Eddings Cliches

I think like people you know well, the characters do start to get on your nerves with over-exposure! I loved the Belgariad and Mallorean books, but the cliches did start to grate after a while - especially the 'that's another point for his side' game that's always played and gets very annoying! Even the ever-blessed Silk was winding me up with his nose-twitching by the end...just like real life, when I've spent too much time with my family, all the stuff I usually find endearing start to become irritating!
 
The whole point of the Belgariad/Malloreon was to recycle cliches in an interesting way. I've noticed that all the Garion books are readable (although the humour falls off a bit in the Malloreon). But his others aren't all that great. How many Durniks carry our heroes(sometimes physically)? How many Baraks use sudden violence to get their friends out of trouble ? And how many Silks weasel their way out of danger (Eddings just made his a lot more likeable)? Eddings is a cliche, but to quote another great author ; "Cliches become cliches because they are the hammers and spanners in the toolbox of communication." (Terry Pratchett). Just read and enjoy.
 
Mind you, that "Original Language, " stuff, the yank spellings go right through me. I once got a hold of Adam's "The long , dark teatime of the Soul," in the US edition and found that the spelling had been changed. Am I right to feel superior about this ?
 
I can't believe noone saw this one.. (Hasn't read all the messages so hopes i a right. :S)

Barak saying; 'You're an evil man, Silk'

ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED MILLION ZILLION TIMES
 
Kyn - there was one not-straight, between two of the guys in the Tamuli whose names I can't remember. It wasn't actually spoken, but it was implicit. There was all that bit about how they were afraid to say they loved each other, and Sephrenia and Aphrael shared a Look, and then there was the fact that they were the only male characters not matched up with a female by the end of the series.
Oh, and the Look. Another Eddings cliche, shared between females whenever Eddings males are being obtuse, which is always.
 
"But it sounds so much nicer if I say it that way..."

(velvet to silk, every other page of the mallorean)

I got to wanting to strangle that girl, she was so knowing, and smug, and after a sugar daddy! He'd do something manly and be all proud and she'd puncture his balloon...

I love Eddings, I've read and re-read, The Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium and Tamuli since I was fifteen. The books are part of my psyche, and my number one comfort read. But, once I got to the redemption of Althalus, saw the same characters with different names, the only slightly-tweaked plotline, I got a bit miffed, and I haven't read any of the recent ones. Also I read the (?)Rivan Codex (how to write a fantasy) and was so gutted at how pompous and priggish Mr Eddings came across... I really haven't wanted to make the effort since.

sorry, sidetracked myself. other cliches? hmm... "s/he embraced him/her seriously" - the Eddings equivalent of a camera pan to breeze rustling voile curtains!
 
Good drinking games: take a sip everytime someone "shrugs." At least one a page(not kidding), so you'll be good and drunk.

In the Belgariad, take a sip every time Garion or Durnik is SHOCKED by any behavior that isn't prudent and upstanding (I particularly love it when Durnik often cries, "That's outrageous!")

Another cliche is what we today call racial stereotyping. In the real world it's a bad thing, in Eddings' world it's a way of life. Select dialogue:

Person A: How can you say that?

Person B: But you see, I'm a __(fill in race here)__!

Person A: (laughs) You never change!

Me: groan.
 
the one thing that drives me bananas is the constant use of the term "sort of" it really irritates the life out of me!!!

i wonder if the publishers told Eddings to increase the word count.. so, he "sort of" did. ARGHHHHH!!!!!
 
I found that one major cliche was, if silk says "trust me" somebody always always always says "not If I can hep it" usually belgarath
 
no just silk... belgarath said it once to Silk - at which silk was quite unimpressed...
 
hmmm, if i think about it a little more... It seems that in general only Silk says it regularly. Belgarath and i believe Velvet and Polgara also throw it in his teeth once each. garion may have used it on Belgarath once too.
 
Don't quote me, but I think Talen said it a couple of times too, or something similar at least.
 
I know what you mean about the race thing! :p
It's like people aren't different.

Imagine i said that all English are posh.
All Americans are fat.
All French are Gay.

It's like they dont have a choice in anything.
I THINK THE MOST ANNOYING PART IN THE BOOKS WERE WHEN BELGARION WAS TALKING To ..err who was it.. Leldorin? (Not read them for years) and Garion was upset by the sight of the serfs and Leldorin was like.. SERFS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THATTTT

I mean.. well annoying

DOIII
 
lelldorin's rather casual response to garion's serf issues was more along the lines, of shrugging and saying "they're all like that" - about the serf village and "they're not my serfs." so he can't change their situation.
 
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