Despite its simplicity (or maybe because of it) I adored the Belgariad. It reads a bit like a Greek myth -- sort of primitive but with dignity and nice touches of character emotion.

Ah, I love David Eddings' books. Perhaps, Chris Bunch and David Gemmell are better (am I allowed to drag other authors into this?) but I thouroughly enjoyed David Eddings' the Belgariad series. And I read it when I was only fourteen or so....

Update on Mr. Eddings Estate:

http://scifiwatch.net/fantasy-writer-dav...

The Belgariad was a wonderful find for me 20plus years ago when the Fantasy section in the book store was rather thin.

It was definately all about the characters. I can't say I remember how it all ended except well, the good guys won. But it was a great read if not necessarily very filling.

Unfortunatly he never seemed to catch that lightning in a bottle (for me) in his other writings. Not entirely sure why...

Eddings got me started, big time, in Fantasy. I'll always appreciate that about him...

JJ wrote: "David Eddings will be missed, but we had the good fortune to be able read his works, and that is a legacy of his we shall always keep with us.

Some words he spoke during a interview stand out i..."

That is exactly how it is too. Smart man.

I like that..a lot...thanks for sharing, J.J.

David Eddings will be missed, but we had the good fortune to be able read his works, and that is a legacy of his we shall always keep with us.

Some words he spoke during a interview stand out in my mind still:
'I was in my mid-teens when I discovered that I was a writer. Notice that I didn't say "wanted to be a writer." "Want" has almost nothing to do with it. It's either there or it isn't. If you happen to be one, you're stuck with it. You'll write whether you get paid for it or not. You won't be able to help yourself. When it's going well, it's like reaching up into heaven and pulling down fire. It's better than any dope you can buy. When it's not going well, it's much like giving birth to a baby elephant. You'll probably notice the time lapse. I was forty before I wrote a publishable book. A twenty-five year long apprenticeship doesn't appeal to very many people.'

I did not know he passed away. You're right Robin. It does seem like the genre is losing a lot of the greats lately. He will be missed.

I thought most of Eddings characters were well developed if only because they are so stereotyped.

I am on the belgeriad and I enjoy it a lot. The characters aren't very developed , but still very interesting.

Robin wrote: "Seems like so many of the greats are passing - I'm sure it won't be long before we lose Terry Pratchett because of his Alzheimer’s. It's all so depressing."

I try not to think of it. The world will be a somewhat drearier place once he stops writing.

Seems like so many of the greats are passing - I'm sure it won't be long before we lose Terry Pratchett because of his Alzheimer’s. It's all so depressing.

I remember when I was in high school, I had a pretty hardcore case of David Eddings. I'm one of the many people he had led into the fantasy fold, and even into the pasture of Actually Writing. Even though his last few books were, in my opinion, pale imitations of his earlier ones, I still have the deepest respect and admiration for the man.

He will be missed.

Very sorry to hear of his passing.

Oh no! He was one of my favorites. I remember picking up either the first three or all five of the Belgariad back in high school. Well, actually, pestering my mom into buying them for me. I enjoyed them so much and the Mallorean. Maybe I'll have to get them out and go through them again...

That is really sad to hear. I know he got a lot of people into fantasy, both writing and reading. He will be missed. :(

I just received a twitter from Tor books that David Eddings has passed away. Oh what a sad day!

http://tinyurl.com/oofjbf

The belgaraid was happiness. And no, its not earth shattering writing, but it is enjoyable, which is the only requirement for me to read a book, frankly. I have no read the Mallorean (well, book 1, and then I started uni....). I do enjoy the belgaraid. I'm looking for copies of all of them on .pdb format so I can load them into my palm pilot. It's good reading for riding the bus to class or what have you. :) (pssst! If ya'll know where I can find said copies of books in any electronic format, I would appreciate a heads up ;))

I really like the Belgariad (for those who didn't like the first book, the series really stars to pick up with the second and, particularly the third and fourth books). The Mallorean was definitely a bit of a repeat of the Belgariad...in fact, the author goes so far as to have the characters notice "haven't we all done this before?" and tries to work a reason for the repetition into the plot.

The Elenium and Talmuri range from decent to fair. By the time he wrote the stand alone fantasy novel, "The Redemption of Althalus" (which is an ok read, but nothing to write home about) it was pretty obvious that he only had about four or five characters and just keep reusing them with different names in every book. The Dreamers was horrifically bad; I managed to slog through the first book but couldn't imagine even touching the rest.

His three non-fantasy books are all fair. I seem to recall The Losers being somewhat interesting. High Hunt was so so, if I recall correctly. Regina's song is a modern mystery with supernatural elements. My memory was that it was ok, but not particularly striking.

A compilation of holy books/letters from the belgariad...a combination...

not worth it unless one is a big fan.

What was the Rivan Codex? I couldn't figure out if it was another story or non-fiction.

Pawn of Prophecy isn't that good because nothing really happens...persevere and the juice comes out.

I read the first book in the Belgariad, and while I thought it was a decent read, it wasn't really much to write home about. It didn't really make me too eager to read the second book.

I liked "The Losers" too. My wife hated it.

Out of all the many David Eddings books I've enjoyed my favorite is acually The Losers one of the few non-fantasy books he wrote.

Hehe...mrin codex is a book in the books.

Thanks for the correction on the Codex. Shows how memorable it was...

Dreamers was not so good – no real main character to get to know...

And it's the rivan codex, not the mrin codex...

My wife & I started reading the Belgariad when the second book came out. We'd wait a year for the next, read the earlier ones again & then read the next. We did that for a LOT of years! Obviously, we liked it. I didn't think too much of the Mallorean, although I've read it twice. I read "Belgarath" & felt ripped off, as I did with "Polgara" & the "Mrin Codex".

The Elenium was fun & the Tamuli, not so great, but not a bad read. Neither of us liked the Dreamers, reading only partway through the first book.

Basically, I think Eddings is generally a 'fun' read. It's not great literature, but a fun escape. No need to think a lot. Kind of like watching TV without the electric. That kind of writing holds a place near & dear to my heart since it is often exactly what I want. I think hard all day. When I read for pleasure, I often don't want to think hard, I just want to sit back & enjoy.

I think I read a couple of his books about 20 years ago, but they didn't impress me enough to read them all.

I consider his books 'average', that is to say, a pleasant read but nothing "wow!".

What I wonder is if he'll continue writing now that Leigh is gone, and if so, if his writing will drastically change.

Belgariad is bad like that, but other series not so.

The only problem I have with Eddings is that he likes to write series books in little sections. If I'm going to lay out $7-$9 for a paperback book I expect to get 400 pages or more. I don't really like to pay those prices for 200-300 page books.

I like Eddings too. I found the plots of the Belgariad and the Mallorean series to be thin but I simply loved the characters. They were worth it. With the Elenium and Tamuli I found the same great people but with slightly less predictable plots.

However, he hasn't been afraid to approach racism, even amongst the "good" guys.

Possibly my favorite author, i find that his books are deceptively simple.

The belgariad begins in the stereotypical farm boy manner, however this is slowly challenged by the sometimes twisted brutality of characters and the modern outlook of nations, as well as the representation of global racism towards the angaraks.

The elenium, on the other hand, begins with a fully mature and heroic character, and explores darker moral ambiguities...lovely.

Your thoughts?