Terry Brooks is an American author of epic fantasy and urban fantasy. He is best known for his Shannara series. Besides his Shannara-related books, Brooks has written one other series called the Magic Kingdom of Landover. He has also written a couple of novelizations for major motion pictures – Hook and Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace.

Brooks had his debut novel published in 1977 – The Sword of Shannara. Ever since then, the majority of his work has been contributions to the Shannara series, including sequels and prequels. It should be noted that while not all of his novels were published in their chronological order, Brooks strongly recommends not to read his books in chronological order (at least the first time around) and that the recommended reading order is the order in which the novels were published.

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Publication Order of Original Shannara Books

The Sword of Shannara (1977)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Elfstones of Shannara (1982)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Wishsong of Shannara (1985)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
First King of Shannara (1996)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Indomitable (2003)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The chronological order of the Shannara series is: Word & Void, Genesis, Legends, Original Shannara (aka Sword of Shannara), Heritage, Voyage, High Druid, Dark Legacy, Defenders, and Fall. However, it must be noted that this is not the recommended reading order and reading the books in chronological order will spoil the series.So read Original Shannara series, then Heritage etc following the list below.

Chronological Order of Original Shannara Books

First King of Shannara(1996)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Sword of Shannara(1977)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Elfstones of Shannara(1982)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Wishsong of Shannara(1985)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Indomitable(2003)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Heritage Of Shannara Books

The Scions of Shannara (1990)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Druid of Shannara (1991)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Elf Queen of Shannara (1992)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Talismans of Shannara (1993)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Word & Void Books

Running with the Demon (1997)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Knight of the Word (1998)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Angel Fire East (1999)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Imaginary Friends (2011)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Voyage Of The Jerl Shannara Books

Publication Order of High Druid Of Shannara Books

Publication Order of Genesis Of Shannara Books

Armageddon's Children (2006)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Elves of Cintra (2007)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Gypsy Morph (2008)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Legends Of Shannara Books

Bearers of the Black Staff (2010)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Measure of the Magic (2011)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Dark Legacy Of Shannara Books

Wards of Faerie (2012)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Bloodfire Quest (2012)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Witch Wraith (2013)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Paladins Of Shannara Books

Allanon's Quest (2012)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Weapons Master's Choice (2013)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Black Irix (2013)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Defenders Of Shannara Books

The High Druid's Blade (2014)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Darkling Child (2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Sorcerer's Daughter (2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Fall Of Shannara Books

The Black Elfstone (2017)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Skaar Invasion (2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Stiehl Assassin (2019)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Last Druid (2020)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Shannara Graphic Novels

Dark Wraith of Shannara (2008)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Shannara Companion Books

The World of Shannara (2011)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Viridian Deep Books

Child of Light (2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Daughter of Darkness (2022)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Sister of Starlit Seas (2023)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Magic Kingdom Of Landover Books

Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! (1986)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Black Unicorn (1987)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wizard at Large (1988)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Tangle Box (1994)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Witches' Brew (1995)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Princess of Landover (2009)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Myths & Magic (1999)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Sometimes the Magic Works (2003)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Legends Books

Legends (By: Robert Silverberg) (1998)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Legends II: Dragon, Sword, and King (With: Diana Gabaldon,George R.R. Martin,Orson Scott Card,Robert Silverberg,Elizabeth Haydon) (1998)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Legends 3 (By: Terry Pratchett,Tad Williams,Robert Jordan,Robert Silverberg,Ursula K. Le Guin) (1999)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Star Wars: Movie Novelizations Books

A New Hope (By: Alan Dean Foster) (1976)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Empire Strikes Back (By: Donald F. Glut) (1980)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Return of the Jedi (By: James Kahn) (1983)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Phantom Menace (1999)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Attack of the Clones (By: R.A. Salvatore) (2002)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Revenge of the Sith (By: Matthew Woodring Stover) (2005)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Force Awakens (By: Alan Dean Foster) (2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Rogue One (By: Alexander Freed) (2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Last Jedi (By: Jason Fry) (2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Solo (By: Mur Lafferty) (2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Rise of Skywalker (By: Rae Carson) (2020)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Anthologies

Once Upon a Time(1991)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Legends II: Dragon, Sword, and King(1998)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Unfettered(2013)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Multiverse(2014)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Unbound(2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Unfettered II: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy(2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Unfettered III: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy(2019)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Conversations From the Edge: The Galaxy's Edge Interviews(2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Deep Magic - Spring 2021(2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Note: For a complete list of Star Wars novels, please see Star Wars.

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3 Responses to “Order of Terry Brooks Books”

  1. Shelly Ann LPN(ret): 9 years ago

    “However, it must be noted that this is not the recommended reading order and reading the books in chronological order will spoil the series.”

    I originally read the books as they came out, then I found a list putting into the chronology of the story and found that the story flowed better and it was easier to understand the characters and their lineage.

    Personally I would recommend that they be read in the chronology of the story, but reading them in publication order is alright as well. If this was still in the 70’s I would say read them as they came out first. If you collect them for your library, then put them into a chronological order and re-read them.

    Now I am looking for them in audiobook format, CD, so I can listen to them while I am travelling. Seldom listen to the radio any more, what is currently presented is just not to my tastes in music.

    Thank you for providing these lists, it helps when trying to put books in order to read them.

    Have A Beautiful and Wondrous Day.

    //es// A Proud Honorable Disabled American Veteran, 1967-1994 – Combat Medicine.

    Reply

    • Not1knowsme: 8 years ago

      @desertfox1a:disqus

      First Thank You for your service to our country. I am former US Navy (early 80s).

      Would you please explain how you determined the order the books should be listened to in audiobook format? I’m slowly collecting them on Audible and Tantor and sometimes I’ll find them in CD on eBay and Half.com as well. I listen as I sew (I make quilts for returning veterans) and I don’t want to listen to them out of order and spoil the story. Is the list here the best way to listen as well as read?

      I fell in love with the series when I read Sword of Shannara (pub 1977) and the two books after it, then work, and other things caused me to lose track of the series. But I’ve never forgotten how much I loved them.

      Thanks for any advice you can give. I’m disabled and have chronic pain, quilting by hand and my books helps me not have to rely on medication as much.

      Reply

      • Shelly Ann LPN(ret): 7 years ago

        Ila; sorry that I have not replied to you on this subject. A short regression hore for a few seconds. I served starting with the USNSCC 1965, leaving them as a Midshipman in 1970, joined the US Navy in 1970, leaving them in 1978 as an HM2c(FMF)/USN, (old style). I joined the ORARNG as a Spec 4 Basic Field Medic in late 1979 after getting settled in and started college. Transfered to USAR as a Spec-4 in a Combat Support Hospital, late became the NCOIC of the Pharmacy Section in a M.A.S.H. unit. In 1991 I was activated to active duty Army and send to Suadi Arabia for Op Desert Shield/Storm I had by then been converted to a hard stripe Sergeant and was told that I would get my E-6 rocker after or during the deployment. Was supposed to go to an active duty Army M.A.S.H. unit, but I traveled with a Wisconsin National Guard Evac Hospital and they would not release me to the unit I was ordered to. After the 1st Gulf War, I stuck the reserves out until I became frustrated with not getting promoted and called it quits in 1994.

        As for the order of the 30(?) some books in the Shannara series, here are some shots at the orders of the books starting with.

        The sub-series in chronological order are:
        Word & Void
        Genesis of Shannara
        Legends of Shannara
        Paladins of Shannara
        The Original Shannara Trilogy
        Heritage of Shannara
        Voyage of the Jerle Shannara
        High Druid of Shannara
        The Dark Legacy of Shannara
        The Defenders of Shannara

        This is found at Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/series/43574-shannara, Goodreads has a listing of the books in order as written, then there is this site which is the best one for putting series in story chronology; http://www.orderofbooks.com/.
        Select the all authors listing that will appear down the right side of the screen, the select #41 which will take you to that portion of the list were Terry Brooks is found. You read my original posting on the order of books a while back, I have completed the series now and do recommend reading them in the chronology of the story as it gives a better flow to the story and helps you under stand the characters and their orgins better as well.
        I understand the deal about chronic pain. I came home from the ME rather sick after being exposed to everything that we were exposed to overthere. From NBC Agents to Environmental Contaminants, unfortunately, after almost 20 years I am now having to fight the VA for my pain medications, because of this most recent drug scare concerning narcotics. I was placed on methadon back in 1998 everyday with fairly decent results. I am currently on oxycodone as my if you need it meds. The issue is, pardon my language, I hav e been pissing in the bottle for recreational drug use for over 10 years, I have come up clean everytime. Because I now refuse to pee in the bottle anymore they are withholding my pain medications. You are familiar with the pain scale of 0 – 10 with 10 the most extreme. While on my medications I lived everyday with a pain level of 4-6/10, I have been out of my meds now for 13 days, with only few oxycodone to last me until this issue is settled.
        Sorry about that about my pain issues, verifing the addresses for those listing sites, I discovered that I have three new books to get caught up on. Enjoy the books and those listing sites will list other series as well, I am rather fixed on reading books in order.
        Thank you for your service, I am sorry for you pain issues, but I understand chronic pain issues.
        Have A Beautiful and Wondrous Day, Be Safe In Your Travels and Adventures
        //es// Shelly Ann LPN (ret)
        A Proud Honorable Disabled American Veteran 1965-1994 – Combat Medicine and Pharmacy

        Reply

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