The Original Shannara is a Science Fiction / Fantasy series by Terry Brooks, made up of 5 books published between 1977 and 2003. It begins with The Sword of Shannara (1977), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is Indomitable (Short Story) (2003), spanning 26 years of storytelling.
| # | Title | Year | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | |||
| 1 | The Sword of Shannara Locus Award 1978Full award history → | 1977 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 1980s | |||
| 2 | The Elfstones of Shannara | 1982 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 3 | The Wishsong of Shannara | 1985 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 1990s | |||
| 4 | First King of Shannara ★ NYT 7w · peaked #3 | 1996 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 2000s | |||
| 5 | Indomitable (Short Story)Latest | 2003 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
Original Shannara series: frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Original Shannara series?
Start with The Sword of Shannara (1977), the first book in the Original Shannara series by Terry Brooks. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.
How many books are in the Original Shannara series?
There are 5 books in the Original Shannara series by Terry Brooks, published between 1977 and 2003.
What is the first book in the Original Shannara series?
The first book in the Original Shannara series is The Sword of Shannara, published in 1977 by Terry Brooks.
What is the latest book in the Original Shannara series?
The most recent book in the Original Shannara series is Indomitable (Short Story) (2003) by Terry Brooks.
About the Original Shannara series
Terry Brooks's original Shannara trilogy is a foundational work of modern commercial fantasy — one of the first epic fantasies to become a major bestseller after Tolkien. In a far-future world where magic has returned after the fall of civilisation, ordinary heroes of the Ohmsford line must take up the legendary Sword of Shannara against a returning evil.
The original trilogy ("The Sword of Shannara," "The Elfstones of Shannara," "The Wishsong of Shannara") delivers grand quests, ancient magic and a richly built world that launched a decades-long publishing empire. "Elfstones" in particular is a fan favourite.
Read the original three in order; they anchor an enormous interconnected series spanning many later trilogies.