The fate of a world rests on an unlikely hero. . . .

Tucked away in peaceful Shady Vale, the young half-elf Shea Ohmsford gives little thought to the outside world. Yet far to the north, the evil Warlock Lord has dispatched shadowy Skull Bearers, creatures twisted by dark sorcery, to hunt him down. At the same time, a black-cloaked giant of a man appears in Shady Vale. He claims to be the mysterious Druid known as Allanon, a wizardly wanderer of vast knowledge and power–and he has come to see Shea. For Shea, he says, is the last descendant of an ancient Elven king. Only he, in all the world, can wield the fabled Sword of Shannara. And only the Sword can stop the Warlock Lord from destroying all that lives.

The Sword lies far from Shady Vale, in the Druid castle of Paranor. And Paranor has fallen under the shadow of the Warlock Lord. Yet all is not lost. Shea will rise to the challenge. Together with Allanon and a handful of brave companions, he begins a desperate quest into the very heart of evil. . . .

The Sword of Shannara Part 1: In the Shadow of the Warlock Lord is the newest addition to the Del Rey Imagine program, which offers the best in classic fantasy and science fiction for readers 12 and up.

"特里•布鲁克斯（TERRY BROOKS）

美国史诗奇幻文学作家。十岁开始写作。高中时开始尝试多元创作，包括科幻小说、西部小说、冒险小说等等。二十一岁时，拜读了托尔金的《魔戒》后，立下了献身奇幻文学的志向。

1977年出版了首部奇幻小说《沙娜拉之剑I：传奇之剑》，不仅深受读者喜爱，更造成极大反响，使他成为首位登上《纽约时报》畅销书排行榜的奇幻作家，该书盘踞排行榜长达五个月之久，更被美国Legend游戏软件厂商改编成电子游戏。之后陆续出版了数本“沙娜拉”系列作品，同样畅销，奠定了他在奇幻文学史上不可动摇的地位。

多年来，他持续创作，作品超过25本，其中有23部入围《纽约时报》畅销榜。除了“沙娜拉”相关作品外，还有根据乔治•卢卡斯的电影剧本情节改编的小说《星球大战首部曲：幽灵的威胁》等。其作品以流畅动人的文笔、无穷的想象力、讨喜的角色、新颖的故事概念与错综复杂的情节，引领读者进入奇妙的阅读世界，广受年轻读者青睐，也确立了他最多产、最成功的奇幻小说作家之地位。

有关数据显示，布鲁克斯的奇幻书籍销量仅次于“哈利•波特”系列作者J.K.罗琳，在尚存于世的奇幻作家中排名第二。

"