First King of Shannara is a prequel to the Sword of Shannara. Even though Terry said many times he wouldn't go backwards he did with this book (and will again in 2006). It answers questions people had about the Sword and the destruction of Paranor. The main character is Bremen, an outcast Druid that knows that the Brona, a druid thought dead and gone from the Four Lands, is now returned as the Warlock Lord. Is because of these views that he is an outcast. This book unlike other Shannara books is split into sections. "The Fall of Paranor" tells of Bremen trying to warn the Druids that the Warlock Lord is going to lay seige to the keep. But it is to late and the keep is destroyed and all the Druids are killed save Bremen. The second part "The Search for the Black Elfstone" continues the story with Jerle Shannara searching for the Black Elfstone so that the Warlock Lord can not use it himself. "The Forging of the Sword" tells of Bremen asking the dead Druids for a way to destroy Brona. He then forges the Sword, which he gives Jerle Shannara, who doesn't want the burden. The last part "The Battle for the Rhenn" concludes the story and tells of the final fight against the Warlock Lord and his minions and the ultimate failure of Jerle Shannara. We also meet Allanon when he is just a boy. Bremen trains him.
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