Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold!

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Brooks bestselling Shannara trilogy may have been at heart a formulaic fantasy but its vigorous storytelling and intriguing characters won many readers. In his first non-Shannara novel, he takes on another well-worn premise: the contemporary Earthling transported to a fantasy world. Ben Holiday is a lawyer who finds little satisfaction in his work. His yearning for a simpler life seems thwarted when he finds the magic kinddom of Landover, a close analogy of Earth, with precariously balanced powers threatening each other, massive pollution, and general discontent centering on a lack of faith in leaders. This first volume in the new series is mainly introductory as Ben meets the locals and dashes off a few impossible tasks to assert his right to the throne. While still inventive, Brooks fails badly in his lackluster, unbelievable protagonist, his preachy moral tags and the adolescent, daydream quality of Ben's triumphs. Shannarafans are in for a disappointment. 150,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
After Ben Holiday purchased Landover, he discovered the magic kingdom had some problems. The Barons refused to recognize a king and the peasants were without hope. To make matters worse, Ben learned that he had to duel to the death with the Iron Mask, the terrible lord of the demons--a duel which no human could hope to win....


From the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap
Landover was a genuine, out-of-this-world magic kingdom, complete with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement had promised. But after he purchased it for a million dollars, Ben Holiday discovered that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention.

The kingdom was falling into ruin. The dragon Strabo was laying waste the countryside and the evil witch Nightshade was plotting to destroy everything. Ben's only followers were the incompetent Court Magician, Questar Thews, and Abernathy, the talking dog who served as Court Scribe. The Paladin, legendary champion of the Kings of Landover, seemed to be only a myth and an empty suit of armor. Of course, there was the lovely and devoted Willow -- but she had a habit of putting down roots in the moonlight and turning into a tree.

To put the final touch on the whole affair, Ben learned that the Iron Mark, ugly and terrible lord of the demons, had challenged all prospective Kings of Landover to a duel to the death -- a duel which no human could hope to win.

The task of proving his right to be King seemed hopeless. But Ben Holiday was stubborn.

A gripping story of mystery, magic, and adventure -- sure to delight fantasy readers everywhere.

About the Author
Terry Brooks published his first novel, The Sword of Shannara, in 1977. It was a New York Times bestseller for more than six months. He has published twenty-four New York Times bestsellers since. Two of those – the novels Running with the Demon and A Knight of the Word – were chosen by the Denver Rocky Mountain News as among the best fantasy novels of the 20th century. Brooks lives in Seattle with his wife, Judine.

From AudioFile
Ben has reached the pinnacle of success in his career as a trial lawyer, but he comes to believe that living the good life is not enough. He sees an ad for the position of king in a magic kingdom and decides to grab the opportunity to find new meaning in living. Dick HillÕs lighthearted narration gives a dash of a tongue-in-cheek to an old-fashioned fairy tale. He charmingly portrays a motley crew of assistants who are almost incompetent but not hopeless and excels in his depiction of Ben, who more that once wonders what he has gotten himself into. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine