Bookshelf

Alumni and faculty members who would like to have their books considered for this listing should contact Stacey Himmelberger, editor of Hamilton magazine. This list, which dates back to 2018, is updated periodically with books appearing alphabetically on the date of entry.

Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara by Terry Brooks ’66.

May 6, 2025

Tags Alumni Book

(Del Rey Publishing, 2025).

The New York Times bestselling fantasy author returns to the world of Shannara, delving deep into the origin story of the Elven leader Galaphile Joss.

As the publisher notes, “Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him — those he loved and those he lost, those who aided him, and those who stood against him. Throughout it all, Galaphile’s goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world and to make life better for those trying to survive it.”

Brooks has been captivating readers for decades with his storytelling that has filled more than 40 books. Fellow author Peter Brett notes, “Terry Brooks has been my constant companion over a lifetime of exploring my beloved fantasy genre. I say with all honesty I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara. If Tolkien is the grandfather of modern fantasy, Terry Brooks is its favorite uncle.”