Warner Bros. Will Develop 'Shannara' Fantasy Books

I read the first 3 novels and they are very good. If this project is handled properly it will be a worthy film. The problem here is that if your try to make it too similar in tone and feel to LOR then it's a knock-off, but stray too far, and you might miss the boat. We'll see.

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I've only read the first two books in the series; the first one was the most blatant Tolkien rip-off I'd ever read (and with Tolkien being one of the main inspirations for about two-thirds of the books in the fantasy genre, that's saying a lot) and was a pale, terrible imitation, the second was simply terrible. As it's the second that they're trying to adapt, they should avoid most of the plagiarism criticisms, but unless they hire a miracle-worker to write the thing, it will be ghastly. The plot is dumb, the male lead character would bore a sloth, while the two female characters fit into those two tired stereotypes of the pure, sweet virgin and the willful free-spirit just waiting for a man to tame her wild heart. Brooks should not be allowed the use of female characters.

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I cut my fantasy genre teeth with these novels. First ones I ever read. Really enjoyed them and I don't feel they are a blatant rip-off of LotR, after all, these never put me to sleep trying to read them.

And I had hope, brief fleeting hope, that Warner Brothers would do it justice, until I read that they're beginning with the second book.

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I guess it all depends ... being the first fantasy books I have read, these are great.

For Warner Brothers, the script is just as important as the cast and length. Starting with the 2nd and trying to cover everything when the book is more than 600 pages ... well that is gonna be a challenge.

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I read the first few in the series when I was in early high school and enjoyed them. But I don't think I had the same standards that I do now...

But any novel with a bit of a plot should be able to be adapted well into a screenplay (just as any decent novel can be adapted badly). The quality of a movie will be determined by the quality of the writing and direction more than the quality of the source material.

I haven't read Eragon but I saw the movie. I'm assuming that it didn't go so well was because it was simple badly made (plot, editing, dialogue, internal logic (?), and more, all terrible).

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The Shannara series is incredibly popular, and Terry Brooks has developed as a writer since he first wrote The Sword of Shannara. Sword is VERY similar to LotR, but not a complete rip-off. As the series continued, the world fleshed out nicely. I've read them all... yet strangely am neither a virgin nor live in my parents' basement. And the last wand I owned was when I was 6 and had the Fischer Price Magic set. But I digress.

If done well, this could be a very popular, and long-lived series. Doing Elfstones first makes sense, as it stands alone well, and it leaves two prequel opportunities. If it takes off, I expect the Scions of Shannara series would be developed into a 3 or 4 part set.

Although personally, I think doing his Word/Void series - fantasy set in modern times - would have been a better choice. Especially since he's currently bridging it to the Shanarra books.

And if this IS a big success, then I expect the rest of his catalogue will be mined. Word/Void, and probably even the Landover novels, but geared towards a younger audience.

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I am so tired of everything fantasy a rip-off of tolkein like he invented dragons and elves. These books are about war, politics, social disorder, and are way darker than tolkein. Not to mention no cheesy sing alongs in sight. The rip-off was the darkness and feel of these books by the creators of the LotR movies.

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i've read 4 books in the series and i found each one dull and easy to put down. i just don't like his style of reading i guess BUT visually i think it would look great on film. this is if they do it right not like what they did to the Eregon movie.

i'm waiting for someone to tackle the Wheel of Time series, those would be a lot harder to adapt to screen than LoTR but the story is absolutly amazing!!

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When he Finishes the Genesis of Shannara, then he'll have roughly 20 books out, which is great since i've read 14 of the 20 so far, and i agree with Elfstones being first for screen play, it's a great epic, and dramatic story that doesn't give strong ties to what's happened before hand and what will happen afterwards.

I believe that Fantasy-SciFi isn't for everyone... but if its done justice, then it will be a great movie, and seeing as how Elfstones is a long book, (About 400+ pages)It would make sense if they didn't include every little detail into the movie and just like the harry potter movies, would only have the major and submajor, and maybe some minors to tie it up.

But we'll see how this goes, I can't wait.

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Well, I agree/disagree with the blogger, and more than vehemently agree with numerous commenters...

Many of Brooks' characters CAN be very stereotypical... but not without proper development to fit the simple role they need to fill.

Of course, as stated, it is a partial rip off of lotr....EVERYTHING IS! Tolkien created the heaven and the earth...
*LMAO*
so, of course, everything inbetween (in fantasy) is a slight theft...
I would disagree with the blatant ripoff part though.
Tolkien's ring had nothing similar for powers when compared to the sword of shannara.
the ring, was a corrupt, evil little thing, which didn't do much more than turn people invisible and crazy...
the sword...is virtually the opposite in every respect. Its a large thing, which doesn't appear to do much of anything aside from eventually show the truth.
how is that a ripoff?

I find Elfstones a good place to start...seeing as it was one of the first ones I read, and I've read them all... though, I much prefer the Talismans of Shannara saga...

If done well, this very well could be a masterful movie with yes, a very dark feel and amazing scenes...

*shrugs*
well, enough defending.
I'm just going to say, I'm flat out stoked to see Stee Jans and the Free Corps, the elfitch, the Reaper and the changeling and the ellcrys, oh, and Allanon and the druid fire...and so much more...
especially, I wanna see the Wishsong, the jachyra and garet jax, buuut...we'll have to wait to see that come along if the first one has success...

all I can say is stop hating and open your mind's imagination...then, relax, enjoy it for what it is and don't bother trying to cut it down....you damned cynics!
life is about enjoying yourself, remember?
and if it isn't...then it should be.
hehe.
have fun seeing it everybody...
I know I will.
and if you don't...well, that's just fine...
just dont' try to tell anyone who did have fun, that you're a sour sport and a bitter individual who no one fun loving wants to bother talking to.
heheh.

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whoever dislikes shannara is a complete fool, and I am so sick of people saying it is a rip of lotr, I am afan of both, but shannara besides sword which is still amazing is not anything like lotr, when was the last time u saw an airship or an Ai system in lotr, Tolkien is amazimg and is the father of fantasy, but terry brooks is prepared to inherit his fair share as well. he has distanced himself from lotr in a sufficient manner so stop insulting him just cause you can't right a whit

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