Genesis of Shannara

Frequently asked questions

• How does this series connect to the Word and the Void books?

  This trilogy serves as a bridge that retroactively links the contemporary setting of the Word and the Void series to the post-apocalyptic world of the Four Lands. It establishes the Knights of the Word as foundational figures whose actions during the Great Wars eventually lead to the emergence of the Shannara mythos.

• Is it necessary to read other Shannara books before starting this series?

  These novels function as a prequel set thousands of years before the main Shannara narrative, so they do not require prior knowledge of the other series to follow the plot. Many readers find that the story stands effectively on its own while providing historical context for the later books.

• Does this series take place in a secondary fantasy world?

  The setting is actually a future version of Earth rather than a separate fantasy realm. The narrative reveals that the events occur in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada, where recognizable landmarks like the Columbia River have been transformed by the cataclysmic Great Wars.