Just Finished Reading The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks

The Elfstones of Shannara is the second volume of the Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks, published in 1982.  The story line, set in a supposedly fictional place called the Four Lands but implied to be Earth of the distant future, jumps ahead two generations from the first book, titled The Sword of Shannara.  The focus here is on the elves, with first-book-hero Shea Ohmsford's grandson Wil dispatched on a dangerous (naturally) quest to accompany elf girl Amberle, the granddaughter of the king, to thwart the demons who are suddenly infiltrating the world, killing people and generally being bad sorts.  The reason, you see, for their breakthrough is that the enchanted, sentient tree called the Ellcrys had been imprisoning the demons in a limbo state...her weakening and impending death has caused breaches in the barrier and the bad guys have gotten through.  Only one of the Chosen...elves whom Ellcrys has picked to carry on her legacy...is left alive: Amberle, but where is she? Only the mystic druid Allanon seems to know, and he sends out Wil to find her.  Their mission is to take the seed of Ellcrys where the Bloodfire is, a place few know of called Safehold, in order to make it grow into a new Ellcrys and send the demons back.  The demons pursue them while amassing for an invasion of the elven kingdom.  Who will help the elves resist the evil demons?  Some surprises are in store with a story that is much more original than the opening book.  There is plenty of suspense as well as character development....The Elfstones of Shannara is a terrific piece of fantasy fiction and I avidly look forward to beginning soon on the trilogy's conclusion, titled The Wishsong of Shannara.  Brooks has written several other Shannara novels besides this opening trilogy...he did very well with Elfstones.  Bravo, Terry!