The Sword Of Shannara

There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who want to burn The Sword of Shannara and those who say they want to burn The Sword of Shannara but secretly love it. It's the height of uncool to say you liked this book. It's the broccoli of the fantasy world: Dry, tasteless and hated, but vastly improved if you're happy with adding a ton of cheese.Why it made the listA formula for fantasy writers by J.R.R Tolkien: (Reluctant hero) x (annoying (but loyal) companions) x (all-knowing old guy) + magic jewellery ÷ Satan-like bad guy = BestsellerIt's often been noted that Terry Brooks, using this formula, created a lesser version of the Lord of the Rings. But in the 70s, this was the norm. Literary classic this book ain't. But it was one of the first to be a runaway bestseller.Most readers who are fans of the series will only admit to it being a guilty pleasure. Especially because it's technically painful: Brooks's writing style is clumsy and his characters mundane.If you did read it and enjoy it, it was probably when you were younger and were just discovering fantasy. You may return to it and discover that it was enjoyable at the time, but doesn't live up to your memory. Here's the catch: It doesn't matter. If you can find enjoyment in a book – any book – then whether it's well written or not isn't important. Because that's the whole point of the genre: Enjoyment through escapism.