Kevin's Watch

What about David and Leigh Eddings?
I realize there are in a lower league...once I stated that Comparing Eddings to Donaldson is like compairing a school band recitle to a Mozart Symphony....but school band recitles are still fun and enjoyable.
...and thoughts?

Never got into the Belgariad or the Malorean, but the Elenium and the Tamuli series were pretty good. I love Sparhawk and his horse (Farran?). It was a fun story, and some of the concepts were if not neccessarily novel, then at least well-implemented. Haven't read any other books by David adn Leigh Eddings, though, and really not planning to anytime soon.[/spoiler]

I read "The Belgariad" recently (my girlfriend bought me the 2-volume set), and although I loved the series, I find that my tastes for darker fantasy made the books feel somewhat ... plain at times.

I never did read anything past "The Belgariad" since a friend suggested that Eddings never really did much worth reading after that initial series.

I'd recommend the Malorean and the Elenium and the Tamuli series. They are "junk food" for the brain but were fun when I read them. [A few years back.]

I'd compare them to some of Piers Anthony's "light" readings (Xanth (well maybe not THAT light), Blue Adept, etc.) Fun - but don't look for any depth in them.

I have a gret deal of trouble reading "light" fantasy now ... when I was a kid I just couldn't get enough, but my tastes won't allow me to enjoy that stuff anymore.

Piers Anthony *shudder*

The stand alone book Redemption of Athalus was prettty good.
I've heard that it is very similar to the Tamuli, and a few of the charactors had some sticking simalarities to the Bel/Mal people. But a very unique take on time travel, and some really funny parts too.


An interesting note: The Bel came out around the same time as the 2nd chrons (early/mid eighties)- Eddings wanted it to be realesed at a trilogy, but Lester delrey said that the books should be shorter and relaesed as a five volume set. But at the same time, Lester DelRey was telling Donaldson that Four part series was no good, and to make the 2nd chrons a trilogy...

Never really got into Eddings at all, for some reason. It's been so long since I even tried that I can't even offer a rational explanation.

However, as the exception to every rule, I did enjoy The High Hunt, which is not fantasy at all.

--Avatar

Oh yeah...I remember when we were reading those Sparwawk books. Heh Yeah, the plot and story wasn't groundbreaking, but I remember they were fun to read. Lots of good characters and jokes.

I forgot how I came accross those things...hm...

Yeah...just havn't had the desire to read anything else by the Eddingses.-jay

i read Elder gods, the one that comes after it and redemtion of athulus all very light fantasy

I always hoped that Eddings would have gone a little deeper in his writting over the years..He's stated himself that he's a formulatic writer, and his forula has been working.
-I think that's where he gets this bad rap!

why does everyone always get married off

Ah yes, Eddings the compulsive loose-end tie-upper. Everyone has to get married, settle down and have babies.

And everyone has to be friends with everyone else, or else they DIE!

Sum sui generis
Vs

variol son wrote:Ah yes, Eddings the compulsive loose-end tie-upper. Everyone has to get married, settle down and have babies.

And everyone has to be friends with everyone else, or else they DIE!

Sum sui generis
Vs

LOL....that is so true, especially at the end of Belgariad and Malloreon. EVERYBODY was married and had popped out at least one kid or had a baby on the way, it seemed.

I haven't picked up any of Eddings' stuff recently after Redemption of Althalus because the formula was starting to get pretty old and I've admittedly moved on to more challenging stuff. They're a good intro to get you into fantasy, though.

I do still have a fondness for the Elenium and Tamuli, as well as Belgarath The Sorcerer. The stories and the characters aren't that deep, but the humor and action make them fun to read. I'll have to complete my set of the Malloreon one of these days (I'm missing King of the Murgos and Seeress of Kell) and give those books another read.

I found that the Mallorean was about 2 books too long-it seemed quite drawn out. But the charaterization was still fun.

The one Problem I had with the Mal, was the fact that all the proffits knew the Belgarion would beat Torak, and there would be another meeting of the COD and COL--It would have more Beleivable (If you can use that word in fantasy) if the proficies were dumbfounded about the re-emrgance of the Child of Dark.

The demon battles were pretty cool though.

Eddings' newest release will be entitled:

Deja Vu All Over Again, and Then One More Time

I hear it's going to bo about some evil Gods, fighting some Good Gods, through the use of some mortals.

anyne know if the last two books in the elder gods set is out ?
there not that great but i cant bear to leave teh story unfinished

Looks like the second one is out... here

Personally I've only read The Bel/Mal..and the prequels, and Athalus.

**bump** for Spring.