I definitely enjoyed reading the Sword of Shannara, even if it is similar to the Lord of the Rings. It had what I believe is the most interesting premise for a fantasy book, the most creative reason for fantasy reasons. Mr. Brooks tells that there was a nuclear war between man, which created incredible geographic upheaval. In this relatively secluded area, between the nuclear residue and evolutions and adaptations of people to survive the war's catastrophic effects, man has become Men, Dwarves, Gnomes, and Trolls. Elves are different but that doesn't really matter. Though the plot bears many similarities to LotR, it is nonetheless enjoyable and well written. I would also like to point out that the many following books in the series are very different from LotR in plot.