Wondering which Shannara book to read first?
Use this table to sort the books, short stories and novellas into publication order, chronological/story line order or Terry Brooks’ suggested Shannara reading order for new readers:
- Publication: Click this column to sort by publication order1Even though I have included them on this site, the Word and Void series are not actually considered to be related to the Shannara universe by the author.
- Story Line: Click this column to sort by the story line’s chronological order2Even though I have included them on this site, the Word and Void series are not actually considered to be related to the Shannara universe by the author. (Default sorting order)
- Terry’s Suggestion: Click this column to sort by the author’s suggested Shannara reading order for new readers (Source: Reading Orders)
| Title | Series | Publication | Story Line | Terry's Suggestion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imaginary Friends | Short Story | 6 | 1 | |
| Warrior | Novella | 37 | 2 | |
| Running with the Demon | The Word and the Void | 10 | 3 | |
| A Knight of the Word | The Word and the Void | 11 | 4 | |
| Angel Fire East | The Word and the Void | 12 | 5 | |
| Armageddon's Children | Genesis of Shannara | 20 | 6 | 17 |
| The Elves of Cintra | Genesis of Shannara | 21 | 7 | 18 |
| The Gypsy Morph | Genesis of Shannara | 23 | 8 | 19 |
| Bearers of the Black Staff | Legends of Shannara | 24 | 9 | 20 |
| The Measure of the Magic | Legends of Shannara | 25 | 10 | 21 |
| First King of Shannara | Prequel | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| Allanon's Quest | Paladins of Shannara | 26 | 12 | 25 |
| The Sword of Shannara | Original Trilogy | 1 | 13 | 1 |
| The Black Irix | Paladins of Shannara | 29 | 14 | 27 |
| The Elfstones of Shannara | Original Trilogy | 2 | 15 | 2 |
| The Weapon Master's Choice | Paladins of Shannara | 30 | 16 | 26 |
| The Wishsong of Shannara | Original Trilogy | 3 | 17 | 3 |
| Indomitable | Novella | 17 | 18 | 4 |
| Dark Wraith of Shannara | Graphic Novel | 22 | 19 | 5 |
| The Scions of Shannara | The Heritage of Shannara | 4 | 20 | 6 |
| The Druid of Shannara | The Heritage of Shannara | 5 | 21 | 7 |
| The Elf Queen of Shannara | The Heritage of Shannara | 7 | 22 | 8 |
| The Talismans of Shannara | The Heritage of Shannara | 8 | 23 | 9 |
| Ilse Witch | The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara | 13 | 24 | 11 |
| Antrax | The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara | 14 | 25 | 12 |
| Morgawr | The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara | 15 | 26 | 13 |
| Jarka Ruus | High Druid of Shannara | 16 | 27 | 14 |
| Tanequil | High Druid of Shannara | 18 | 28 | 15 |
| Straken | High Druid of Shannara | 19 | 29 | 16 |
| Wards of Faerie | The Dark Legacy of Shannara | 27 | 30 | 22 |
| Bloodfire Quest | The Dark Legacy of Shannara | 28 | 31 | 23 |
| Witch Wraith | The Dark Legacy of Shannara | 31 | 32 | 24 |
| The High Druid's Blade | The Defenders of Shannara | 32 | 33 | 28 |
| The Darkling Child | The Defenders of Shannara | 33 | 34 | 29 |
| The Sorcerer's Daughter | The Defenders of Shannara | 34 | 35 | 30 |
| The Black Elfstone | The Fall of Shannara | 35 | 36 | 31 |
| The Skaar Invasion | The Fall of Shannara | 36 | 37 | 32 |
| The Stiehl Assassin | The Fall of Shannara | 38 | 38 | 33 |
| The Last Druid | The Fall of Shannara | 39 | 39 | 34 |
- 1Even though I have included them on this site, the Word and Void series are not actually considered to be related to the Shannara universe by the author.
- 2Even though I have included them on this site, the Word and Void series are not actually considered to be related to the Shannara universe by the author.