This first volume of Legends of Shannara opens five centuries after the worldwide holocaust that ended the Genesis of Shannara trilogy.Elves, humans, and other races are slowly restoring a modest civilization in a mountain valley protected by their combined magic.

Now this sanctuary is threatened by the assault of monstrous creatures that seem to be either magic wielders or creations of magic greater than the valley’s and of mysterious origin.Another stalwart band of heroes, the title characters, is drawn from all the races to fight—although this time they are not marching out on a quest but fighting in the last ditch.The forthcoming sequel, The Measure of the Magic, will, as it were, measure their degree of success—for the time being.

The author’s success needs no measuring anymore—it is enormous, thanks to a growing gift for characterization, pacing, and world building, not to mention magic that may not be supremely original in conception but manages to be increasingly enthralling to literally millions of readers over what is approaching two generations.