On the other hand, I still approach each book with the same basic plan in mind - to put some people under severe stress and see how they hold up.

Herein lies the heart and soul of the nations. Their right to be free men, Their desire to live in peace, Their courage to seek out truth, Herein lies the Sword of Shannara.

I didn't want readers to have to make allowances for what they couldn't see, but to be able to say to themselves that the fabric of the magic detailed was perfectly believable.

I think I make better use of language and imagery than when I started out.

Faith, Princess," the Prism Cat repeated. "It is a highly underrated weapon against the dark things in this world.

Even after Sword was published, I was still only thinking about the next book, Elfstones.

Well, I think that as a country, we've drifted away from appreciating the importance of imagination.