The Scions of Shannara

The Shannara series is known for its detailed universe, but I wonder how much planning goes into balancing lore with the story's pacing. Did the world come first or the characters?

The characters’ journeys seem to intertwine with the fate of the world, but sometimes I wondered if the focus was more on their individual growth or the larger conflict.

The shift to new characters and timelines keeps the series fresh, but I’m curious whether this was planned from the start or a response to reader interest.