garreth Jacks
master of weapons
has any body read this series of books my brother has and said they where ok but they are diffrent from his other books (terry brooks) what do you think of these books
The word and the void
- Thread starter garreth Jacks
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Jay
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Hi Garreth Jacks
First it's Word/Void, and it is a departure from the traditional high fantasy that Brooks has rippe...I mean written. In many ways this series, at least to me restored Brook's integrity as a viable writer, and IMHP the Word/Void series represent his best work by far. I think one of the installments, Angel Fire East represents the best single work Brooks has ever written.
The differences is that much of the story takes place in the "real world" and deals with the constant ongoing battle between the Word, and the Void. In Running with the Demon (the first book) you will be introduced to John Ross, a Knight of the Word. Brook's first time developing reasoanbley good characters, and thougthful dialogue.
As I said before this represent the first time IMHO that Brooks has written something close to being able to be called original and write believalble characters with some form of depth, and is his best work. That said fans of strictly high fantasy (for example his Shannara series) probably won't take to this series, there are no stereotypical elves running around, nor is magic employed at the end of novels to tidy up a loose plotline.
IMHO Word/Void represents by far Brook's best written work, and in saying that it means it's a slightly above average as a series comparitively in regards to the rest of fantasy IMHO.
First it's Word/Void, and it is a departure from the traditional high fantasy that Brooks has rippe...I mean written. In many ways this series, at least to me restored Brook's integrity as a viable writer, and IMHP the Word/Void series represent his best work by far. I think one of the installments, Angel Fire East represents the best single work Brooks has ever written.
The differences is that much of the story takes place in the "real world" and deals with the constant ongoing battle between the Word, and the Void. In Running with the Demon (the first book) you will be introduced to John Ross, a Knight of the Word. Brook's first time developing reasoanbley good characters, and thougthful dialogue.
As I said before this represent the first time IMHO that Brooks has written something close to being able to be called original and write believalble characters with some form of depth, and is his best work. That said fans of strictly high fantasy (for example his Shannara series) probably won't take to this series, there are no stereotypical elves running around, nor is magic employed at the end of novels to tidy up a loose plotline.
IMHO Word/Void represents by far Brook's best written work, and in saying that it means it's a slightly above average as a series comparitively in regards to the rest of fantasy IMHO.
Winters_Sorrow
Well-Known Member
Where's Isolde when you need her?
It's "insipid" and "they're" (preferably they are)
Oh, and you'll notice Garreth hasn't actually read them - his brother has, and he just asked if anyone else has and what their opinion of them was.
No need for name-calling
It's "insipid" and "they're" (preferably they are)
Oh, and you'll notice Garreth hasn't actually read them - his brother has, and he just asked if anyone else has and what their opinion of them was.
No need for name-calling
Circus Cranium
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I read the first one, and started the second. While it was a pleasant read, I wasn't overly crazy about the characters. I prefer the Shannara series. Running with the Demon felt a lot like a mediocre King story to me. Again, not bad, just didn't turn me on.
Mithridelle
In the Shadows
Overall, a very good series that has some interesting plot twists and lovable characters. Coming out of the shadows of the magnificent series Shannara would be very hard, but I feel that The Word and the Void has done so rather admirably.
Tansy
Northern Monkey
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I just picked this up and started reading it today and it's really drawn me in, so much more original than the Sword of Shannara, however, I do think he possibly had this in mind from the start and with Sword he hadn't realised how LotR it was till it was finished. Being close to your work you can miss the obvious and he was a big fan of Tolkein as many writers are.
With the Word and the Void I'm getting a sense that this is the events that happened in the last days of the world as we know it. I.e. beofre the apocalyptic event that destroyed the modern world and science. I think this is the forerunner to Shannara.
I like his take that the future has gone medieval, magic replaced science instead of the usual science kills off magic. In a way it fits with the cycle of life and with preserving the balance that seems to be prevalent in his stories. The more I read of Brooks the more I think that he had a long term goal in sight and he envisioned writing of the world pre and post apocalypse.
I was starting to get into Erikson, but as I didn't have GotM with me today I started the Word and the Void and now think I will probably complete this trilogy before continuing Erikson as I'm so tired from work and Brook's writing style is so much easier to read, although I am thinking probably less rewarding in the long run compared to Erikson. I just want to be able to read Erikson when I am fully awake and concentrating, whereas with Brooks I can just glide along nice and easily and not have to think too hard (which isn't a criticism, I love books that I can just sit back and enjoy the ride with instead of having to work out the twists and turns all the way)
With the Word and the Void I'm getting a sense that this is the events that happened in the last days of the world as we know it. I.e. beofre the apocalyptic event that destroyed the modern world and science. I think this is the forerunner to Shannara.
I like his take that the future has gone medieval, magic replaced science instead of the usual science kills off magic. In a way it fits with the cycle of life and with preserving the balance that seems to be prevalent in his stories. The more I read of Brooks the more I think that he had a long term goal in sight and he envisioned writing of the world pre and post apocalypse.
I was starting to get into Erikson, but as I didn't have GotM with me today I started the Word and the Void and now think I will probably complete this trilogy before continuing Erikson as I'm so tired from work and Brook's writing style is so much easier to read, although I am thinking probably less rewarding in the long run compared to Erikson. I just want to be able to read Erikson when I am fully awake and concentrating, whereas with Brooks I can just glide along nice and easily and not have to think too hard (which isn't a criticism, I love books that I can just sit back and enjoy the ride with instead of having to work out the twists and turns all the way)
You're correct. The books he's now writing are prequels tothe world of Shannara and have the Word and Void in there. These current books fit b/w Word/Void and the Shannara series.
Tansy
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Well I've just finished the second of the trilogy and I am really enoying them, however I kinda know it all has to end badly due the fact that Shannara is set in a post-apocalyptic world that these events are leading up to
It's not Nest that creates the forbidding is it? Just have a feeling that it's Nest and John that allow humans to carry on living after the end of the world as they know it (queue REM) and that must involve banishing demonkind somehow. I'm now thinking Nest becomes the first Ellcrys..hmm I think I need coffee lol
It's not Nest that creates the forbidding is it? Just have a feeling that it's Nest and John that allow humans to carry on living after the end of the world as they know it (queue REM) and that must involve banishing demonkind somehow. I'm now thinking Nest becomes the first Ellcrys..hmm I think I need coffee lol
Tansy
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Okay I've just finished this and it's left me wondering - are there any more Word and the Void books planned?
I was expecting this to lead up to the cataclysmic events that ended the modern world but it stopped quite a way short. I just wondered if he was planning to tell the story of
****spoiler.. (well kinda)*******
and the story of the apocalypse.
Or is it possible that the world of Shannara is just a possibile future - a future that happens if the Void wins over the Word? A future at the time of John and Nest isn't decided yet? Ok I'm rambling..I should stop posting on here before Caffeine
I think there is a huge story yet to be written where the Void thinks they have won but the Word gets the last laugh and lays down the foundation for the World of Shannara to emerge (The Elves, The Ellcrys, what drove the men undergrounds to become dwarves, how the trolls/gnomes became trolls/gnomes, the first druids etc, etc). I know it has been mentioned in the Shannara books, but events tend to be warped and changed with time and re-telling. I think the "real" story behind the myth could be a fab read
Guess I shall just have to wait and see
I was expecting this to lead up to the cataclysmic events that ended the modern world but it stopped quite a way short. I just wondered if he was planning to tell the story of
****spoiler.. (well kinda)*******
Nest's child
and the story of the apocalypse.
Or is it possible that the world of Shannara is just a possibile future - a future that happens if the Void wins over the Word? A future at the time of John and Nest isn't decided yet? Ok I'm rambling..I should stop posting on here before Caffeine
I think there is a huge story yet to be written where the Void thinks they have won but the Word gets the last laugh and lays down the foundation for the World of Shannara to emerge (The Elves, The Ellcrys, what drove the men undergrounds to become dwarves, how the trolls/gnomes became trolls/gnomes, the first druids etc, etc). I know it has been mentioned in the Shannara books, but events tend to be warped and changed with time and re-telling. I think the "real" story behind the myth could be a fab read
Guess I shall just have to wait and see
I've previously read the second in the series but recently managed to get all three. Halfway through Runnnig with Demons. Now I know a lot of people feel Brooks is a medicore author at best aTolkien rip off but I like him and enjoy his books. Word and Void are his best imo. Have to say he must have the memory of an elephant, John Ross's dreams of the once men etc, all came true in Armegeddons Children. I wonder if when he wrote the Sword of Shannara all those years ago then 20 years later,Running with the Demons if he always meant to tie in the series. Have to say he has made a decent job of it.
Reivax26
Well-Known Member
There is a trilogy after Word/Void that tells even more of the backstory. This one actually has Elves in it and helps bridge the gap between the 2 series.
Reivax26
Well-Known Member
By the way if Brooks is a Tolkien ripoff artist, then everyone who has ever had the following in their novels is also a fraud: Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Dragons, Halflings, Wizards, Trolls, and Necromancers.
Well that would eliminate about 95% of everything written after Tolkien in the Fantasy genre. I don't consider it a ripoff to use the races from Lord of the Rings and I am almost positive that Mr Tolkien himself wouldn't have a problem with it either.
Well that would eliminate about 95% of everything written after Tolkien in the Fantasy genre. I don't consider it a ripoff to use the races from Lord of the Rings and I am almost positive that Mr Tolkien himself wouldn't have a problem with it either.
thatollie
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Two things;
1. A lot of those things were frequently used concepts from works pre-dating Tolkien.
2. The reason some people believe he "ripped off" Tolkien isn't because of those magical entities but more about similarities between character types and plots.
Reivax26
Well-Known Member
A lot of books have similar storylines to other books in their genre. It isn't a ripoff if your story is in a different setting with different style characters.
I really want someone to explain this idea that Brooks stole the character types and plotline of Lord of the Rings with Shannara.
Shannara's central idea is that its set in a future where technology caused Armageddon to happen and the world reverted back to a medieval technological world and magic came back. Middle Earth is nothing like that at all.
Shannara's main supporting character in the first series of books was Allanon the Druid. While I see similarities between Allanon and Gandalf as far as they are both magic users, their character types are not similar.
While I agree that Hobbits in Middle Earth and the Ohmsfords in Shannara are similar stature wise the dynamics of them are not. Hobbits don't possess magic in any way shape and or form, while the Ohmsfords are descended from elves and can wield magic. Anyone that tells me that Bilbo Baggins or the other Hobbits act anything like the Ohmsfords is nuts.
Main villain there are similarities between Sauron and the Warlock Lord Brona. If there was one thing where they are the most alike it would be the villains.
In my opinion the only thing that you could say was ripped off from Tolkien might be the idea of using a dark magic user as the main villain but the same could be said of a lot of books if that is true.
I really want someone to explain this idea that Brooks stole the character types and plotline of Lord of the Rings with Shannara.
Shannara's central idea is that its set in a future where technology caused Armageddon to happen and the world reverted back to a medieval technological world and magic came back. Middle Earth is nothing like that at all.
Shannara's main supporting character in the first series of books was Allanon the Druid. While I see similarities between Allanon and Gandalf as far as they are both magic users, their character types are not similar.
While I agree that Hobbits in Middle Earth and the Ohmsfords in Shannara are similar stature wise the dynamics of them are not. Hobbits don't possess magic in any way shape and or form, while the Ohmsfords are descended from elves and can wield magic. Anyone that tells me that Bilbo Baggins or the other Hobbits act anything like the Ohmsfords is nuts.
Main villain there are similarities between Sauron and the Warlock Lord Brona. If there was one thing where they are the most alike it would be the villains.
In my opinion the only thing that you could say was ripped off from Tolkien might be the idea of using a dark magic user as the main villain but the same could be said of a lot of books if that is true.
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