads a new quest; the elf heroine Amberle and Will, the grandson of 'Sword's main hero Shea to stop the Forbidding from breaking free. Pursued by demons, the most terrifying being a creature known as the Reaper, is a thrilling tale that allows the reader (and viewer) to explore the Four Lands in a quest that is very different to the first novel. First King Of Shannara The prequel to the Shannara trilogy and the origins of the one recurring character from the first trilogy: Allanon. The fall of the Druids. The creation of the mythical Sword Of Shannara. The rise of Brona. If the series wants to start the tale chronologically, then this might be the place to start. The first season would certainly leave audiences with a cliff hanger that the tale of The Sword Of Shannara would have to resolve. The Heritage Of Shannara Unlike the trilogy that preceded it, the 'heritage' story line actually consists of four books. 'Scions', 'Druid', 'Elf Queen' and 'Talismans'. We follow a set of characters across the books, working to save the Four Lands and reunite, all culminating in the final book. If MTV plan to introduce us to characters that can span a number of series...well this is quite possibly the better way to go, though without the story of the original trilogy to go by, it may be a bit confusing...and its good, but not as great as the novels that preceded it.