The Belgariad-Saga

[SableWyvern]

I read and finished the Belgariad many years back, and considered them readable. About a dozen pages into the Mallorean I realised I wasn't enjoying myself at all, and I basically haven't touched Eddings since.

The one exception was when some friends tried to convince me his later stuff was better. I read about three pages, found them bland and boring, and that's been it.

On questioning another friend reading some Edding's work, she said she read him when she wanted something really easy that she didn't need to think about. I considered that fair enough.

Did I point out that I have very little respect for the man's work?

Just my poor opinion, of course.

 

[Orius]

Greetings!

I've just completed David Edding's Belgariad Sage (unfortunately), und I'd like to know what the general community thinks of it.

Personnaly, I think it's utter rubbish. The hero's are stupid, ignorant, have no clue (at least none that is communicated to the reader). In fact, the only people making ANY plans at all are the villains, and these are ALWAYS thwarted by coincidence.

I think Eddings started the Belgariad out well, but the last two books were fairly weak. I think his two biggest mistakes were killing of Chamdar/Asharak the Murgo in Book Two (he was the best villian in the series), and inserting token characters from practically each and every culture in the setting. Some of these characters didn't really accomplish anything.

 

[Orius]

Re: Re: The Belgariad-Saga

Read the Mallorean, where Belgarion is grown up. They get into the reason why they did what they did quite a bit more there. They actually DID have a plan (or at least a path to follow), albeit one they didn't choose to share with a punk kid.

If he didn't like the Belgariad, he'll probably HATE the Mallorean

BTW, if you want a harder-edged hero who can actually stand up to the villain because he's a bad mofo, rather than just because the prophecy said he would, check out the Elenium and Tamuli trilogies by the Eddings. They're a LOT better, in my opinion.
The only problem is that too many of the characters are similar to characters in the Garion books. Ah, well...they're still a fun read. If nothing else, it's fun watching the heroes do some REALLY bad things to the villains. The heroes are not nice people. Sparhawk (the main character) is a perfect example of a LG character, maybe even a paladin, who isn't Lawful Stupid. Mess with something he's sworn to protect, or follow someone he considers evil, and he'll END you.

The Elenium is probably Edding's best work. The first two, maybe three books of the Belgariad were good, but it ended pretty weakly. The Mallorean in many respects is a rehash of the Belgariad. The Tamuli isn't too bad, but isn't quite as good as the Elenium.

 

[Orius]

Proconsul, read the book "Belgarath the Sorcerer". Even just reading the second set of novels will settle most of your complaints.

(snipped)

Also, you have to keep in mind that Belgarath is 7000 years old. He tends to avoid making a lot of personal attachments, because he knows these people will end up dying. He lost his daugther Beldaran, and thought he lost his wife, and neither were easy experiences for him. He does it partially to preserve his own sanity.

 

[Vocenoctum]

You mean at the end of three books into a five book series? Not what I'd call soon.

They got the crystal rose in the second book of the trilogy IIRC,
Gaining an artifact that can raise mountains half way through....

 

[Samnell]

They got the crystal rose in the second book of the trilogy IIRC,
Gaining an artifact that can raise mountains half way through....

Oh, you're talking about the Sparhawk books. This makes more sense now.

I'd agree with you if the whole point of the books was to get the thing, but the point of the triology ended up being killing Azash. So getting the thing you need to do that in the middle isn't out of order, IMO.

 

[Buttercup]

It's funny. I'm usually a pretty critical reader. I despise all the FR and Dragonlance novels for being formulaic dreck. I can't stand Terry Brooks, nor Salvatore, nor even Robert Jordan. I got pissed off at Anne McCaffrey after her 7th or so Pern book and gave up. And Mercedes Lackey makes me want to strangle someone.

But I like the Belgariad and Mallorean. They're formulaic. The characters are 2-d cardboard cutouts. The regular use of deus-ex-machina (even though it's called, 'the dry voice in his mind' or 'the prophecy') is cheesy beyond anything. But I like them, god help me. If someone can explain this anomaly to me, I'd be much obliged.

 

[SableWyvern]

If someone can explain this anomaly to me, I'd be much obliged.

As with the friend I mentioned above, it could just be that he's really easy to read, and tells you a story without requiring you to commit any of your precious intellectual or emotional resources whatsoever.

Even if that's not true, you can tell yourself it is, and thus not feel so bad about this otherwise embarrassing situation.

 

[jdavis]

As with the friend I mentioned above, it could just be that he's really easy to read, and tells you a story without requiring you to commit any of your precious intellectual or emotional resources whatsoever.

Even if that's not true, you can tell yourself it is, and thus not feel so bad about this otherwise embarrassing situation.

Sounds like a guilty pleasure type of thing, heck I own a copy of Anaconda (the movie), and that's just crap but it's fun to watch. Sometimes things just stick, even when you don't want them too, everybody has those secret little favorite books and movies that they keep hidden, you know it's bad but you just can't help yourself.

 

[Buttercup]

you know it's bad but you just can't help yourself.

That's it! The Belgariad = Double Stuff Oreos! They make you faintly sick, but you can't stop consuming them! Jdavis, you're a genius.