
Bearers of the Black Staff
Pre-Shannara: Legends of Shannara, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Phil Gigante
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By:
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Terry Brooks
About this listen
For more than three decades, New York Times best-selling author Terry Brooks has ruled the epic fantasy realm with his legendary Shannara series. With each new novel the mythos has deepened, ever more fascinating characters have arisen, and increasingly breathtaking vistas of magical adventure have emerged. Now the evolution of one of imaginative fiction’s most beloved worlds continues in the first book of the new series Legends of Shannara: Bearers of the Black Staff.
Five hundred years have passed since the devastating demon-led war that tore apart the United States, leaving nothing but scorched and poisoned ruins, and nearly exterminating humankind. Those who escaped the carnage and blight were led to sanctuary by the boy savior known as the Hawk—the gypsy morph. In an idyllic valley, its borders warded by powerful magic against the horrors beyond, humans, elves, and mutants alike found a place they believed would be their home forever.
But after five centuries, the unimaginable has come to pass: The cocoon of protective magic surrounding the valley has vanished. When Sider Ament, the only surviving descendant of the Knights of the Word, detects unknown predators stalking the valley, he fears the worst. And when Panterra Qu and Prue Liss, expert Trackers from the human village of Glensk Wood, find two of their own gruesomely killed, there can be no doubt: The once safe haven of generations has been laid bare and made vulnerable to whatever still lurks in the wasteland of the outside world.
Together, Ament, the two young Trackers, and a daring Elf princess race to spread word of the encroaching danger—and spearhead plans to defend their ancestral home. But suspicion and hostility among their countrymen threaten to doom their efforts from within—while beyond the breached borders, a ruthless Troll army masses for invasion. And in the thick of it all, the last wielder of the black staff and its awesome magic must find a successor to carry on the fight against the cresting new wave of evil.
©2010 Terry Brooks (P)2022 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Terry Brooks displays the sure hand of a master. Bearers of the Black Staff is filled with iconic characters and heroes not diminished but made human by their flaws. A finely-wrought tale of sacrifice, adventure, betrayal, magic, loss, and a world on the precipice." (Brent Weeks, author of The Way of Shadows)
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Story
Sinnissippi Park, in Hopewell, Illinois, has long hidden a mysterious evil, locked away from humankind by powers greater than most could even imagine. But now the malevolent creatures that normally skulk in the shadows of the park grow bolder, and old secrets hint at a violent explosion. The brewing conflict draws John Ross to Hopewell. A Knight of the Word, Ross is plagued by nightmares that tell him someone evil is coming to unleash an ancient horror upon the world.
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Great tale, brings me back to my youth
- By Ted C. on 12-11-21
By: Terry Brooks
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The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Morgawr
- The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 3
- By: Terry Brooks
- Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill
- Length: 15 hrs
- Unabridged
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Harrowing confrontations with the merciless Ilse Witch and the monstrous Antrax have taken their toll on the intrepid heroes aboard the airship Jerle Shannara. But their darkest adversary now snaps at their heels, in the form of the Morgawr - feeder upon the souls of his enemies and centuries-old sorcerer of unimaginable might with a fleet of airships and a crew of walking dead men at his command. The Morgawr’s goal is twofold: Find and control the fabled ancient books of magic, and destroy the dark disciple who betrayed him - the Ilse Witch.
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Morgawr
- By Jesse on 09-21-21
By: Terry Brooks
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The Scions of Shannara
- The Heritage of Shannara, Book 1
- By: Terry Brooks
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Since the death of the Druid Allanon, the Four Lands have changed profoundly, with magic strictly forbidden in the Southland, now under totalitarian rule. Yet Par still has some power of the Wishsong. A message from Allanon arrives: venture to the dread Hadeshorn, along with the other Scions of Shannara. For in the future, all life in the Four Lands will be destroyed. To prevent this terrible fate, Allanon commands Par to recover the long-lost Sword of Shannara, a task that is next to impossible.
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The best of Shannara.
- By Neill on 07-12-16
By: Terry Brooks
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The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch
- The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 1
- By: Terry Brooks
- Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill
- Length: 17 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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When a half-drowned elf is found floating in the seas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago, an elven prince led an expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more powerful than any in the world. Of all those who set out on that ill-fated voyage, not one has ever returned. Until now. The rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterious symbols - and Walker Boh, the last of the Druids, has the skill to decipher them.
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Talk about memories
- By jose on 11-25-21
By: Terry Brooks
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The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Antrax
- The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 2
- By: Terry Brooks
- Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Brave explorers led by the last Druid, Walker Boh, traveled across unknown seas in search of an elusive magic. But now it seems that Walker and his team were lured there for sinister, unforeseen purposes. As the crew aboard the airship Jerle Shannara is being attacked by evil forces, the Druid’s protégé, Bek Rowe, and his companions are being pursued by the mysterious Ilse Witch. Meanwhile, Walker is alone, caught in a dark maze beneath the ruined city of Castledown.
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A different kind of Antagonist
- By Guy Glirbas on 04-19-25
By: Terry Brooks
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Small Magic
- Short Fiction, 1977-2020
- By: Terry Brooks
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Mark Deakins, John Lee, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Escape to worlds full of adventure and magic in the first-ever Terry Brooks short story collection, featuring both new and fan-favorite stories from all three of his major literary worlds: Shannara, Magic Kingdom, and The Word and the Void.
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Wonderful
- By Garry on 03-11-21
By: Terry Brooks
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Child of Light
- By: Terry Brooks
- Narrated by: Jeremy Carlisle Parker
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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At 19, Auris Afton Grieg has led an...unusual life. Since the age of 14, she has been trapped in a Goblin prison. Why? She does not know. She has no memories of her past beyond the vaguest of impressions. All she knows is that she is about to age out of the children’s prison, and rumors say that the adult version is far, far worse. So she and some friends stage a desperate escape into the surrounding wastelands. And it is here that Auris’ journey of discovery begins, for she is rescued by a handsome yet alien stranger.
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Couldn’t Continue - gave it another chance.
- By Amazon Customer on 10-22-21
By: Terry Brooks
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Unfettered
- Tales By Masters of Fantasy
- By: Terry Brooks, Patrick Rothfuss, Robert Jordan, and others
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim, Marc Vietor, Bronson Pinchot, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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You define life or it defines you. In Shawn Speakman’s case, it was both. Lacking health insurance and diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011, Shawn quickly accrued a massive medical debt that he did not have the ability to pay. That’s when New York Times best-selling author Terry Brooks offered to donate a short story that Shawn could sell to help alleviate those bills—and suggested he ask the same of his other writer friends. Unfettered is the result: An anthology built in order to relieve that debt, featuring short stories by some of the best fantasy writers in the genre.
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A TRULY BAD COLLECTION OF DOGS
- By Randall on 12-21-18
By: Terry Brooks, and others
What listeners say about Bearers of the Black Staff
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- Jan Bryde
- 08-31-24
Really deep storybuild
I love that the backdrop of the world is told i so much detail, without it being unnecessarily political or conveluted in nature.
there are lots of intersting themes in terms of parallel societies and subcultures and factions with their interplays which defeinetely is a boon. especially since it pinpoints how difficult union can be.
I enjoyed the coming of age arcs and the arcs of realisation, which is of course also the achillies heel. in this case it supports and drives the story, which is a huge relief.
the narration is crisp and to tye point
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- Barbara
- 12-14-24
Adventure
I really liked the characters. They fit the story. The story was fast paced and held my interest.
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- OncDoc
- 12-15-23
Elves Trolls & the Black Staff
Just another great story. Great characters. Elves subterfuge trolls & the black staff. On to number 3
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ray Ward
- 10-25-24
the narrator is bland but story is good
the narrator got a boring with his style of reading. but his pacing picks up again later on in the book
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- Retired Engineer
- 07-12-24
Compelling Continuation of Knights of the Word
Maybe one of his best books. Great honest characters. Not perfect heroes, ones with integrity. Where evil is real.
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- james dewerff
- 10-05-24
well written book.
good book. above average narrator. could of used a girl/female voice for female voice overs.
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- Tbrat
- 06-22-22
Bearers
Terry Brooks is my favorite On to the next one in the series. Can’t get enough
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- Margie
- 09-21-23
Loved it! Wonderfully presented. Thrilling story.
Excellent narration. wonderful characters. Thrilling story. I loved everything about these books of Shannarra. More please...
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1 person found this helpful
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- Brian
- 08-11-22
Awesome story
Such an immersive story. The book hooks you early and keeps you wanting until the end. Narration seems so perfectly fitting and helps create an overall perfect feel.
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- Jonathan
- 04-07-23
Narrator r did a great job.. okay effort by Terry
long time Shannara reader here.. over 20 years. this book was definitely a 7 out of 10 for story. starts off pretty fast and furious.. bogs down a little but then picks up Midway through. definitely some memorable characters and will absolutely keep you guessing. just not as powerful as his other works. I am looking forward to finishing the next book. the narrator does a wonderful job capturing the emotion and individual characters.
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