Line #5 YMMV/TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy


1	!!The Sword Of Shannara
2	* EnsembleDarkhorse: Panamon Creel is a very popular character, for his morally ambiguous nature, general badassery, and dramatic flair. This led to both the creation of Padishar Creel in ''Literature/TheHeritageOfShannara'', and Panamon's starring role in the short story ''The Black Irix''.
3	* FridgeBrilliance: Panamon Creel mentions that Paranor is haunted when Shea brings up that he wants to go there. After reading other Shannara works like ''Literature/TheDarkLegacyOfShannara'' and the graphic novel ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', Panamon's talk makes sense; magic protects Paranor and attacks any intruders trying to break in. That's what probably gave rise to the in-universe beliefs that Paranor is haunted.
4	* GenreTurningPoint: Nearly 40 years ago, ''The Sword Of Shannara'' was hailed as a worthy successor to Tolkien's epic, as it managed to redefine how the contemporary fantasy novels were written. Now the prevalence of the tropes in it can make it seem rather cliché, rather than revolutionary.
5	* HarsherInHindsight: In the text, Shea criticizes powerful central governments like monarchies and absolute rule. Later books, starting with the direct sequel ''Elfstones'', introduces [[TheEmpire the Federation]] which is a potent centralized power; they are antagonists throughout the later books.
6	* HoYay: Menion Leah is very obviously head-over-heels in love with Shea Ohmsford. Which, [[FridgeBrilliance when you think about it]], might explain why Shea's older brother Flick dislikes Menion so much.
7	* OneSceneWonder: [[spoiler:The Warlock Lord, in ''Sword'' and ''High Druid''. He gets a little more screen time in ''First King'']].
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9	!!The Elfstones Of Shannara
10	* FridgeLogic: Allanon didn't need Wil at all, only the Elfstones. True, the stones can only work for someone to whom they'd been freely given, but since Allanon was the one who gave them to Shea in the first place, and from Shea to Wil, why couldn't Wil just give them to Allanon and then have him present them to ''any fullblooded elf'' who could use them safely and leave Wil to continue his studies?
11	* GrowingTheBeard: As mentioned on the main page, ''Elfstones'' is often seen as the point when the series as a whole grew the beard.
12	* HarsherInHindsight: The Federation refuses to help the Elves and their allies in the War of the Forbidding as they are skeptical of the Demons in the first place and said Demons haven't directly attacked them. It turns out in the later entry, ''Literature/TheDarkLegacyOfShannara'', that the Demons escape the Forbidding again, this time turning up in Federation territory. They raze the Federation capital, killing its defenders and much of the populace.
13	* NightmareFuel: While many of Demons could be this, by far the biggest source is The Reaper.
14	* TearJerker: [[spoiler: Amberle's HeroicSacrifice]].
15	* TheWoobie: Wisp, one of Mallenroh's servants. Brooks tells us so little about this poor fellow, but it's more than enough to draw TearsFromAStone. He claims to have once been an Elf, but [[WickedWitch Mallenroh]] [[ForTheEvulz changed him to make him "cute"]] so he can "roll around and play with the stick men". The process also, incidentally, turned him into a [[PersonalMook docile, ever-obedient, fawning slave]] to the Witch Sister, with his [[CatchPhrase favorite remark]] being an indication of just how devoted he is: "Wisp serves the Lady." Coerced to help Wil and his party escape the dungeons (in a rather upsettingly rough hostage-taking, until [[FemmeFatale Eretria]] is able to persuade him [[DistractedByTheSexy with her beauty and soft voice]]), he is then [[DespairEventHorizon forced to witness]] as his Lady and her [[FearfulSymmetry twin sister Morag]] destroy each other in a huge conflagration. As if that isn't bad enough, [[HelpfulMook when he finally leads the party to Safehold]], the light of the Bloodfire so reminds him of what happened to Mallenroh that [[BreakTheCutie his mind]] [[DrivenToMadness snaps]] and he runs shrieking from the cave--right into [[TheDragon the Reaper]].
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17	!!The Wishsong Of Shannara
18	* EnsembleDarkhorse: Garet Jax, the Weapons Master is one of the most consistently asked about characters in the series, due his mysterious air and incredible fighting skills. He now has his own short story, ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', which explores who he was before the events of the story.
19	* LesYay: It's possible to ship Kimber Boh with Brin. Especially since at the time, Rone has just had his sword broken and is pretty emo about it.
20	* TearJerker: This is the one where [[spoiler: Allanon dies]]. And then there's [[spoiler: Jair's companions. Helt's is particularly poignant, as is Garet Jax's]]. In a nondeath related example, Slanter's goodbye to Jair is also quite touching.

Context YMMV / TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy