Shannara is an epic/high fantasy series of novels written by Terry Brooks, beginning with The Sword of Shannara in 1977. The series tells the generational saga of the Shannara family, an Elven noble family that plays an important role in the struggles that ensue. The series blends magic and primitive technology, set in the Four Lands in a distant future long after civilization as we know it was destroyed in a chemical and nuclear holocaust called the Great Wars, and the world has reverted to a medieval state and magic has reemerged to supplement science as humans live among other races. Further into the novels, science starts to become more advanced.