Half-elf Shea Ohmsford, the last, best hope for saving the world from the evil Warlock Lord, continues his quest to find the Sword of Shannara, the mysterious talisman that will allow the forces of good to triumph.
Bremen, cast out by the Druids because of his study of magic, discovers a plot by evil archmage Brona to conquer the Four Lands, but he must work fast to unite the people of the lands and find a weapon that will stop Brona's power.
In the three hundred years since the death of the Druid Allanon, the mysterious, evil Shadowen have seized control and are ruining the Four Lands. The shade of Allanon summons the four scions of Shannara, whom he commands defeat the Shadowen.
To prevent the Shadowen from destroying all life in the Four Lands, Allanon's spirit orders the scions of Shannara to perform manifestly immpossible tasks.
As the United States has been transformed into a desolate dystopia the champions of the Word and the Void collide in battles that will determine the future existence of the world and the fate of mankind.
In spite of his protests that he is only an ordinary man and not a hero, Shea Ohmsford eventually accepts his role as the leader of his people in the struggle against the Lord of Evil.
