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:
- 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 these columns to sort by the author’s suggested Shannara reading order (Source: Reading Orders)
| Title | Series | Publication | Story Line | Terry's Suggestion: New Readers | Terry's Suggestion: Returning Readers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-sword-of-shannara-book/ | Original Trilogy | 1 | 13 | 1 | 8 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-elfstones-of-shannara/ | Original Trilogy | 2 | 15 | 2 | 10 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-wishsong-of-shannara/ | Original Trilogy | 3 | 18 | 4 | 13 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-scions-of-shannara/ | The Heritage of Shannara | 4 | 21 | 7 | 16 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-druid-of-shannara/ | The Heritage of Shannara | 5 | 22 | 8 | 17 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/imaginary-friends/ | Short Story | 6 | 1 | ||
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-elf-queen-of-shannara/ | The Heritage of Shannara | 7 | 23 | 9 | 18 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-talismans-of-shannara/ | The Heritage of Shannara | 8 | 24 | 10 | 19 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/first-king-of-shannara/ | Prequel | 9 | 11 | 12 | 6 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/running-with-the-demon/ | The Word and the Void | 10 | 3 | ||
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/a-knight-of-the-word/ | The Word and the Void | 11 | 4 | ||
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/angel-fire-east/ | The Word and the Void | 12 | 5 | ||
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/ilse-witch-book/ | The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara | 13 | 26 | 13 | 21 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/antrax-book/ | The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara | 14 | 27 | 14 | 22 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/morgawr-book/ | The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara | 15 | 28 | 15 | 23 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/jarka-ruus-book/ | High Druid of Shannara | 16 | 29 | 16 | 24 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/indomitable/ | Novella | 17 | 19 | 5 | 14 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/tanequil-book/ | High Druid of Shannara | 18 | 30 | 17 | 25 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/straken/ | High Druid of Shannara | 19 | 31 | 18 | 26 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/armageddons-children/ | Genesis of Shannara | 20 | 6 | 19 | 1 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-elves-of-cintra/ | Genesis of Shannara | 21 | 7 | 20 | 2 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/dark-wraith-of-shannara/ | Graphic Novel | 22 | 20 | 6 | 15 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-gypsy-morph/ | Genesis of Shannara | 23 | 8 | 21 | 3 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/bearers-of-the-black-staff/ | Legends of Shannara | 24 | 9 | 22 | 4 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-measure-of-the-magic/ | Legends of Shannara | 25 | 10 | 23 | 5 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/allanons-quest/ | Paladins of Shannara | 26 | 12 | 27 | 7 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/wards-of-faerie/ | The Dark Legacy of Shannara | 27 | 32 | 24 | 27 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/bloodfire-quest/ | The Dark Legacy of Shannara | 28 | 33 | 25 | 28 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-black-irix/ | Paladins of Shannara | 29 | 14 | 29 | 9 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-weapon-masters-choice/ | Paladins of Shannara | 30 | 17 | 28 | 12 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/witch-wraith/ | The Dark Legacy of Shannara | 31 | 34 | 26 | 29 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-high-druids-blade/ | The Defenders of Shannara | 32 | 35 | 30 | 30 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-darkling-child/ | The Defenders of Shannara | 33 | 36 | 31 | 31 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-sorcerers-daughter-book/ | The Defenders of Shannara | 34 | 37 | 32 | 32 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-black-elfstone-book/ | The Fall of Shannara | 35 | 38 | 33 | 33 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-skaar-invasion-book/ | The Fall of Shannara | 36 | 39 | 34 | 34 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/warrior/ | Novella | 37 | 2 | ||
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-stiehl-assassin-book/ | The Fall of Shannara | 38 | 40 | 35 | 35 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/the-last-druid-book/ | The Fall of Shannara | 39 | 41 | 36 | 36 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/aftermath/ | Short Story (Original Shannara Novels) | 40 | 16 | 3 | 11 |
| https://www.shannarawiki.net/last-ride/ | Short Story (The Heritage of Shannara) | 41 | 25 | 11 | 20 |
- 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.