The Shannara book series

Where to start. It's been a long long time, but when I remember back to when I got into reading Sci-Fi, the first two books I read were The Sword of Shannara and Ogre, Ogre. I remember my friend Ken kinda trying to get me into Westerns, but um, lets just say no. However, I knew I'd be interested in some Sci-Fi, I started. My bud William had The Sword of Shannara, and was showing it to me one day in church, and I read a chapter or two of it during the service. He was still reading it too, so I had to wait for it, but while I was waiting for it, I was at the old Sunshine Thrift store for some reason, and I was looking though the books, and the only Sci-Fi I could find was this book called Ogre, Ogre. I bought that and read it during the interim of waiting for The Sword of Shanarra, and by the end of these two books I was hooked, and have been addicted to reading ever since.

When I started reading this series, it was a trilogy. Currently if my count is correct, there are 20 of these books. I've been reading this series since the late 80's, and actually having to wait for each book of the Talisman series was awful. Since then, I've seriously branched out and waiting a year for a book doesn't bother me at all anymore. It's also good to note that the most interesting love story in my opinion happened in this series, between Par Ohmsford and Damson Rhee.

The original series, or at least the first book really has a great potential for a movie, so that's why they are making one. A younger Owen Wilson would make a great Shea if he could keep serious for a while. I'm torn whether or not Oded Fehr is tall enough to pull off Allanon, but other than that, he would be great. I know this one sounds strange, but Seth Rogan as Flick is something that popped immediatley to mind. I'm sure I could come up with the rest of the cast if needed, but pressing on.

The books are an involved read, where you need to pay attention to really get everything out of it, but that's what makes it all the more special. Also, most of the stories come out in trilogies, which I like. One book is never really enough. Also, over the last 10 years or so, the Shannara series has been going into prequel mode, tying in the established magical world of the Sword with today's Earth. I haven't got to all these books quite yet, and have some reading to catch up on, but I'm going to wait until I have all the books to do it. Of course there's the library.