The Talismans of Shannara

core novel 1993 Shannara

Record

First published	1993
Original language	EN
Work type	novel
Canon status	core
Reader rating	4.04 (41,347 ratings, collected 2026-09-12)
First-edition ISBN	0-345-36300-0
First-edition date	1993-03
Internal chronology	16

Synopsis

The fourth and final book of the Heritage of Shannara tetralogy opens with the Elves and the fortress of Paranor both restored to the Four Lands, and the legendary Sword of Shannara finally recovered, while Walker Boh has inherited the vanished Druid Allanon's powers. These developments provoke the Shadowen leader Rimmer Dall, who unleashes the supernatural Four Horsemen against key strongholds while working to eliminate or corrupt the three Ohmsford siblings. Par Ohmsford struggles to control his increasingly volatile wishsong ability, his brother Coll becomes entangled with dark forces working against them, Wren Ohmsford must rally Elven military and political support, and Walker Boh must learn to master the Druid powers now his to command, aided by allies including Morgan Leah and Damson Rhee as the threats close in from multiple directions.

Where it sits

• Universe: Shannara
• Series: The Heritage of Shannara core; position 4 of 4 in the series' recorded order
• Author: Terry Brooks

Neighbouring works

Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings and are never conflated: a book's place in one says nothing about its place in the other.

• Publication order, within the series The Heritage of Shannara: position 4 of 4: previous The Elf Queen of Shannara (1992)
• Internal chronology, within Shannara: position 16 of 32: previous The Elf Queen of Shannara (1992) · next Ilse Witch (2000)

Sources

• Terry Brooks official site
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannara
• https://www.isfdb.org
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talismans_of_Shannara

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