Ilse Witch (Shannara) [Import] [Hardcover]

Terry Brooks (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; HARDBACK edition (October 5, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 1857239946
• ISBN-13: 978-1857239942
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (181 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,582,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Terry Brooks is the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including the Genesis of Shannara novels Armageddon's Children and The Elves of Cintra; The Sword of Shannara; the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy: Ilse Witch, Antrax, and Morgawr; the High Druid of Shannara trilogy: Jarka Ruus, Tanequil, and Straken; the nonfiction book Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life; and the novel based upon the screenplay and story by George Lucas, Star Wars(R): Episode I The Phantom Menace.(tm) His novels Running with the Demon and A Knight of the Word were selected by the Rocky Mountain News as two of the best science fiction/fantasy novels of the twentieth century. The author was a practicing attorney for many years but now writes full-time. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - want more, September 11, 2000

By 

Ahem. (Emerald City, Oz) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ilse Witch (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 1) (Hardcover)

After a long while of nothing in the way of Shannara, Terry Brooks has revived the dearly loved series. His new series begins 130 years after "The Talismans of Shannara" left off with Coll and Par Ohmsford. Now a castaway from a previous voyage to discover lost magic has arrived in the mainland 30 years after his departure. With the castaway is a map chronicolling his journey. The druid, Walker Boh, now known just as Walker, undertakes the perilous journey with an elite few aboard the sleek airship named the "Jerle Shannara."

This book is an excellent revival of the old series and I couldn't put it down for 2 days until finished. One problem is the author failes to make some of the main characters appealing but this is forgiven because of the outstanding storyline and mood throughout the book. You will be doing yourself a favor getting this, but make sure you have plenty of free time because you will call off previous engagements in favor of this book.

The one true problem is that the book leaves the reader so badly hanging that he is afraid he will fall.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book., October 24, 2000

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ilse Witch (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 1) (Hardcover)

In this first of the series, author Terry Brooks brings us back to his world of the Shannara series. When a blinded and muted elf washes up on the coast, carrying a mysterious map, the Druid Walker is summoned. Walker organizes a mission, peopled by an unusual collection of elves, humans, a dwarf, and a mysterious man of unknowable powers. But, an evil witch, the Ilse Witch, with powers to rival Walker shadows the party and dread prophecies bode ill for the mission. Undaunted, the party sets off in a new airship, into the unknown depths of the Blue Divide.

Being the first book in a series, this book contains a good deal of character introduction and development. Through it all though, Terry Brooks keeps the story moving, with the pace of the story accelerating as the chapters roll along. His introduction of the magical/technological airships is a fascinating development. Overall, this is a great book, and well worth you time and money.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terry Brooks grabs me in again!, September 7, 2001

By 

Pepper (Newburgh, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ilse Witch (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

My first Shannara book was read in the late 70s when I should have been studing for college finals. Now I'm 40 something with work, home, kids and somehow Brooks reels me into his world again. Like life there's not an ending to this book, but there are lots of questions. How much can you trust others? What do you hide from those you love? How can you reconcile the good and evil that exists in all of us? If someone you loved saved your life, but destroyed others' lives how would you feel about them? I like fantasy but I usually feel like I don't have time for those epic fantasy novels in my life right now. 10 min to read before bed is pretty good for me. But Brooks books are quick reads even though they are hefty in size. I especially like that the names are not unmanagable. Sometimes I might not get to read for fun all week, with those polysyllable names found in some fantasy books I forget who's who. Bek, Quentin, Hunter Predd, Isle Witch - a foreign flavor but names that stick. I'll be reading the next in this series and the next and the next....