The Eddings

[LordVyreth]

We've discussed a lot of the big fantasy/sci fi writers on this board, but I don't remember this one appearing lately. Anyone a fan or former fan (or at least read) the Belgariad or one of their other book series? What did you think of them, and has your opinion changed since then?

 

[Dragonblade]

I love the Belgariad and Mallorean and reread them every three years or so. I also enjoyed the Elenium quite a bit.

However, I have not really enjoyed any of his other books all that much. They seem to be more or less poor clones of his first three series'.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I liked 'em, but basically agree with Dragonblade.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I've loved most of Eddings' series work, but I've been much less fond of his standalone novels.

I use David Eddings as the perfect example of how a good writer is not the same thing as a good storyteller. I think his books are (for the most part) a joy to read. They're a lot of fun. I love his dialogue, and his character interaction.

That said, he can't really tell a story to save his life. His characters are all archetypes bordering on stereotypes, and every single one of his series to date have told basically the same story. (Boil away the details, and the Belgariad, the Mallorean, the Ellenium, and the Tamulli all tell the same story.)

I read him anyway, though, because as I said... Fun.

 

[Staffan]

(Boil away the details, and the Belgariad, the Mallorean, the Ellenium, and the Tamulli all tell the same story.)

The characters themselves point that out in book 1 or 2 of the Mallorean. It is explained away as being the work of the two Prophecies, who apparently like to keep things pretty much the same as last time.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

I have read a lot of fantasy over the years including Eddings and found him to be light in storytelling. Mouse said it best: Characters that are archtypes boardering on stereotypes. I personally have felt that the characters are almost full blown stereotypes and I got board easily, but that is my taste/opinion.

 

[Wombat]

I read The Belgariad many years ago.

Mainly I remember it as having the most fully-drawn two-dimensional characters in literature. None of them was bad, but none of them really stood out as interesting new characters. Instead you had The Charming Thief, The Brash Warrior, The Young Kid From The Farm, The Snooty Princess, The Wise Magician, etc. That and the whole feeling that the collection of kingdoms was run by the Good Ol' Boy network -- heck, they came into international meetings and threw their crowns around.

So I enjoyed it as a fun little summer read, but nothing more, certainly nothing to really recommend to others. Did it "advance" the fantasy genre? Nope. Did it have deep characters or plot? Nope. Was it a fun, light read. Sure. OTOH, I don't own it anymore, and I keep most of my books.

 

[Mark]

I think that the Eddings have produced a great deal of good, serviceable fantasy. I enjoyed the first few books of The Belgariad, years ago, and started considering just moving on to something else during book five, but stuck it out. Glad I did, but that doesnt' speak well of the work, IMO. I enjoyed the early trilogy with Sparhawk, The Ellenium, even more (which I didn't read until a few years after the Belgariad, to clear my head). I tried reading beyond to the Malloreon trilogy but felt it was getting repetitious so dropped out before I got too far into the first of those five books. I have considered picking it up again someday but the thought that I might want to drop out before I finish all five has stayed my hand. Two of the three "prequels" hold no interest for me (Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress), but The Rivan Codex might be worthwhile. (Thoughts?) I've not been interested in The Tamuli (which probably should be read only after The Mallorean) or the stand alones enough to look into them seriously.

 

[Crothian]

I really like the series stuff which is all I've read. His are a fun read and a fun reread

 

[TheAuldGrump]

(Boil away the details, and the Belgariad, the Mallorean, the Ellenium, and the Tamulli all tell the same story.)

Quest for the Magic Rock, part 27...

The Auld Grump, who liked the first series...