The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
by David Eddings
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garion enjoys his life on the farm with aunt polly, even if he is just a simple serving boy, but then his life is turned upside down. a sudden flight from his home and hints from his "aunt" have him questioning everything he has ever known. for it seems that his aunt polly is really pologria, an ancient sorceress, and the wandering storyteller that used to visit the farm is her father--and even older sorcerer. now they are companions in a quest to recover a stolen orb from a god--an...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
fantasy genre fans
This series has been recommended to me more times than I can count. I finally got around to reading it and I gotta say... not sure what all the fuss is about. I mean, it was good, but it wasn't any better in my opinion than any of those other series out there that tell the same tale- good vs. evil, magic vs. non-magic, follow the prophecy road... you get the idea. This book fits the formula to a T. I could tell you everything that was going to happen in this series by the second chapter. Wh...more
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3 comments
Read in March, 2003
recommends it for:
young teens
Get ready for the overuse of the word "sardonic" and characters who absolutely have to have the last word ("oh, really?" "yes, indeed!" "I thought you might feel that way." "I was born feeling this way.") I have to be loyal to a fellow Reedie, but Eddings takes the easy way out too often, merely stating situations when he could take more pains to show them ("The young boy took her hand with a mournful look in his eyes showing profound love, ...more
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Read in September, 2007
David Eddings begins each book with a piece of history pretaining to the land. We focus on the journey of a young boy by the name of Garion as he is forced to flee his home along with his aunt Pol and travel on a long journey to retrieve a stolen object of great importance. As they journey across multiple countries in pursuit of the object, we see Garion develop his latent powers and we end the third book with the return to where everything began.
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Read in January, 1997
recommends it for:
Fantasy Readers
I'm going to make this the proxy review for the entire series of Eddings' work within this universe. I read this around 10 times when I was a teenager, and it's definitely my favorite fantasy series ever (although I don't read many). The characters are memorable, even if they all tend to speak with the same sarcatic, dry tone. The plot is addictive, even if repetitive. The prose is servicable. Recommended to teenagers, and readers of fantasy.
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Robert by:
My sisterrecommends it for: fantasy lovers
We have just finished reading the first book (Pawn of Prophecy). We would definitely recommend getting the volume as opposed to the books individually, as finishing the first book left us wanting more.
It was a little hard to get into at first. The prologue reads like a history (which it is) and therefore is a little dry. The beginning had usual set up and exposition, but once you got into the action it was great.
It was a little hard to get into at first. The prologue reads like a history (which it is) and therefore is a little dry. The beginning had usual set up and exposition, but once you got into the action it was great.
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recommends it for:
nobody
I read these three; they are page-turners, they pull you in and encourage you to find out what happens next. But they're a lot like eating Sixlets when you could be eating Dove truffles instead. Go read _Eragon_; it's much more uplifting than the Belgariad.
I did not like the experiences Garion went through; I felt that he wasn't learning any true principles. He was merely surviving.
I did not like the experiences Garion went through; I felt that he wasn't learning any true principles. He was merely surviving.
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Read in January, 2008
I absolutely love this series! Definitely one of my favorite fantasy books. The author creates characters complex and unique. The story is a classic of good v. evil, and seeking something to prevent the evil from winning, but written in such a way to add new elements and depths. There is intrigue, sorcery, battles, and love. It is brilliant, and I would highly recommend them.
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Read in January, 1985
Average fantasy with a few flourishes. Reading it now, it reads almost like an adaptation of a Japanese Fantasy RPG where the minute you see a map, you know the characters will have to go to every named point on it, and once they have, the series is over. It's pleasantly written, and the writing style moves pretty briskly. Fun fantasy fluff that goes on a bit too long.
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Read in January, 1988
It seems forever ago that I read this series -- it was during my junior year that I stumbled across the first book. I was immediately hooked. The way Tolkein and Rowling did (albeit with less commercial success), the Eddings were able to not only create a great story and characters but to develop and entire world for their characters to inhabit. Highly recommended.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 1995
Possibly the best High Fantasy series of all time, it takes the model of 15th century epics and recasts it in a very readable form. Though the overarching theme of the series can e read as a 'Good vs Evil', Eddings avoids any hint of righteousness in his charactes' motivations. To quoth: "Good versus evil is complicated. I prefer 'Them versus Us'."
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Read in January, 2005
This is different than what I would normally read seeing as it's an "adventure/fantasy" story. I would say it`s a mix between Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings and I loved it. A friend suggested it and although I was hesitant, I read it. I'm not sure it's for everyone and perhaps it's geared towards adolescents but it is interesting nonetheless.
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Wow.
Awesome book - one of the best I've ever read. David Eddings is definitely up there at the top of my all-time favorite authors... after Dr. Seuss of course...
Great plot, great characters, great details. Eddings' writing is excellent - you feel like you actually know his characters. I can't wait to read more of Eddings' work!!!!
Awesome book - one of the best I've ever read. David Eddings is definitely up there at the top of my all-time favorite authors... after Dr. Seuss of course...
Great plot, great characters, great details. Eddings' writing is excellent - you feel like you actually know his characters. I can't wait to read more of Eddings' work!!!!
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I have these books in individual volumes, but it's certainly easier to pick them up in anthologies like this.
The characters are comfortable and snarky. There is humor mixed with grand adventure. If you enjoy Quest books, I think that this series is certainly among the best you'll read.
I re-visit these characters often.
The characters are comfortable and snarky. There is humor mixed with grand adventure. If you enjoy Quest books, I think that this series is certainly among the best you'll read.
I re-visit these characters often.
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An epic! The first time I ever read an Eddings book, so the sarcastic and "witty" dialogue was completely new and refreshing to me. I should re-read this, I think. Well, I probably shouldn't - I've spent hours on it already - but I want to, for the nostalgia. I've even forgotten the name of the old person with the beard!
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Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
everyone
David Eddings is a freaking genius! I love this series...much like the Goonies, it is timeless. I could read this series tomorrow and I would love it as I did as a teenager. It is classic fantasy fiction at its best. I bow down to Eddings and worship at his feet. If you love fantasy fiction, you must read this series!
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recommends it for:
Fans of Fantasy
David Eddings may not be J.R. Tolkien, and the Belgariad may not be as thorough in creating the cultures of it's world, such as languages and the like, but it was a throughly enjoyable, epic read. The archetypical Hero's journey, and cultivation of the warrior. I highly recommend it for fans of the genre.
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Read in May, 2007
The Belgariad and the Mallorean are two series by David Eddings that I just re-read. They are pure fluff fantasy, full of sorcerers, prophecies, weird creatures, treks across zany continents, and the occasional dragon. They are a great distraction from the real world and they read incredibly fast.
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If you like fantasy these books are great. They took me all summer to read The Belgariad and the Malloreon (There are 5 in each set. 10 total). These are the first fantasy books I have read and since then I have read Eragon and Eldest. If like Eragon and Eldest you will probably like these books.
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Eddings tends to follow a fairly general fantasy-quest plot pattern--you know, find the magical thingamajig and destroy the bad guy to restore peace to the world--but what's remarkable about these books is the skillful characterization and humorous dialogue. Well worth reading on a rainy day.
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