Great story! I've not previously read any books in this series or by Terry Brooks. This story is compelling from the first line and read really well in a moody fashion that enabled me to really visualize the scenes and get deeply involved with the characters. No previous understanding of the story line was needed for me to enjoy this book.
Dick Hill the reader, did such a good job that I have found myself looking for other books read by him. Also another really great aspect of this particular book is the 'MP3 CD' format. After having downloaded a few books from Audible with DRM restrictions on how many devices and an authorization process that I find a real pain in the rear end I will go out of my way to only buy audio books in this 'MP3 CD'. Because the 'MP3 CD' has no restrictions I was able to share the book with my family all of whom are now hooked on the series.
Brooks Tops Himself I've been reading Terry Brooks for over 20 years now, and am truly impressed by how much more intelligent his writing is now than it used to be, while still being taut with tension, excitement, and intrigue. This first book in the Genesis of Shannara series is classic Brooks in that he brings disparate personalities together in order to battle a common foe, but is unlike any of his previous Shannara books because this book takes place in future-America, and details how the world of Shannara came to exist.
Armageddon's Children puts all the pieces in play for the next two installments in the series, yet doesn't resolve anything more than identifying who the leader will be that will guide humanity into the world of Shannara. I couldn't put down the book, and will soon be reading the 2nd installment.Strong fantasy Brooks has written a long engaging tale of elves, humans, demons, and magic. Monsters include lizards, croaks, and a giant centipede. Children street gangs seek survival as demons lead once-men to wipe out the human race. The two remaining Kights of the Word are the only defence and their hope rests in finding the child born of magic, the gypsy morph. Brooks creates tension with external action and (long) interior monologs. His characters elicit sympathy. One is left hanging on disaster at the end and that forces the reader to book 2. Enjoyable.A new genesis I've loved Brooks' writing for many years now and this new series continues his great tradition of excellent stories with great thoughts and values.
With this novel, Terry begins to bridge the gap between two of his main story threads...that of the world of Shannara and that of the world in the "Word and Void" series.
The characters are approachable and each filled with their own strengths and flaws. As readers, we are taken on a voyage of self discovery along with the characters as they interact with the struggle between good and evil in the post-apocalyptic society.
You can certainly approach this story without having read Brooks before, but it would be advisable to have at least read the Word and Void series before starting on this journey. Even though set a hundred years or so beyond the first Word/Void book (Running with the Demon), it builds on the framework created there and your understanding will be greatly enhanced by starting with Word/Void and working your way into this novel. Reading the various Shannara series before this one are unnecessary and it could be argued that you should wait for this series to be done before you start Shannara, just to keep the chronology right...but then you're just depriving yourself of other fabulous works while you wait for this series to complete.Jumbled story lines and NO ENDING AT ALL Armageddon's Children was a HUGE disappointment. I liked the Sword of Sh.. and the Magic Kingdom series, but this book was a waste of time for me. It felt like a very rough draft of a work for college creative writing. There are few different story lines, none of which were worth it to me. A male Knight of the Word with an impressive Assault Vehicle, another female knight who battles demons, some kids in a wasted city, and some odd story about Elves. One the male knight and the kids intersect anywhere in the book. None of the story lines is very compelling, and at the end of the book there IS NO CONCLUSION. The end has two of the main characters being thrown off a wall, and the city invaded. The female night is being chased by a demon, and the street kids are moving while some invasion is starting. The book just cuts off all the story lines. It is not even a cliff hanger, but rather just runs off a cliff and stops. What a waste! I will not get the next book, since it was boring to plod through this one. I felt cheated by the LACK OF AN ENDING.
