One time reader

[disco]

I read the Belgariad and the Molloreon about 10 years ago and really enjoyed them. Since then I,ve tried to read the Redemption of Althalus and found it very boring. I was wondering if anyone else found this and what series they would recomend from Eddings.
In the last couple of years I,ve been reading George RR Martin, Raymond E Feist and Robin Hobb and I find these more interesting writers, especially Martin and Hobb.

 

[chrispenycate]

I read the Belgariad and the Molloreon about 10 years ago and really enjoyed them. Since then I,ve tried to read the Redemption of Althalus and found it very boring. I was wondering if anyone else found this and what series they would recomend from Eddings.
In the last couple of years I,ve been reading George RR Martin, Raymond E Feist and Robin Hobb and I find these more interesting writers, especially Martin and Hobb.

If you hadn't read the Belgarion books, you'd probably have been much more impressed by Althalus. He seems to have developed a stock set of characters (somewhat mix and match, but essentially the same) that he reuses for each series. (and you didn't even do the Sparhawk series, to get the child goddess who reappears in "Redemption of" and again in the latest series. Plus, a number of situations reapeat (I know he explained this in the Malloreon by history not being finished- but continuing in numerous other universes?)
There are probably people who enjoy this predictability- after all, the Conan books went on selling, with people holding their breath waiting for a new one to come out (hides behind geography expecting divine vengance ) - but I am not of their number. I much prefer some surprise, which Eddings now declines to offer us (you notice, however, that despite this and despite the fact that I would choose sci-fi over fantasy, I've still read them all) And, regarding Feist, while I adored the early riftwar books, I consider he's now got advanced sequelitis and should write about something completely different, the ?games based? later books are too formulaic for my taste.

 

[Adasunshine]

Although predictable, I still loved the Eddings books and if you liked The Belgariad and The Malloreon, I would suggest reading The Elenium and The Tamuli. I enjoyed all of those books and would recommend them to anyone, especially if they're just starting to read fantasy novels. I think they're a great introduction to the genre.

Failing that, if you haven't done so already I would definitely recommend his two stand-alone prequels to The Belgariad, Belgarath the Socerer and Polgara the Sorceress.

As for Althalus, I really enjoyed this book, easy reading I'll admit but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Eddings is the reason I started and continued to read fantasy books.

xx

 

[Rosemary]

I too have enjoyed reading all of his books, including the stand-alone ones which I am in the process of re-reading. His characters have marvelous characteristics and I love the little bits of humour that come across now and again.

I found The Redemption book just as engrossing as his previous publications.

 

[nixie]

The Elenium and Tamuli are a nice light read,the humour is their but your not really going to get anything different.Unless your a massive fan steer clear of his latest series The Dreamers.The repetitiveness really gets on your nerves...theres only so many times you can read "be nice".."he's such a nice boy etc"...OK I know I'm still reading it but I don't like leaving series unfinished

 

[Priv8eye]

I agree with muchthat has been said here. You really only need to read one set of Edding's books to know what all the others are about. personally I have read Belgariad, and gave up on Mallorean because it was a repeat of what went before.

I also the first Sparhawk books but gave up on the second for the same reason. I read Althalus and found it was the same all over again but in one book this time. I still have and the only reason i don't get rid of it is it was a present.

I abondoned his works a good while ago and moved onto other things. I really got put off more when I read an interview with him (them)and found that he(they) took up writing fantasy to prove how easy it was. HE/they have a stock list of what is required in fantasy book and then put these elements in.

 

[disco]

Thanks for the info it was especially good to hear that he or they took up writing fantasy to show how easy it was. I suppose it is easy to write the same stuff over and over again.

 

[Kynsilaukka]

I abondoned his works a good while ago and moved onto other things. I really got put off more when I read an interview with him (them)and found that he(they) took up writing fantasy to prove how easy it was. HE/they have a stock list of what is required in fantasy book and then put these elements in.

An interview? Sound more of the prologue of Rivan Codex.

Anyways, I´d recommend you to read everything from him/them. At least you can diss them, then. I personally love Garions AND Althalus, but then dislike Sparhawks.

 

[Allanon]

i got crystal gorge for christmas but haven't read it yet is it any good.

 

[Delvor]

Is crystal gorge book 1 of sparhawks trilogy? Elenia?
They're ok, but as people mentioned above lacks greatness of Martin.
My favs were the garion and the redemptions of Althlus, one of first fantasy books i read actually

 

[chrispenycate]

Is crystal gorge book 1 of sparhawks trilogy? Elenia?
They're ok, but as people mentioned above lacks greatness of Martin.
My favs were the garion and the redemptions of Althlus, one of first fantasy books i read actually

No, that's the "Diamond Throne". Crystal Gorge is the third (and most recent)book of the "Dreamers" quartet.

 

[Allanon]

so i need to go back and get the others first then

 

[Rosemary]

so i need to go back and get the others first then

Well, I feel that you should. It will give you a better insight and feeling about the book you have just got

 

[Foxtale]

Actually, I began with the Sparhawk series' and then moved onto Althalus. I found Althalus to be a fresh breeze after Sparhawk. But then I moved onto the Elder Gods series and I almost died. I blame my English teacher for opening my eyes to character archetypes and thus ruining the Belgariad for me.

 

[Jason_Taverner]

I've only read Althalus and I loved it as a total change of pace its nice to read without the gore sometimes and I found it a welcome respite as I was getting bogged down with blood drenced battles, I am still reading blood drenced but it was a surprising change. I always feel I have to defend that book.

 

[Zocia]

English teachers, blood drenched battles and pre-conceived notions be damned.... Yes, Eddings is repetative, yes, main and supporting characters are similar and yes the plot lines seem to run in a strange sort of parallel.... But... and theres always a but, why did we pick up Eddings to begin with? There must have been something, a glimmer of literary genius, a hope of uncharted teritory, a dream of finding the best "read" ever...
But, each of us found something we liked...and if we didnt really like it, we could at least respect it...(Hey, hes writing books, and we aint..) So, heres to my fave writors, Eddings, Robinson, Rice, Auel, Jordan, Rawn, Steel and many others.... If it weren't for them and their grand ideas, where would we be?? A bunch of sorry sotts, without anything to look forward to, save bible verse and classical music. (not that theres anything wrong with bibles and classical music) Who among us dares to dream?

 

[Brys]

I don't feel Eddings does what you says - he doesn't have any originality, and while he may have been mildly entertaining to many of us in the past, it isn't necessarily because of "a glimmer of literary genius". Eddings writes popular, escapist fantasy. And a lot of people like that, which is fine by me - if Eddings gets more people reading fantasy, then I'm not complaining. But that's rather different to literary quality.

If it weren't for them and their grand ideas, where would we be?

Perhaps we would have a more diverse fantasy scene with greater imagination? When I think of grand ideas, I don't think of Eddings, I think of Mieville, Peake, Harrison, Moorcock, Vandermeer - and a lot of the early fantasy writers as well. Eddings is a relatively modern writer, and there are plenty of excellent authors out there - Eddings has been particularly important in publishing terms, but as an influence on fantasy as a whole, he's been relatively minor - just another bestseller that helps to perpetuate the prejudices about fantasy.

Hey, hes writing books, and we aint

In fact, what tends to happen is that writers have a much more limited scope for criticism than readers. Writers who do criticise other writers get a lot of flak for it - perhaps their criticism is the most legitimate of all - they know how difficult it is to write a book, but what actually happens is that they're opinions are dismissed as "bashing" so that they can promote their own sales or as "jealousy", which is a shame, because they often have intelligent, well argued points.

save bible verse and classical music

I'm just wondering why you would consider that to be the case. Are you postulating what there would be if there was no fantasy, or just if those authors you listed didn't write?

 

[Zocia]

Escapist fantasy couldn't be all bad... it all takes us somewhere else... and lit. quality is always a bonus. But, how many new ideas could possibly be out there? Isnt it how its delivered? Yes, bashing occurs, not only in writing, but in most occupations. So, then, how is lit. quality measured? By the # of readers? or # of toes stepped on in writing? the # of books sold? # of awards? However, I will read some of the folks you mentioned, just because they are unfamiliar to me and I am always lookin for a good read, but, please, what did you mean about "perpetuating the prejudices of fantasy"?
Of bible verse and classical music....if you hated ham sandwiches but there was nothing else to choose from, where would you be if that was all that was offered at the lunch counter...? I am not reffering to Sci-Fi writing as a staple, but more of a condiment... it's good to see choices. For example, I am trying to get my daughter to read different things, and it has taken me awhile to get her to "try" Eddings, as well as other non-commercial authors(Interview w/a Vampire, Lord of the Rings, etc..) Books that aren't "required" reading or what her classmates read (like heaving-breast romance books) Therefore, aside from bible verse, I am glad there are other things to read and aside from classical music, I am glad there are other things to listen to. That said, aside from classical, what other music do you listen to, as I've already gotten a glimpse of other authors...