Point of View

"The Wishsong of Shannara" is written from the viewpoint of an omniscient narrator. Most of the story is told through the eyes of Brin and Jair, but occasionally other characters come to the fore, including Allanon and Slanter. The narrator steps back from the story frequently, to provide extensive descriptions of setting or historical context, since this novel is the third in a series.

Setting

"The Wishsong of Shannara" takes place in the Four Lands, which are inhabited by a variety of races who each tend to congregate with their own kind. Men, for example, live in Southland, while Gnomes live in Eastland. The novel features a map of the entire Four Lands and another map of Eastland, where much of the action takes place. The author provides long, vivid descriptions of each new terrain and structure, allowing the reader to formulate detailed mental images of...