Armageddon's Children (Genesis of Shannara Series #1) » (Unabridged)

A phenomenally successful author thanks to his Shannara fantasy series, Terry Brooks is considered by some to be an heir to J.R.R. Tolkien. He creates characters and worlds that readers fall in love with, and can't wait to revisit.

Terry Brooks is one of a handful of writers whose work defines modern fantasy fiction. His twenty-three international bestsellers have ranged from the beloved Shannara series to stories that tread a much darker path. Armageddon’s Children is a new creation–the perfect opportunity for readers unfamiliar with Brooks’s previous work to experience an author at the height of his considerable storytelling powers. It is a gripping chronicle of a once-familiar world now spun shockingly out of control, in which an extraordinary few struggle to salvage hope in the face of terrifying chaos.

Logan Tom is doomed to remember the past and determined to rescue the future. Far behind him lies a boyhood cut violently short by his family’s slaughter, when the forces of madness and hate swept our world after decadent excesses led to civilization’s downfall. Somewhere ahead of him rests the only chance to beat back the minions of evil that are systematically killing and enslaving the last remnants of humanity. Navigating the scarred and poisoned landscape that once was America and guided by a powerful talisman, Logan has sworn an oath to seek out a remarkable being born of magic, possessed of untold abilities, and destined to lead the final fight against darkness.

Across the country, Angel Perez, herself a survivor of the malevolent, death-dealing forces combing the land, has also been chosen for an uncanny mission in the name of her ruined world’s salvation. From the devastated streets of Los Angeles, she will journey to find a place–and a people–shrouded in mystery, celebrated in legend, and vital to the cause of humankind . . . even as a relentless foe follows close behind, bent on her extermination. While in the nearly forsaken city of Seattle, a makeshift family of refugees has carved out a tenuous existence among the street gangs, mutants, and marauders fighting to stay alive against mounting odds–and something unspeakable that has come from the shadows in search of prey.

In time, all their paths will cross. Their common purpose will draw them together. Their courage and convictions will be tested and their fates will be decided, as their singular crusade begins: to take back, or lose forever, the only world they have.

In Armageddon’s Children, Brooks brings his gifts as a mythmaker to the timeless theme of the unending, essential conflict between darkness and light–and carries his unique imaginative vision to a stunning new level. Prepare for a breathtaking tour de force. To those who are new to Terry Brooks, welcome. And to those who have read him for many years: prepare for a dramatic surprise.

Publishers Weekly

In a postapocalyptic America, legions of demons and mutants known as "once-men" roam the landscape. Two teens, Logan Tom and Angel Perez, are the last surviving Knights of the Word, and may be humanity's last hope against the forces of darkness. Although the characters here are sketchily drawn, and many of the postapocalyptic tropes Brooks employs are either overly familiar or not fully developed, Hill does an admirable job of breathing life into the story and characters. He skillfully gives voice to a panoply of child characters, and alters his voice just enough to indicate their youth without becoming overly cutesy. Hill's overall tone is dark and somber, giving an appropriate ambiance to the narrative. As good as Hill is, though, this audio might have benefited from a second narrator; since the narrative unfolds in two primary threads (Logan's and Angel's), it would have been easier for the listener to keep track had there been a different narrator for each. Which is not to say that Hill's performance is in any way lacking; quite the contrary: it is exemplary. Simultaneous release with the Ballantine hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 7). (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.