Shannara Reading Order - A Shannara Wiki

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
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/warrior/" title="Warrior">Warrior</a>	Novella	37	2
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/running-with-the-demon/" title="Running with the Demon">Running with the Demon</a>	The Word and the Void	10	3
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/a-knight-of-the-word/" title="A Knight of the Word">A Knight of the Word</a>	The Word and the Void	11	4
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/angel-fire-east/" title="Angel Fire East">Angel Fire East</a>	The Word and the Void	12	5
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/armageddons-children/" title="Armageddon's Children">Armageddon's Children</a>	Genesis of Shannara	20	6	17
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-elves-of-cintra/" title="The Elves of Cintra">The Elves of Cintra</a>	Genesis of Shannara	21	7	18
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-gypsy-morph/" title="The Gypsy Morph">The Gypsy Morph</a>	Genesis of Shannara	23	8	19
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/bearers-of-the-black-staff/" title="Bearers of the Black Staff">Bearers of the Black Staff</a>	Legends of Shannara	24	9	20
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-measure-of-the-magic/" title="The Measure of the Magic">The Measure of the Magic</a>	Legends of Shannara	25	10	21
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/first-king-of-shannara/" title="First King of Shannara">First King of Shannara</a>	Prequel	9	11	10
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/allanons-quest/" title="Allanon's Quest">Allanon's Quest</a>	Paladins of Shannara	26	12	25
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-sword-of-shannara-book/" title="The Sword of Shannara">The Sword of Shannara</a>	Original Trilogy	1	13	1
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-black-irix/" title="The Black Irix">The Black Irix</a>	Paladins of Shannara	29	14	27
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-elfstones-of-shannara/" title="The Elfstones of Shannara">The Elfstones of Shannara</a>	Original Trilogy	2	15	2
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-weapon-masters-choice/" title="The Weapon Master's Choice">The Weapon Master's Choice</a>	Paladins of Shannara	30	16	26
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-wishsong-of-shannara/" title="The Wishsong of Shannara">The Wishsong of Shannara</a>	Original Trilogy	3	17	3
Indomitable	Novella	17	18	4
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/dark-wraith-of-shannara/" title="Dark Wraith of Shannara">Dark Wraith of Shannara</a>	Graphic Novel	22	19	5
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-scions-of-shannara/" title="The Scions of Shannara">The Scions of Shannara</a>	The Heritage of Shannara	4	20	6
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-druid-of-shannara/" title="The Druid of Shannara">The Druid of Shannara</a>	The Heritage of Shannara	5	21	7
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-elf-queen-of-shannara/" title="The Elf Queen of Shannara">The Elf Queen of Shannara</a>	The Heritage of Shannara	7	22	8
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-talismans-of-shannara/" title="The Talismans of Shannara">The Talismans of Shannara</a>	The Heritage of Shannara	8	23	9
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/ilse-witch-book/" title="Ilse Witch">Ilse Witch</a>	The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara	13	24	11
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/antrax-book/" title="Antrax">Antrax</a>	The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara	14	25	12
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/morgawr-book/" title="Morgawr">Morgawr</a>	The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara	15	26	13
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/jarka-ruus-book/" title="Jarka Ruus">Jarka Ruus</a>	High Druid of Shannara	16	27	14
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/tanequil-book/" title="Tanequil">Tanequil</a>	High Druid of Shannara	18	28	15
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/straken/" title="Straken">Straken</a>	High Druid of Shannara	19	29	16
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/wards-of-faerie/" title="Wards of Faerie">Wards of Faerie</a>	The Dark Legacy of Shannara	27	30	22
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/bloodfire-quest/" title="Bloodfire Quest">Bloodfire Quest</a>	The Dark Legacy of Shannara	28	31	23
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/witch-wraith/" title="Witch Wraith">Witch Wraith</a>	The Dark Legacy of Shannara	31	32	24
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-high-druids-blade/" title="The High Druid's Blade">The High Druid's Blade</a>	The Defenders of Shannara	32	33	28
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-darkling-child/" title="The Darkling Child">The Darkling Child</a>	The Defenders of Shannara	33	34	29
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-sorcerers-daughter-book/" title="The Sorcerer's Daughter">The Sorcerer's Daughter</a>	The Defenders of Shannara	34	35	30
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-black-elfstone-book/" title="The Black Elfstone">The Black Elfstone</a>	The Fall of Shannara	35	36	31
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-skaar-invasion-book/" title="The Skaar Invasion">The Skaar Invasion</a>	The Fall of Shannara	36	37	32
<a href="http://www.shannarawiki.net/the-stiehl-assassin-book/" title="The Stiehl Assassin">The Stiehl Assassin</a>	The Fall of Shannara	38	38	33
<a href="https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-last-druid-book/" title="The Last Druid">The Last Druid</a>	The Fall of Shannara	39	39	34