Three hundred years have passed since the death of Allanon, and theFour Lands are sadly changed. The Elves have vanished, and the Dwarves areenslaved. The Southland is now under the totalitarian rule of theFederation, and magic is strictly forbidden.

Yet Par Ohmsford still has some power of the Wishsong. While hisbrother Coll recites the old legends, Par uses his Wishsong to bring them life.Then a mythic horror known as a Shadowen confronts them. A man callinghimself Cogline drives it off but also brings a message from theancient Druid Allanon -- to go to the dread Hadeshorn, along with the otherScions of Shannara: Wren, who lives in the Westland, and Walker Boh,somewhere in the Eastland.

At the Hadeshorn, Allanon's spirit reveals a terrible future whereShadowen have destroyed all life in the Four Lands. To prevent that, heorders Par to recover the long-lost Sword of Shannara, Wren to discoverthe vanished Elves, and Walker Boh to bring back the Druids and theirancient vanished stronghold of Paranor.

All those tasks are manifestly impossible...