FROM NOVELS TO OGN: TERRY BROOKS ON DARK WRAITH OF SHANNARA

**MattBrady** · 03-24-2008, 06:54 AM

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks’ most popular fantasy series is making its graphic novel debut this week, courtesy of Del Rey, a division of the Random House Publishing Group.

Brooks became the master of epic fantasy with the publication of his legendary debut, The Sword of Shannara in 1977. Together with The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara, Sword formed what’s become known as The Original Shannara Trilogy and chronicled the adventures of brothers Shea and Flick Ohmsford and their immediate descendants, Wil (Shea’s grandson), Jair and Brin (Wil’s children), in their quests to save the Four Lands.

Brooks went on write various other novels, with the next one, The Gypsy Morph, the third novel in The Genesis of Shannara series, scheduled to hit stores in August.

In the meantime, Brooks, along with writer Robert Place Napton and artist Edwin David, bring readers a brand-new adventure set in the bestselling Shannara universe in the form of an original graphic novel. Dark Wraith of Shannara is set a few years after the events of The Wishsong of Shannara and the Shannara short story “Indomitable”, which first appeared in the Robert Silverberg-edited Legends II together with other short stories by a number of noteworthy fantasy authors.

In the first installment of a three-part series, Brooks talks about Shannara in original graphic novel format, the upcoming film adaptation and other works.

Newsarama: Terry, all this while, you'd never intended to bring the world of Shannara to go beyond the novel form. So, which one came first? The success of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy made Hollywood take notice and you subsequently optioned the rights to Warner, or the attention that adaptations of other novelists' works into comics like George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight, Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time: New Spring, and others prompted you to bring Shannara to the graphic novel format?

Terry Brooks: You're right about being reluctant to do anything with Shannara other than in book format. But Del Rey formed a manga division some five years or so back, and they had hinted at the possibility of doing something with Shannara, so I had some time to consider the idea. Because the growth in this area has been so huge in the past decade, I thought maybe it was something consider. After Del Rey told me how they wanted to handle it and how they intended to give me control over the material, I decided it was worth a try.

NRAMA: Are you nervous to be competing with, say, Stephen King's The Dark Tower comics, Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter: The First Death two-parter, TokyoPop/Jim Henson Co's Return to Labyrinth and Legends of the Dark Crystal?

TB: You know, I've never believed in the idea that authors compete. I don't like the concept. This is one reason I don't believe in awards where it is a competition. Writers do the best they can with the gifts they have; they don't deserve to be measured against other writers. So, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn about what other writers are doing. My measuring stick is personal to me.

NRAMA: You'd discovered the works of Walter Scott, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Dumas and other 18th and 19th century writers in your early teens. And J.R.R. Tolkien's works, especially The Lord of the Rings, influenced you greatly as a writer. Would you mind sharing the spark that generated the idea which drove you to write the Shannara books?

TB: Well, who can remember now, nearly forty years later? Okay, let me give it a try. It was a combination of all of the above and a heavy influx of Faulkner stirred into the mix. I wanted to write a large saga set in an imaginary world, but without appendices and the need for extraneous histories. I wanted a straight forward adventure story, but I also wanted to do what Faulkner did, which was to set everything within a small group of families in different generations and look at the ways that secrets destroy and deception infects the members of those families.

NRAMA: What do you feel is your own strength as a master storyteller/writer?

TB: Oh, I don't think there is any question. Plotting and storytelling has always been my forte. I think I do pretty well at getting into the minds of my characters, as well. But this is one of those questions that should be answered by readers, who might be less prejudiced than I am.

NRAMA: Why do you think that fantasy fiction is still so popular even to this day?

TB: Fantasy is the child of myths and legends and fairytales, much of which forms the bedrock of our earliest exposure to books and storytelling. I think we have gene for it in our makeup, an attraction for all of its components. Plus, fantasy is really storytelling about us and our world, and access to the characters and stories comes easily.

NRAMA: How do you see your magnum opus translated into the graphic novel in the form of Dark Wraith of Shannara by writer Robert Napton and artist Edwin David? What do they bring to the project with their respective talent and experience?

TB: I took the events of The Wishsong of Shannara, the fourth book chronologically in the series, for the jumping off point for the story in Dark Wraith. But I don't have the talent or interest in the adaptive process. Both Edwin and Robert knew the Shannara series intricately coming in, and their skills were an immediate draw for me in agreeing to turn the project over to them. I kept my finger on what they were doing, but really it wasn't necessary. I did very little editing of their work.

NRAMA: While you'd stated in other interviews that you had full control of the entire project, was it difficult to let go of your characters to them?

TB: Once upon a time, it would have been difficult. But when you agree to projects outside the books, you have to trust the people to your bring in to do the work. I think all of us at Del Rey felt that Robert and Edwin could do the job. Turns out, we were right.

NRAMA: Let's wrap up all this graphic novel talk with a tease about Dark Wraith of Shannara, shall we? Any scenes or elements that you can toss out that might perk some eyebrows?

TB: I think the artistic renderings of the Mwellrets and the Croton Witch will catch the reader's eye. I like what Edwin did with the Moor Cat, Whisper, too. Different than I had envisioned, but very good. Robert was very good at using minimal dialogue to capture scenes, too.

NRAMA: Moving on to The Gypsy Morph, the last book of The Genesis of Shannara. Is it true that the third novel will explain the lack of Knights of the Word in later books as well as plant the seeds for the origins of the Druids?

TB: I don't know if explain is quite the right word. I think it will suggest the reason. If the readers are astute, they will be able to figure out some of what is coming. But it isn't all made clear this early. Mostly, we see how the old world ended and the new will begin. When I go back into this series, which I may do soon, it will be some three to five hundred years later.

NRAMA: You once said that you're always telling everyone to read Phillip Pullman. What was it like to see The Golden Compass (originally published as Northern Lights in the UK almost two decades after the first book in The Original Shannara Trilogy) hit the big screens first?

TB: Well, I liked seeing what they did. So did Philip. But we both live by the same motto: The book is always better.

NRAMA: Do you have an ending in mind for Shannara?

TB: No. Is that definite enough?

NRAMA: Is it true that you've got at least eight Shannara stories that you couldn't find the time to write? Do you see Shannara continue on in graphic novels with you creating just the outlines while writers like Robert and artists like Edwin bring the stories to life in comics and manga?

TB: It's true that I've got a bunch of stories in Shannara I haven't yet written. You pick and choose which direction you want to go and which stories you want to tell. As for the graphic novels, if Dark Wraith does well, I will consider doing more, working in the same way with a writer and artist.

NRAMA: Like Susan Cooper's five-book children's fantasy series, The Dark Is Rising, which saw a film adaptation of the second book in 2007, it looks like The Elfstones of Shannara, the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy, would head to the theatres first. How is the production coming along with Warner Bros. and director Mike Newell?

TB: Now that the writer's strike is settled, I think it is coming along pretty well. Mike is considering several writers for the project, and I think he will chose someone pretty quick now. I know that Warner wants to move along with the screenplay.

NRAMA: And speaking of movies, are things moving with the Magic Kingdom of Landover film?

TB: The last I heard Stephen Somers was back as director and working with the screenwriters on revising the script. The option runs out later this year, so I expect we'll know something before too long.

NRAMA: What do you have in mind for the upcoming sixth book?

TB: I am writing a new Magic Kingdom novel, a book that is long overdue. The last one in that series came out in 1995. The fans have been very patient with me, but I sense their patience growing short. So that book will be out in 2009.

NRAMA: Finally, were you into Superman, Batman or Spider-Man growing up? Marvel or DC?

TB: Yeah, I grew up reading all those comics back in the fifties and sixties. I began collecting some of them after a time. Did that for maybe fifteen years or so. I've got complete collections of many of the Marvel comics, including Spider-Man, Daredevil and some others. I wrote an English Lit paper in my senior year of college on the philosophy of Marvel Comics. Got an A. As for writing a comic, I don't think I would do so if it wasn't my own story. I just don't have enough interest or time to spend on that kind of thing. But you never know, do you?

Look for an interview with Dark Wraith of Shannara writer Robert Napton tomorrow, and artist Edwin David on Wednesday.

For those who missed out on the “Indomitable” short story, head on over to this link to read an excerpt.

Dark Wraith of Shannara is scheduled to be in stores this week.

weaselwelch · 03-24-2008, 07:16 AM

This sounds so cool. I have the first 3 hard cover collection of Brook's series.

Been years since I have read them though. This gives me a reason to go back and reread them.

TheToileteer · 03-24-2008, 07:21 AM

Book I, "The Sword of Shannara," is often accused of being a scene-by-scene copy of "Lord of the Rings."

chrissama200 · 03-24-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheToileteer

Book I, "The Sword of Shannara," is often accused of being a scene-by-scene copy of "Lord of the Rings."

And accused for good reason, too.

Zenstrive · 03-24-2008, 07:35 AM

OH MY GOD!

OH MY GOD!

OH MY GOD!

OH MY GOD!

ZacWilliam1 · 03-24-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheToileteer

Book I, "The Sword of Shannara," is often accused of being a scene-by-scene copy of "Lord of the Rings."

I think that's a bit of an exageration.

It is, however a VERY clear, unappologetic "offspring" and Brooks himself has said, IIRC, that the LotR books were some of his favorites and he very purposely set out to write a book that "felt like" that book he'd loved reading.

Working in a book store, the way I've explained it to folks is that if LotR were the Indiana Jones films then the Shannara ones would be the Mummy films w/ Brendan Frasier. Clearly inspired by the former but lighter, a bit less literary a bit more of a "beach read" but in the same general vein.

Jmacq1 · 03-24-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacWilliam1

I think that's a bit of an exageration.

It is, however a VERY clear, unappologetic "offspring" and Brooks himself has said, IIRC, that the LotR books were some of his favorites and he very purposely set out to write a book that "felt like" that book he'd loved reading.

Working in a book store, the way I've explained it to folks is that if LotR were the Indiana Jones films then the Shannara ones would be the Mummy films w/ Brendan Frasier. Clearly inspired by the former but lighter, a bit less literary a bit more of a "beach read" but in the same general vein.

LotR "knockoff" or not, the Shannara series was one of my fantasy staples in my middle-school through high-school days. I've long since lost track of the story (I think the "prequel" novel that told the story of the original "Shannara" guy was the last one I read), but it wasn't for lack of enjoyment. I mostly just moved on to things like the Wheel of Time and Song of Ice and Fire. It seems Mr. Brooks' universe has at least expanded and reinvented itself to the point that it certainly became much more than a Middle-Earth pastiche.

Anyway, I still think the Shannara series (at least the ones that I read of it) are a worthy read. The Magic Kingdom of Landover series was pretty good too, as I recall.

CitC · 03-24-2008, 09:27 AM

I've never been into Fantasy (comics led me to HG Wells and A.C. Doyle), but I have this in front of me now and I am looking forward to reading it. I agree with Brooks when he says "The book is always better" (which is why I enjoy, but don't get too excited about the Bat and Spiderman movies), but since I likely won't be reading the original, this will have to do.

capjr · 03-24-2008, 09:41 AM

Alright...this has made my day...

I used to go by menionleah531on here....

Not really into fantasy but I love the Shannara books....a very vivid world and great action...

I don't know if I would call it LotR Lite though...I couldn't stand those books...and this is from a guy that reads Wuthering Heghts, Last of the Mohicans, The Ordeal of Richard Feveral for fun....

Zenstrive · 03-24-2008, 10:29 AM

Shannara introduces me to magic,
Shannara introduces me to ideas that magic and science could exist side-by-side,
Shannara introduces me to some out-of-this world ideas of the WISHSONG!

To me, Shannara is historical. It is the first and best Fantasy novel series for me

So a Shannara story is being made into literature format I like the most is a thousand blessings pouring down from heaven for me

KraziJoe · 03-24-2008, 11:31 AM

No love for Magic Kingdon: FOR SALE--SOLD???

Lunoria · 03-24-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheToileteer

Book I, "The Sword of Shannara," is often accused of being a scene-by-scene copy of "Lord of the Rings."

That is a vast simplification. Have you read both books?

Is the Sword of Shannara influenced by LoTR? Yes.
Are the major plot points directly copied and reimaged? Most of them.
Is it the same story? No.

The Sword of Shannara is a good book by itself. It is also a great deal smaller then LoTR.

Laz Green · 03-24-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunoria

That is a vast simplification. Have you read both books?

Is the Sword of Shannara influenced by LoTR? Yes.
Are the major plot points directly copied and reimaged? Most of them.
Is it the same story? No.

The Sword of Shannara is a good book by itself. It is also a great deal smaller then LoTR.

I agree.

I remember reading several Shannara books in my teens...a decade and a half ago, mind you...and although I remember the first book, Sword OS, to be an almost direct plot copy of LotR (down to the enigmatic wizard who selects an impossible quest for a hero-in-waiting), I found the later books to be very original and well crafted. I LOVED the one book, I can't remember what one it was, if someone could help me out:

It had the guy who was destined to kill the girl...he was like an assassin and he had this crazy ass knife...anyone?

To be completely fair, saying a fantasy book is influenced by the LotR is like saying that a rock band is influenced by Led Zeppelin..OF COURSE IT IS!

People seem to forget that LotR was THE FIRST of it's kind...a fantasy novel in which an entire universe was created...LotR gave us DnD, Shannara, Wheel of Time, Forgotten Realms, Warcraft, etc. Sure it's based on legends and myths, but it stands as the seminal work of that genre...so it's not fair to say that because someone followed the same formula (at first) they are "copying"...it is what is. In that sense, Christianity is just a "copy" of Judaism, A Corvette is just a "copy" of a Model T, and ...you get the picture.

Zenstrive · 03-24-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz Green

I agree.

II LOVED the one book, I can't remember what one it was, if someone could help me out:

It had the guy who was destined to kill the girl...he was like an assassin and he had this crazy ass knife...anyone?

Book 2 of the Heritage of Shannara Tetralogy: The Druid of Shannara. That assasin is called Pe Ell, and the knife is called Stiehl. The story is AMUSING!

The tetralogy itself is the best series of any Shannara, beats even the first trilogy.

LowKey Loki · 03-24-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weaselwelch

This sounds so cool. I have the first 3 hard cover collection of Brook's series.

Been years since I have read them though. This gives me a reason to go back and reread them.

Jump to Scions of Shannara. I love all the Shannara books, but it gets much better with Scions. The Heritage of Shannara was the best series IMO. First King of Shannara was also great and a stand alone prequel...

I can't wait to get this!

jakew · 03-24-2008, 09:51 PM

The Heritage of Shannara Tetralogy or whatever was fantastic ... really great fantasy stuff. However, all of Terry Brook's other stuff is garbage.

And I agree ... Sword of Shannara is a shameless rip of LOTR, mirroring key plot elements, characters, battles, etc.

God, I remember when the wizard (oops Druid) fell down into the bottomless fire-pit while fighting the Ring Wraith (oops Skull Bearer), only to later be revealed alive during the climactic battle. Or the gnome who is twisted by his desire for the Sword and betrays the heroes. Or the ranger with his legendary hereditary sword who has to fulfill his desinty.

Glass · 03-25-2008, 01:26 AM

Heritage has easily the worst climax of all the books. Just awful. The other books have great climaxes, but Heritage just peters out at the end. The only reason people love that series is because of DRUID and ELF QUEEN.

And JakeW, I don't know what story you read, but half of what you wrote never happened in SWORD. haha There is no gnome who betrays the heroes and there is no ranger with a legendary sword who has to fulfill his destiny.

The fact remains as thus: the first 1/3 of SWORD is a blatant copy of FELLOWSHIP, plot point by plot point. After that, SWORD is wholly original. Sam and Gandalf never joined forces and there are no characters like Panamon Creel or Keltset in LOTR. *shrugs* The people who say SWORD is a ripoff of LOTR obviously haven't compared the two on their own and made up their own minds.

DarkQueen · 03-25-2008, 07:55 PM

The Sword of Shannara," is often accused of being a scene-by-scene copy of "Lord of the Rings."

That is certainly incorrect.

How many other fantasy books are out there that are similar to LOTR's as well? More than I count.

The Shannara books stand on their own. It's a fantasic story and I can't wait for The Dark Wraith and the other wonderful novels that will be coming out soon.

Thanks Terry
Keep up the great work!

jakew · 03-25-2008, 09:20 PM

Glass, I believe the gnome's name is Orl Fane ... the Gollum rip-off.

But you got me on the ranger one ... I got mixed up between Morgan Leah and Rone Leah. Oops. However, I did read the book about ten years ago. I'm sure you jerk to it a lot more frequently than that.

I'm amazed at how people can deny that Sword of Shannara rips off Lord Of The Rings. Is it just for the sake of argument?

Not From Around · 03-26-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacWilliam1

I think that's a bit of an exageration.

It is, however a VERY clear, unappologetic "offspring" and Brooks himself has said, IIRC, that the LotR books were some of his favorites and he very purposely set out to write a book that "felt like" that book he'd loved reading.

Working in a book store, the way I've explained it to folks is that if LotR were the Indiana Jones films then the Shannara ones would be the Mummy films w/ Brendan Frasier. Clearly inspired by the former but lighter, a bit less literary a bit more of a "beach read" but in the same general vein.

That's not a bad way to put it. Although IMHO it would be more accurate to speak of LOTR as the equivalent of something like "Lawrence of Arabia" than of the Indiana Jones movies. THAT'S how far it stands above Sword of Shannara. Sword of Shannara is Tolkien done as a popcorn movie. Nothing wrong with that, and some people might really enjoy the popcorn movie version more (I did at one time, before I really started to "get" LOTR). But LOTR is the masterpiece of this type of fantasy. The Shannara books are well-crafted genre fiction, nothing less or more.