Would you recommend David Eddings?

[Hoarnet]

Hi guys new to the forums here and just want some opinions from fellow fantasy readers.

I am a huge fan of science fantasy having read the works of Terry Brooks, Raymond E Feist, Robert Jordan, Robin Hobb and David Gemmell to name afew.

I have always steered clear of David Eddings, i can't say why maybe just preconcieved notions? maybe it was whispered to me when i was very young that his books were no good?

I recently read "Redemption of Althalus" and really enjoyed it, however from wat i've read on here this seems to be his most unpopular work. Is that because it is so different from his other books or more of the subject matter/writing in itself?

Basically i'm asking if you would recommend Eddings to someone based on the fact that they enjoy the aforementioned authors.
Thx in advance guys.

 

[The Ace]

The 'Belgariad,' and, 'Mallorean ?' Without hesitation.

 

[Clansman]

I disliked The Redemption of Althalus because it was just like everything else, and only the names and some of the plot was changed. It was a re-run.

The Belgariad was my favourite of 25 years ago. The Malloreon was probably better written and more polished, but I liked the Belgariad better, probably because it came first. This being said, I have grown up since reading those books, and won't read them again. I have fond memories of these books, though.

Disappointment with Eddings began to set in during The Elenium, when he squandered a great beginning (Sparhawk was such a promising character) and a chance to do something very different from before. The next series in that universe I stopped reading mid-way through book one. It is a miracle that I even picked up Althalus, but he was the only thing available in the airport, and me without a book to read...

By all means, if you liked Althalus, you will love The Belgariad and The Malloreon, but everything starts to repeat, in my view. You could do a lot worse.

 

[kirgi08]

The Belgariad/Mallorean/Elenium/Tamuli.If ya like Eddings this will give ya your "fix".'08.

 

[Nesacat]

For me it would depend on what stage the reader was at. I read The Belgariad and Mallorean many years ago and they were amazing and wonderful. I loved the diversity and quirkiness of the characters.

The books also set many of my friends on the path to reading fantasy. In fact a friend who is a school librarian uses them as a 'starter pack' for students who wish to start in on the genre.

However, the attraction of the books has waned over the years as I have read other books, although I still flip through them when I'm very tired and looking for the company of older, simpler friends. So yes, I would not hesitate to recommend them but I would also see what else the person has been reading.

As for Althalus, there is a cat in the story .... enough said.

 

[Hoarnet]

Ok thanks very much for the replies people.

i think i'll give Belgariad and Mallorean a go and take it from there.

 

[Menion]

After thoose two you should try Elenium and the Tamuli, i think theese are a for older readers than the Belgariad/Mallorean.

 

[ghost8772]

Belgariad, Mallorean, and Belgarath, I'd recommend any day of the week, Polgara, maybe not so much. The Elenium, I liked, but its sequel the Tamuli, I managed to finish, but left bad taste all over the place.

 

[Pyan]

The Belgariad and The Malloreon, definitely, though if you've already read Hobb and Gemmell you may find them a bit YA, possibly.



But there are better books and better writers around, IMHO...

Have a look at the Authors forum, bearing in mind that a large number of threads and posts is a good indication that the writer in question is likely to be widely read...

 

[Fried Egg]

I would not recommend David Eddings unless you're young (teenager) and new to fantasy. Like others, I have fond memories when I read "The Belgariad" years ago but I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole now; there's so much better out there.

 

[Menion]

You could try Dave Duncan his books are good.

 

[sielah]

Like many people, Eddings was my first foray into fantasy, and although I have very fond memories of the experience, it's highly unlikely I will ever repeat it. Once you move on to better stuff, you realize how one dimensional and simplistic his writing is.

I enjoyed things enough until The Tamuli, when that stupid child goddess character turned up. She was annoying as hell. Why bother finding complex solutions for your characters' problems when you can just have your handy domesticated goddess wave her hand and do it all for you? Really lazy writing IMHO.

Has anybody here read the whole Dreamers sequence? I tried the first one, but wasn't interested enough to go any further.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

I would recommend Eddings. I am currently reading King of the Murgoswhich is the second book in his Malloreon series, and am enjoying it. I thought the Belgariad was brilliant. I get what people are saying when they call his works simple, but I think you will like them Hoarnet.

 

[Quick Ben]

If you were 13 or younger, then yes.

Otherwise, a big no especially after the authors you have already read. It is just so.....childish.

 

[ghost8772]

After the authors, Eddings would be a light easy read, but still some good storytelling. Its escapism, why put an age limit on a story because it was written for a younger audience? Harry Potter is being read by kids and adults alike. Eddings books can be too. Like I said, a lighter tale than Tolkien and Brooks specifically, but still some great character and plot development.

 

[Rosemary]

I certainly would! Enjoyed all his books, including The Redemption of Althulus. They are easy reading books and not just for the younger reader, as Qick Ben and ghost have mentioned.

He has some wonderful characters, quite a lot of humour as well as the usual fantasy magic.

Rosie

 

[starchildtrilogy]

I enjoyed Redemption of Althalus, but I agree, it was kind of a rerun. Eddings is fun to read, but he gets a little formulaic at times. Then again, so does Dan Brown. Still, I actually started Eddings with Polgara the Sorceress, not realizing there was an entire series before it. I loved it and thoroughly enjoyed his work since. It's lighter than most fantasy. I would recommend him for sure.

 

[FionaW]

I get tired of people dissing Eddings. OK, he wasn't the most talented writer out there, but his (belgaraid/malloreon) characters stay with you, in my case for decades.

There are very few characters from other books that I remember so vividly; Paragon is one, Collan another. But a whole bunch of characters from one story? Only Tolkein and Eddings achieved that for me, and that has to say something about those books.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Yeah! I agree FionaW!

My personal fave is Silk.

 

[Moggle]

I get tired of people dissing Eddings. OK, he wasn't the most talented writer out there, but his (belgaraid/malloreon) characters stay with you, in my case for decades.

There are very few characters from other books that I remember so vividly; Paragon is one, Collan another. But a whole bunch of characters from one story? Only Tolkein and Eddings achieved that for me, and that has to say something about those books.

Who is "dissing" Eddings? Considering his subpar books he's living a charmed life as far as criticism goes. I have never read more cliche stories and boring characters as in Belgariad. The first book was incredibly dull and the second was no better although I got so bored with that one I think I stopped reading after a couple of chapters.