The Druid of Shannara

In the three hundred years since the death of the Druid Allanon, the mysterious, evil Shadowen have seized control and are ruining the Four Lands. Using Cogline as messenger, the shade of Allanon summons the four scions of Shannara: Par, Coll, Wren, and Walker Boh. To Walker Boh he gives the duty of restoring the lost Druid's Keep, Paranor. For that, Walker needs the black Elfstone, but his search leads him only to a trap.

Meanwhile, the King of the Silver River, a fabulous being as old as mankind, creates a daughter named Quickening and sends her to help. She is joined by Morgan Leah and Pe Ell, an assassin who plans to eventually kill her.

They find Walker Boh dying after an attack by the Shadowen, Rimmer Dall. Quickening heals him and tells him that the Elfstone is in the hands of another ancient being, the Stone King, who seeks to turn all the world to stone.

The journey will lead them to the far north, through the Charnal Mountains and beyond, into a perilous and unknown land. And no one knows what horrible monsters the Stone King has set to guard his citadel.

They form a strange company to undertake such a quest: Morgan Leah, whose once-magic sword has been broken; Walker Boh, with only one arm and no longer able to summon his magic; Quickening, who must depend on the men for her defense; and Pe Ell, who still intends to kill her.

Thus, the quest for the black Elfstone begins.

Again, Terry Brooks demonstrates in this fast-paced fantasy the skills of a master storyteller, whose work has always commanded and fully deserved a place among the top bestsellers.