History Literature / TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy

* SecondLove: Possibly Wil and Eretria. We're not sure what he thought of Amberle.

* AboveTheRuins: Of Skull mountain

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: The Chosen, Arion Elessedil, Cephelo and his band, Morag and Mallenroh, The Changeling, The Reaper, The Dagda Mor, Eventine Elessedil]].

* OurDemonsAreDifferent: Evil beings of Faerie exiled before the modern world began, they've been corrupted by hatred into various types of monster.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The one Allanon fights has six legs, one eye, and can't fly or breathe fire.
* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: A species of Demon, described as lean, black, and armed with razor-sharp talons. Fairly numerous, their physical description is pretty close to that usually associated with [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]].
* OurOgresAreHungrier: Another Demon species, used as the brute force of the Dagda Mor's army on several occasions. All we're really told is that they're big, scaly, and that it took the presence of the Trolls to successfully repel them.
* PowerNullifier/ BroughtDownToNormal: The Ellcrys equips the Elves with a staff that both renders the Demons mortal, and turns off their innate powers. Only [[EvilSorceror The Dagda Mor]] is left with any workable magic. Sadly it doesn't do anything about their physical advantages (eg, armoured hides, superstrength, sheer size and bulk).

* ArtifactOfDoom: The Ildatch is very close to this.

* ThePowerOfLove: how Jair brings his sister back to her senses after the Ildatch's MoreThanMindControl leads to a bit of WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity. Lampshaded by Allanon when his Shade visits Brin.

** BadassArmy: The Legion Free Corps is made up entirely of men who would rather that their pasts not be questioned too closely. In exchange they serve as a sort of expendable unit of desperate fighters.

* NightmareFuel: The Reaper. It's a seven foot tall, hooded monster straight out of a [[SlasherMovie slasher flick]].

* AsYouKnow: to truly epic levels at the start, where the entire history of the world is monologued to the main character.

* BadassNormal: Panamon Creel, Balinor and Hendel.

* BadAss: Allanon again, Stee Jans (Commander of the Border Legion Free Corps), and Eventine. Ander doesn't do too badly either.
* BadassArmy: The Legion Free Corps is made up entirely of men who would rather that their pasts not be questioned too closely. In exchange they serve as a sort of expendable unit of desperate fighters.
* BadassGrandpa: Eventine Elessedil. The man's in his eighties and he manages to lead his army into combat, and kill the [[spoiler:freakin' Changeling]].
* BadassNormal: Stee Jans, the leader of the Border Legion Free Corps.

* NightmareFuel: The Reaper. It's a seven foot tall, hooded monster straight out of a slasher flick.
* NothingIsScarier: Part of what makes the Reaper so frightening, as it is utterly silent (and most likely [[TheVoiceless cannot even speak]]), has a hood which may very well be completely empty, and it will always [[TheDeterminator inexorably pursue]] until it catches you--but you will never know where or when it is coming. Crossing this with the silent, empty darkness of the Pykon may explain why that chapter is so subtly terrifying to some.

* OneManArmy: With the Ellcrys staff neutralising the Demon's powers, Allanon is able to become one, as only The Dagda Mor (who has Druidic powers in addition to his own innate magic) is able to challenge him magically.

* SuperPersistentPredator: The {{Determinator}}-like Reaper is this, too, since it refuses to give up even after Wil and Amberle cross a whole mountain range on Roc-back.

* BadassNormal: Garet Jax may well have been {{Batman}} in another life.

* [[ObfuscatingStupidity Obfuscating Insanity]]: The only explanation for Cogline's behavior in this book versus the ''Heritage'' trilogy. Also makes for a huge number of [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Crowning Moments Of Funny]], a rarity in this sort of HighFantasy.

* BlackCloak: The Reaper wears one, thus also making it TheFaceless.

* CoversAlwaysSpoil: [[spoiler: The blurb on the soft cover gives away The Ildatch's identity as TheBigBad]].
* DeathSeeker: [[BloodKnight Garet Jax]] accompanies Jair because a prophecy promises him that if he does so he will meet his ultimatet opponent; namely someone who can kill him.

* NothingIsScarier: Part of what makes the Reaper so frightening, as it is utterly silent (and most likely [[TheVoiceless cannot even speak]], has a hood which may very well be completely empty, and it will always [[TheDeterminator inexorably pursue]] until it catches you--but you will never know where or when it is coming. Crossing this with the silent, empty darkness of the Pykon may explain why that chapter is so subtly terrifying to some.

* AfterTheEnd: The book's universe is implied to be our world after a WorldWarThree that had destroyed human civilization and caused the creation of new races. The heroes even metal ruins of an old city and fight an insectoid cyborg.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny / ClicheStorm: Thirty years ago, when the fantasy genre was in its infancy, ''The Sword Of Shannara'' was hailed as a worthy successor to Tolkien's epic. Now, it makes for a nice spot-the-cliche drinking game.
* SerialNumbersFiledOff: Didn't we say that the book is very heavily, err, inspired by ''LordOfTheRings''?

* LeaveHimToMe: Allanon about The Dagda Mor.

* TheWoobie: Wisp.

* TearJerker: This is the one where [[spoiler: Allanon dies]]. And then there's [[spoiler: Jair's companions. Helt's is particularly poignant, as is Garet Jax's]].

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny/ClicheStorm: Thirty years ago, when the fantasy genre was in its infancy, ''The Sword Of Shannara'' was hailed as a worthy successor to Tolkien's epic. Now, it makes for a nice spot-the-cliche drinking game.
* SerialNumbersFiledOff: The book is very heavily, err, inspired by ''LordOfTheRings''.

* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: A species of Demon, described as lean, black, and armed with razor-sharp talons. Fairly numerous, their physical description is fairly close to that usually associated with [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]].

Often referred to as the "classic trilogy" or simply the "Shannara trilogy", these three loosely-linked {{Doorstopper}} HighFantasy novels launched TerryBrooks' writing career. Set in Brooks' now famous {{Shannara}} universe, the three novels deal with three different generations of the Ohmsford family, they're ties to the Elven House of Shannara, and its magic, and their relationship with the enigmatic Druid, Allanon.

In ''Sword Of Shannara'', Allanon arrives in the sleepy hamlet of Shady Vale with the news that [[BigBad The Warlock Lord]], [[FallenHero Brona]], an evil former Druid, has returned to life. Only the fabeled (and titular) Sword of Shannara can rid the world of his threat for good, and only a member of the House of Shannara can wield the sword. As it turns out, [[TheHero Shea Ohmsford]] is the last living heir of the house. Along with his brother Flick, their friend Menion Leah, and diverse others, Shea and Allanon set out to look for the Sword.

On their way to paranor, home of the druids, disaster strikes. Shea is separated from the group. Forced to team with thieves [[BadAss Pannamon Creel]] and [[GeniusBruiser Kelset]], Shea sets off to recover the sword on his own, while his friends attempt to avert Brona's conquest of the Four Lands. Many adventures, and one Hell of a twist ending, later, Shea recovers the Sword and puts Brona in his grave permanently.

Flashforward fifty years to ''Elfstones of Shannara''. The Ellcrys, the tree that keeps the Demons of legend sealed up within the Forbidding, is dying, and her Chosen, massacred by the escaping Demons. The sole Chosen remaining, Elven Princess Amberle must travel to the mythical Bloodfire, and resurrect the Ellcrys. Realising that he will be needed to help the Elves defend their home from the Demons, Allanon visits the Gnome town of Storlock, intent on strong-arming Shea's grandson Wil into serving as Amberle's bodyguard, since he inherited his grandfather's magic-destroying Elfstones, .

Wil soon agrees, He and Amberle set off, with the NightmareFuel-inspiring [[TheDragon Reaper]] in hot pursuit. In the meantime, Allanon, Elf King Eventine, and Eventine's son Ander gather what few allies they have and prepare to fight a delaying action against the armies of the Demon Lord known as [[BigBad The Dagda Mor]]. In the end, a new Ellcrys is created, the Demons are banished, and all is well.

* BadAss: Allanon, Hendel, Balinor, and Pannamon Creel are the standouts. Menion Leah may qualify by the end of the book.
* BadassNormal: Pannamon Creel, Balinor and Hendel.

* CainAndAbel: Balinor and Palance. It's largely because of the latter's raging inferioriy complex.
* ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve: Only a Shannara heir can use the Sword, because the legends ''say'' only a Shannar heir can use the Sword.

* HonourAmongThieves: Pannamon Creel's belief that he owes Shea for saving his life, is the reason he agrees to assist him in finding the Sword. And given Creel's peculiar sense of honour that means he'll take him to the ends of the earth to do it.
* InformedAbility: Stenmin, the EvilChancellor is said to be a mystic. He never shows any sign of magical powers, though it's possible he was some sort of astrologer/fortuneteller/alchemist, and consequently didn't ''have'' any (or at least, not that would have helped him against the heroes).
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Palance Buckhannah, Stenmin (good riddance), Kelset, Brona, Hendel]].

* TheAlliance: The army arraigned against the Demons ultimately includes the Elven Army, the Wing Riders (Sky Elves), the Border Legion (Men), and 1500 Kershalt Trolls.

* BadassGrandpa: Eventine Ellesedil. The man's in his eighties and he manages to lead his army into combat, and kill the [[spoiler:freakin' Changeling]].

* GiantMook: The Ogres, and a huge, [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent lizard-headed]] Demon all serve this roll on occasion, breaking through the Elven lines and inflicting serious damage until they encounter one of the main characters. The Dragon may actually be the closest example, relying soley on brute force and utterly destroying the Elves until Allanon confronts it.

* LikeCainAndAbel: Morag and Mallenroh, the twin witches of the Wilderun.

* OurOgresAreHungrier: Another Demon species, used as the brute force of the Dagda Mor's army on several occasions. All we're really told is that they're big, scaly, and that it took the prsence of the Trolls to successfuly repel them.

* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Reaper follows Wil and Amberle accross the entire Westland, never losing them for more than a few days at a time.

* VainSorceress: Morag and Mallenroh are twin {{Vain Sorceress}}es. Each is convinced that she is the most beautiful and the other is a hag; this is the source of their rivalry and leads to the death of a human who [[LoveTriangle got between]] and eventually their own MutualKill.

* BigBad: We're set up to believe that it's the Mord Wraith's, but it's really [[spoiler: The Ildatch itself]].

* CombatSadomasochist: Both [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Jachyra]]'s are hardwired by the magic to be this. It makes them very, ''very'' dangerous.

* LamarckWasRight: Using magic created by another race, when you've only got maybe one-quarter blood of the creator race in the first place, can cause some problems. Wil Ohmsford was actually damaged by use of the Elfstones, along with passing on some of the magic to his children in the form of the Wishsong. {{Justified}}, since this is magic, we're dealing with.

* LeaveHimToMe: Allanon and Garet Jax both say this when confronted by the Jachyra's.

* TheManBehindTheMan: Turns out the the Warlock Lord, BigBad of the first book was actually the puppet of his [[spoiler: sentient TomeOfEldritchLore cum ArtifactOfDoom, the Ildatch]]. Whether he was aware of this is unkown.

* ThePowerOfLove: how Jair brings his sister back to her senses after the Illdatch's MoreThanMindControl leads to a bit of WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity. Lampshaded by Allanon when his Shade visits Brin.

* HighAltitudeCombat: Between Allanon and [[GiantFlyer Dancer]] on the one hand, and the Dagda Mor and his [[BatOutOfHell bat]] on the other.

* TheLegionsOfHell: The description of the Demon army is pretty close to this. They're are dozens of types too.

* {{Mordor}}: The Skull Kingdom is a wreck, with a skull-faced mountain at its core, but surrounded poisonous rivers, lethal deserts, and a mountain range filled with poisonous spiders.

* HighAltitudeCombat: Between Allanon and Dancer on the one hand, and the Dagda Mor and his bat on the other.

* RealityWarper: Brin's Wishsong allows her to force the world around her to comply with how she wants it to be. See the [[{{Shannara}} main page]] for more details

* BodyguardCrush: Wil ''may'' have had one on Amberle. It's never made entirely clear just what his feelings are about her.

* BigBad: [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils The Dagda Mor]]

In ''Sword Of Shannara'', Allanon arrives in the sleepy hamlet of Shady Vale with the news that [[BigBad The Warlock Lord]], [[FallenHero Brona]], an evil former Druid, has returned to life. Only the fabeled (and titular) Sword of Shannara can rid the world of his threat for good, and only a member of the House of Shannara can wield the sword. As it would turn out, [[TheHero Shea Ohmsford]] is the last living heir of the house. Along with his brother Flick, they're friend Menion Leah, and diverse others, Shea and Allanon set out to look for the Sword. And then, disaster strikes. Shea is separated from the group. Forced to team with thieves [[BadAss Pannamon Creel]] and [[GeniusBruiser Kelset]], Shea sets off to recover the sword on his own, while his friends attempt to avert Brona's conquest of the Four Lands. Many adventures, and one Hell of a twist ending, later, Shea recovers the Sword and puts Brona in his grave permanently.

Flashforward fifty years to ''Elfstones of Shannara''. The Ellcrys, the tree that keeps the Demons of legend sealed up within the Forbidding, is dying, and her Chosen, massacred by the escaping Demons. The soul Chosen remaining, Elven Princess Amberle must travel to the mythical Bloodfire, and resurrect the Ellcrys. Realising that he will be needed to help the Elves defend their home from the Demons, Allanon visits the Gnome town of Storlock, intent on strong-arming Shea's grandson Wil, who inherited the former's dark magic destroying Elfstones, into serving as Amberle's bodyguard. Wil agrees and he and Amberle set off, with the NightmareFuel-inspiring [[TheDragon Reaper]] in hot pursuit. In the meantime, Allanon, Elf King Eventine, and Eventine's son Ander gather what allies they have and prepare to fight a delaying action against the armies of the Demon Lord known as [[BigBad The Dagda Mor]]. In the end, the Demons a new Ellcrys is created, the Demons are banished, and all is well.

Twenty years after that, the Mord Wraiths appear. In possession of the Ildatch, the same TomeOfEldritchLore that corrupted Brona, they seem poised to destroy the Four Lands. Even Allanon cannot penetrate the defences they have raised around the book, and all seems hopeless. Falling back into his old habits, Allanon calls upon Brin Ohmsford, who, thanks to her father's use of the Elfstones, possesses the [[RealityWarper Reality Warping]] Wishsong. Unlike Allanon, Brin will be able to use the Wishsong to enter the [[GardenOfEvil Maelmord]] and destroy the Ildatch; she and her LoveInterest Rone Leah set off with Allanon in order to do so. In the meantime, her brother Jair, who possesses a lesser version of the Wishsong, is told by [[DungeonMaster The King of The Silver River]] that Brin will fail if he does not go to her aid. Alongside reluctant Gnome Tracker [[TheLancer Slanter]], and uber-BadAss Garet Jax, as well as numerous others, Jair goes after Brin. In the end, Brin is saved, and the Ildatch destroyed, albeit at tremendous cost. TheMagicGoesAway...at least until the next series.

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