The Shannara Chronicles

Nonnahswriter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDR8b1SpoSc

It's premiering tonight. Absolutely stunning visuals so far. Still don't know how to feel about post-apoc Seattle though...

Also, to those who read the books: were there any hints that Shannara was a post-apocalyptic setting that turned fantastical? At all?

lolien

Nonnahswriter said:

Also, to those who read the books: were there any hints that Shannara was a post-apocalyptic setting that turned fantastical? At all?

Yes. There were mechanical-magical monsters, hints about some kind of cataclysm. In one of the later part there is an evil mastermind computer too. I don't remember the details, i'd read them some time ago.

Rodrian

I have a serious plan to give it a shot
..buuut what bugs me are these bearded elves! ;_;
Where they a *thing* in the books?

procco

Oh man, I might have to check this out. I only ever read the first couple of books, but I loved them. And I do remember there being a little hint in one of the books about it being set in the future or whatever. Like some overgrown mechanical something or other. It's been a while since I read them though.

dunbar

I read them literally decades ago and don't remember anything about them being set in a 'future' of anywhere, let alone our present. But then again my memory these days is deceitful, devious and definitely not to be trusted - and also I wouldn't have been looking for hints of something unexpected in what I took to be a fairly straightforward series of novels.

Nonnahswriter

I just can't get over that it's supposed to be Seattle. I guess because Seattle's a really close place to my heart, but every time I see that decayed space needle, I'm jolted out of the world. I really think it would work better if it wasn't trying to yank our chains on the "This is our world but in the far far FUTURE!" gag. They're just so far apart and nothing alike.

And besides, everyone knows that once the world came to an end, the space needle would've fallen into the ocean. :P

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NaturalBornKieler

Shandyr said:

Uhm, is anyone aware that this thread is in the German subforum?

Would someone move it? @mlnevese @Jalily

done.

SethDavis

Nonnahswriter said:

Also, to those who read the books: were there any hints that Shannara was a post-apocalyptic setting that turned fantastical? At all?

in the later books, like around the start of trillogy three, they get downright blatant about it. ancient characters talk about hiding from humanity, the exposition casually mentions creatures that have existed since some cataclysmic war destroyed the world of man, there's a huge chunk of story spent in a 'petrified' downtown setting, etc

brus

If the settings is in fictional future with fanasy elements, does this make it cyberpunk subgenre?

the_spyder

brus said:

If the settings is in fictional future with fanasy elements, does this make it cyberpunk subgenre?

Considering that the very definition of cyberpunk is Neuromancer and is usually heavily techno-oriented, I'd say no.

I thought this aired yesterday? Did anyone see it? Is it worth watching? I am thinking about checking it out online if I missed it but would appreciate any reviews.

Nonnahswriter

the_spyder said:

brus said:

If the settings is in fictional future with fanasy elements, does this make it cyberpunk subgenre?

Considering that the very definition of cyberpunk is Neuromancer and is usually heavily techno-oriented, I'd say no.

I thought this aired yesterday? Did anyone see it? Is it worth watching? I am thinking about checking it out online if I missed it but would appreciate any reviews.

Yes, it aired last night.

I liked it more than I thought I would, despite the whole jolting-me-out-of-the-setting-with-a-Space-Needle-thing. It's a very typical high fantasy story, but the effects, visuals, and even make-up are some of the most fantastic I've seen in a while; real movie-quality stuff.

the_spyder

Thanks for the review. I see the John Rys-Davies and Manu Bennett are in it, so maybe it is worth checking out.

I am embarrassed to admit that I've never read the books, although I do have them. I guess I will check this out and see and then decide if I want to move the books up my reading list (not that those two things are or should be at all related).

Nonnahswriter

the_spyder said:

Thanks for the review. I see the John Rys-Davies and Manu Bennett are in it, so maybe it is worth checking out.

I am embarrassed to admit that I've never read the books, although I do have them. I guess I will check this out and see and then decide if I want to move the books up my reading list (not that those two things are or should be at all related).

I never read them either. *hangs head in shame* From what I could tell though, the tv show feels a lot more YA than the books did. But it's done by MTV, so that shouldn't come as any surprise.

(And I like YA... Sooooo...)

Skatan

I read most of them as a teen and liked them alot, along with David Eddings and, of course, Tolkien. I do remember the part where they ran around in a decayed old city with old cars lying around. It was quite obvious it was set in the future, though not explained in detail in those books. I read the original triology and the three prequels which came afterwards, IIRC.

After seeing a trailer for this show I just briefly read the wiki of Shannara and it seems that the books which came after I stopped reading Shannara went further in explaining the world and the past, introducing AI and other things like it.

I've only ever seen Manu Bennett in Spartacus and liked his role there. He's no Allanon though, not at all as described in the books. Though since Terry Brooks himself is heavily involved in this show, I guess he has given green light for this choice of actor and depiction of the ancient druid.

I'm gonna give this show a go and I sincerly hope it will a good one, but I'm not holding my breath. I will wait 'til the season end so I can binge-watch it if it's good enough.

Fardragon

Nonnahswriter said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDR8b1SpoSc

It's premiering tonight. Absolutely stunning visuals so far. Still don't know how to feel about post-apoc Seattle though...

Also, to those who read the books: were there any hints that Shannara was a post-apocalyptic setting that turned fantastical? At all?

Yes, in the first book there are robo-centipede monsters and strata of ancient ruined cities. The post-apocalyptic details become more distinct as the stories go on.

I would say the books where quite badly written, and only thrived because there was a dirth of Tolkienesque fantasy when they first came out.

I don't think the TV series is all that faithful, but that ain't necessarily a bad thing. I will probably watch it when it finds its way to Netflix.

brus

Fardragon said:

Yes, in the first book there are robo-centipede monsters and strata of ancient ruined cities. The post-apocalyptic details become more distinct as the stories go on.

I've read the first book a long time ago and I recall robotic monsters so I can't fit in this giant creature with wings in the end of the trailer. But my memory could be washed of.

Fardragon

brus said:

Fardragon said:

Yes, in the first book there are robo-centipede monsters and strata of ancient ruined cities. The post-apocalyptic details become more distinct as the stories go on.

I've read the first book a long time ago and I recall robotic monsters so I can't fit in this giant creature with wings in the end of the trailer. But my memory could be washed of.

The TV series is skipping the first book and starting with the second, which is about elves vs demons. I would imagine that to be a demon, since Gimli is an elf.

SmilingSword

Started watching this and so far it's pretty good but some elves have beards. Also there is a fat elf with a beard, so I'm enjoying it while being completely disgusted by it all at the same time.

killerrabbit

I'm enjoying it. From the actors and the costumes it looks like the same people who did Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus: Blood and Porn.

I barely remember the books but wasn't Dagda Mor the big baddie of book one? The enemy that could only be killed by the sword of shannara?

Fardragon

SmilingSword said:

Started watching this and so far it's pretty good but some elves have beards. Also there is a fat elf with a beard, so I'm enjoying it while being completely disgusted by it all at the same time.

Who said elves can't be fat and beardy?

SmilingSword

OK this show is awesome, the elf beards still annoy the crap out of me but the show is good enough for that to not matter.

the_spyder

So, I watched episodes 1-2 last night. here's my thoughts on the subject (from the perspective that i have NOT read the books at all so I have no idea how faithful the show is to them).

I felt that the story and the setup was coherent and fairly well laid out. I felt that the characters were introduced adequately and with enough to make you interested in what would happen next. I felt that there were some fairly predictable twists and turns to the plot, but still enough to keep my interest for the entire 2 hours and to such a degree that I would watch more.

I felt that the sets were BEAUTIFUL and lush and just absolutely incredible. While not necessarily 'Movie' quality, I thought that they were very high end TV sets and I was loving it. Even the "Demon" at the end was impressive and interesting. I particularly liked the stark contrast between the grove of the tree and the sudden shift to the devastated landscape of the war with the demons.

While I liked seeing John Rys-Davies and Manu Bennet, and I though that the main elf princess was adequately cast, most of the rest of the cast left me hollow. I was actually somewhat glad when the "Boyfriend" got gutted about half way. While I get that Elves are supposed to look eternally young, they should also appear wise into the bargain. John Rys-Davies pulled that off but the rest of the elven cast looked like... well, MTV actors (and I use that term lightly). I've seen worse acting, and it looked like most of the worst offenders got killed off in the first episode, but I was not overly impressed.

I definitely plan on watching more of it and hope that it will survive. There aren't enough High Fantasy shows out there these days and this looks like it might fill the bill. I am also interested in how they plan on playing out the whole 'This is the far future' of Earth. Hopefully it will last long enough to get there.

Was anyone else reminded of Dragon Age while watching the show?

Fardragon

These aren't Tolkien elves or DnD elves. There is no more reason they should be wise than that they should be skinny and beardless.

If you think the elves are different, you should see the gnomes!

the_spyder

I am OK with different, but that doesn't change my expectation of at least a similar template. But more than that, I felt that the acting quality for the most part wasn't even up to 'Twilight' levels.

And yes, I saw the previews for episode 3. Gnomes quite different.

Nonnahswriter

the_spyder said:

But more than that, I felt that the acting quality for the most part wasn't even up to 'Twilight' levels.

That...seems a little harsh. I thought the acting was fine. Not fantastic, but not bad either. As I said, it was very YA, more than what I'd expect from the books, and seeing as this is airing on MTV with teenaged protagonists, that's fine.

Fardragon

the_spyder said:

I am OK with different, but that doesn't change my expectation of at least a similar template.

Why do you have those expectations though? Prior to Tolkien, people's expectations of elves where quite different. Even now, for a large portion of the population, the expectation of elves is they be less than two foot tall and live at the North Pole making toys - this idea of elves is actually older than Tolkien elves. You want to go back further, and the elves of Norse mythology are the Elves seen in Thor: Dark World, although some sources use elves and dwarves interchangeably.

If I remember my Shannara lore correctly, Terry Brooke's elves are a kind of reverted mutant humans.

SethDavis

Fardragon said:

If I remember my Shannara lore correctly, Terry Brooke's elves are a kind of reverted mutant humans.

They often claim to be the last living species from the age of faerie/beginning of time, the implication being that they predate humans and went into hiding when humans took over.

They definitely are a far shot from your usual high fantasy elves. They have a habit of being particularly unwise and stubborn. At every turn they either cause the disaster of that particular book, decide to do nothing about it in case they cause a disaster for another book, or actively resist helping/being helped by the protagonists as they can totally handle the disaster on their own... which they never can. At one point they up and leave because everyone else is causing them too much trouble and we only find out where they went because they straight up started the end of the world with farm equipment.

SmilingSword

Elves with beards annoy me the same way shiny vampires annoy me. Also Tolkien elves are basically norse elfs, everything tolkien is kinda norse. Gandalf is a discount Odin.

the_spyder

Fardragon said:

Why do you have those expectations though?

Primarily because Tolkien is the bog standard in the genre. If the intent were to be something else, that generally requires some sort of preamble, which this didn't have. And as far as I know, the intent of the books was to create a story in a more or less Tolkienesque world. Certainly elves, dwarves, humans, gnomes, trolls, druids etc... and demons all seem to fit the template.

Never the less, my complaint isn't so much that the elves were 'different than my expectation' so much that most of the actors and actresses looked like they just walked off of the B list casting for a a teen focused soap opera.

LadyRhian

Shannara is explicitly linked to the "Knight of the Word" series, also by Terry Brooks.