Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Doubleday (1983), Edition: No Edition Stated
Description
Millions of readers have discovered the magic of David Eddings' New York Times bestselling series The Belgariad. Now the first three books in this monumental epic appear in a single volume. Here, long-time fans can rediscover the wonder-and the uninitiated can embark upon a thrilling new journey of fantasy and adventure.It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower-and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
I never knew, that when I started reading The Belgariad, that David Eddings would die. But, ten days after I started reading this volume, covering the first three books of his Belgariad series, Eddings passed away.
It's always weird to start reading a book by a living author, but finish reading a
Before I read this book, my only experience reading Eddings had been reading Belgarath the Sorcerer. This book is best reserved to read after you're read (and enjoyed) the other books in this uber-series. Belgarath is sort of a "behind-the-scenes" book, like if Tolkien would have published "Memoirs of a Grey Istari."
The Belgariad is your typical high fantasy novel, even to the point of having tolkienoid analogs (such as an absent-minded professor of a wizard, a boy on a quest, an object of great power, and an incapacitated ancient evil trying to regain enough strength to terrorize the world). It's not as blatant as The Sword of Shannara, but it's still there.
The first three volumes cover Garion, who's a scullion, which isn't a type of onion, and his Aunt Pol. Every once in a while, they're visited by Old Wolf, who is a tale spinner. Pol, as it turns out, is actually Polgara the Sorceress. Old Wolf is Belgarath. Garion is actually the heir to the high throne of Rivan, but he's apparently too dense to realize this, though everyone around him seems to know.
Turns out the Orb of Aldur, a rock with a little soul, was stolen from the unguarded Rivan palace, and it's up to Belgarath and his rag-tag team of Prophecy-fulfilling archetypes (A towering, axe-wielding giant of a man; a small, weasely thief; a chivalrous knight who'd make Don Quixote look like an exceptionally rude gentleman; a conservative blacksmith; a religious zealot who can walk through stone; the imperial princess, who's also half Dryad; a violent horse whisperer; and a woman who's one of the last surviving members of her race. Did I miss any?)
These people journey through a Middle-earth-like setting that's a bit sparse on non-human creatures (but does have some!), but has plenty of warring humans.
One thing that struck me was the apparent and rampant racism of the book. Now, I'm not saying Eddings himself was a racist, nor is his writing demeaning towards non-white people. But rather, it seems that he took a page from Tolkien, who made it clear that if a person was from a particular country, and that country was bad, then that person was bad. Our heroes tromped around, indiscriminately killing all people (humans) described as "Murgos," whenever they had a chance. And one character in particular took special joy in killing them (though, in his defense, Murgos killed his parents, so that makes everything all right, right?).
It was at times unsettling. I kept wondering "Aren't there any good Murgos? Like, one who recycles, or helps old lady Murgos across the street?" Turns out, every single Murgo is a sword-wielding bad guy with poor hygienic qualities. That's not a stereotype at ALL!
Other than the fact that it was tolkienoid and that it was needlessly racists (in my opinion), the story itself was interesting, though frustrating at how dense the protagonist was. The plot, though heavily prophecy-driven (which should be apparent by the first book's title: "Pawn of Prophecy") lacks any sort of character drive, other than to fulfill a prophecy, and in their spare time, discuss it obliquely so Garion doesn't realize he's really the Rivan King. Though, when they did get to their various stops along the way, the plot carried along, and didn't make me wish that the next page would be the last.
It'll definitely stay on my shelf until I need more room for other books.
Recommended for fans of Eddings' other work, or for indiscriminate fans of High Fantasy.
It's always weird to start reading a book by a living author, but finish reading a
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book by a death author. It changes your impression of it. It makes that old reader's interpretation adage even more true: "The Author is Dead."Before I read this book, my only experience reading Eddings had been reading Belgarath the Sorcerer. This book is best reserved to read after you're read (and enjoyed) the other books in this uber-series. Belgarath is sort of a "behind-the-scenes" book, like if Tolkien would have published "Memoirs of a Grey Istari."
The Belgariad is your typical high fantasy novel, even to the point of having tolkienoid analogs (such as an absent-minded professor of a wizard, a boy on a quest, an object of great power, and an incapacitated ancient evil trying to regain enough strength to terrorize the world). It's not as blatant as The Sword of Shannara, but it's still there.
The first three volumes cover Garion, who's a scullion, which isn't a type of onion, and his Aunt Pol. Every once in a while, they're visited by Old Wolf, who is a tale spinner. Pol, as it turns out, is actually Polgara the Sorceress. Old Wolf is Belgarath. Garion is actually the heir to the high throne of Rivan, but he's apparently too dense to realize this, though everyone around him seems to know.
Turns out the Orb of Aldur, a rock with a little soul, was stolen from the unguarded Rivan palace, and it's up to Belgarath and his rag-tag team of Prophecy-fulfilling archetypes (A towering, axe-wielding giant of a man; a small, weasely thief; a chivalrous knight who'd make Don Quixote look like an exceptionally rude gentleman; a conservative blacksmith; a religious zealot who can walk through stone; the imperial princess, who's also half Dryad; a violent horse whisperer; and a woman who's one of the last surviving members of her race. Did I miss any?)
These people journey through a Middle-earth-like setting that's a bit sparse on non-human creatures (but does have some!), but has plenty of warring humans.
One thing that struck me was the apparent and rampant racism of the book. Now, I'm not saying Eddings himself was a racist, nor is his writing demeaning towards non-white people. But rather, it seems that he took a page from Tolkien, who made it clear that if a person was from a particular country, and that country was bad, then that person was bad. Our heroes tromped around, indiscriminately killing all people (humans) described as "Murgos," whenever they had a chance. And one character in particular took special joy in killing them (though, in his defense, Murgos killed his parents, so that makes everything all right, right?).
It was at times unsettling. I kept wondering "Aren't there any good Murgos? Like, one who recycles, or helps old lady Murgos across the street?" Turns out, every single Murgo is a sword-wielding bad guy with poor hygienic qualities. That's not a stereotype at ALL!
Other than the fact that it was tolkienoid and that it was needlessly racists (in my opinion), the story itself was interesting, though frustrating at how dense the protagonist was. The plot, though heavily prophecy-driven (which should be apparent by the first book's title: "Pawn of Prophecy") lacks any sort of character drive, other than to fulfill a prophecy, and in their spare time, discuss it obliquely so Garion doesn't realize he's really the Rivan King. Though, when they did get to their various stops along the way, the plot carried along, and didn't make me wish that the next page would be the last.
It'll definitely stay on my shelf until I need more room for other books.
Recommended for fans of Eddings' other work, or for indiscriminate fans of High Fantasy.
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LibraryThing member readafew
Pawn of Prophecy
Pawn of Prophecy is the first book in the Belgariad Pentology. Here we meet and get to know mild manured Garion. A little farm boy growing up with his Aunt Pol on Faldor's farm in the country side. When Garion is getting close to 15 something happens to his little world to throw it
Overall a fun good read lots of action and always something to keep asking "what's going to happen next?" Not a very deep book and the close friends always seem to come out better than their enemies. It's the old Good vs Evil and it is usually pretty easy to see which is which.
Queen of Sorcery
Queen of Sorcery is the second book in the Belgariad Pentology and continues right were Pawn of Prophecy left off. Here we continue traveling after Zadar and trying to avoid all the traps the enemy as set for them. We travel down into Tolnedra and meet the Emperor Ran Borune XXIII. After warning the Tolnedrians of the possibility of war coming, they continue on and pick up a straggler. Zadar leads them into Nyssia, where they get entangled with Queen Salmissra.
Overall a fun continuation of the series and a romping good time.
Magician's Gambit
Magician's Gambit it the 3rd book of 5 and the last in this Omnibus. It starts off immediately after Queen of Sorcery, almost as if it was 1 book split into 2. Garion gets to meet several more Gods on his trip and he grows up quit a bit through the book. This book is also filled with LOTS more traveling around the world and they even go into the lions den in an attempt to get back the Stone of Aldur.
Once again a fast fun adventure where the heroes generally come out unscathed...
These books are not incredible books but they do tell a wonderful fun story and the characters generally tend to act in ways that are believable, even the irritating Ce'Nedra.
Pawn of Prophecy is the first book in the Belgariad Pentology. Here we meet and get to know mild manured Garion. A little farm boy growing up with his Aunt Pol on Faldor's farm in the country side. When Garion is getting close to 15 something happens to his little world to throw it
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on it's ear. The old story teller, Mr. Wolf came back for a visit and took Garion and his Aunt Pol away in order to chase someone down, who stole something important. Along the way Garion learns a lot about himself and his aunt Pol and Mr. Wolf, not all of it to his liking.Overall a fun good read lots of action and always something to keep asking "what's going to happen next?" Not a very deep book and the close friends always seem to come out better than their enemies. It's the old Good vs Evil and it is usually pretty easy to see which is which.
Queen of Sorcery
Queen of Sorcery is the second book in the Belgariad Pentology and continues right were Pawn of Prophecy left off. Here we continue traveling after Zadar and trying to avoid all the traps the enemy as set for them. We travel down into Tolnedra and meet the Emperor Ran Borune XXIII. After warning the Tolnedrians of the possibility of war coming, they continue on and pick up a straggler. Zadar leads them into Nyssia, where they get entangled with Queen Salmissra.
Overall a fun continuation of the series and a romping good time.
Magician's Gambit
Magician's Gambit it the 3rd book of 5 and the last in this Omnibus. It starts off immediately after Queen of Sorcery, almost as if it was 1 book split into 2. Garion gets to meet several more Gods on his trip and he grows up quit a bit through the book. This book is also filled with LOTS more traveling around the world and they even go into the lions den in an attempt to get back the Stone of Aldur.
Once again a fast fun adventure where the heroes generally come out unscathed...
These books are not incredible books but they do tell a wonderful fun story and the characters generally tend to act in ways that are believable, even the irritating Ce'Nedra.
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LibraryThing member TheBurningBookshelf
I absolutely love this series, as well as the corresponding series Malorian. It's a continuance of the first five. Magick, intrigue, adventure, fun, comedy and a great themed story, these books will definitely capture the imagination. (Stormdancer)
LibraryThing member debs4jc
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
Eddings has created a delightful fantasy quest, and excels at creating mystery. The reader uncovers bits and pieces of the truth along with Garion (often before him, which is part of the fun). Eddings also has created a cast of delightful characters as companions for him along the way. Even after reading 600 + pages I hadn't had enough and I can't wait to read the next two books in the series.
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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--and Garion himself may be the key to it's successful recovery.Eddings has created a delightful fantasy quest, and excels at creating mystery. The reader uncovers bits and pieces of the truth along with Garion (often before him, which is part of the fun). Eddings also has created a cast of delightful characters as companions for him along the way. Even after reading 600 + pages I hadn't had enough and I can't wait to read the next two books in the series.
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LibraryThing member studiohq
This is one of the Best Sword and Sorcery series on the market. Character development is fantastic. The balance between strong male and female characters sets this series apart from most books in this genre.
LibraryThing member willowcove
This entire series is wonderful. One of the earlier "young boy discovers that he's more than he was led to believe" stories. A classic in the fantasy genre that pulls you into a great read.
LibraryThing member macjest
David Eddings can certainly write a series that will keep the reader turning the page. I love the way he lets the characters have a keen sense of humor while allowing them to have intelligent conversations.
LibraryThing member jshillingford
This is epic fantasy at its finest, and exactly why Eddings is a household name (too bad his recent work sucks). All the characters are well developed, the mythology is rich, and the quest a time-tested story arc. If you are a fantasy fan, you have to read this series!
LibraryThing member chrisod
The Belgariad is an epic fantasy in the spirit of Lord of The Rings. However, it’s much easier reading, sort of a LOTR light. That’s not meant to imply that it’s not good though. The story is fun and the characters are interesting. You just don’t need to learn Middle Earth to get through
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the book :) Volume 1 contains 3 books (Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician’s Gambit) Show Less
LibraryThing member bjanecarp
David Eddings wrote the five books that comprise The Belgariad while I was still in high school. I remember seeing them on the library shelves, and passing them by for other things. Frequently during those years, I would re-read novels that captivated me. So in 1983-1985, I entirely missed this
Enough backstory. The Belgariad is quite good. It never won any awards, I believe, but has firmly established itself smack in the middle of 1980s fantasy literature. It's about an orphaned boy called Garion, who finds himself pulled into world-changing politics. Along with his companions, his Aunt Pol, an old storyteller called Mr. Wolf, a huge, bearded warrior (Barak) from the north, and a smooth talking thief who goes by the name of Silk, all the archetypes are there. Hovering over it all is the deformed god Kal Torak, whose evil priests and soldiers control the eastern half of the continent.
The story is good. The characters are solid and interesting. Eddings holds our interest in the plot through the interactions between his characters. Most of the three books' perspective is through Garion's eyes, and he's constantly struggling in that age where a boy isn't quite a man. His Aunt Pol hovers and nags. He is at times belligerent, as a fourteen year old boy would be.
Edding's Universe is complex and had me referring often to the maps, (there were three) and the book's prologue. His Realms are rigidly constructed, with peoples varied in personality, if not lifestyle. Sendari are pragmatic to the point of obnoxiousness; Chereks celebrate in warlike mead-hall fashion. The Nyissans are swamp-dwelling snake worshipers. Each land opens up a glimpse of Edding's Universe, and usually, had me scampering back a hundred pages to remember where I'd heard the name of that Realm before. This wasn't a bad thing, but the book probably would have benefitted from a brief gazeteer.
I read through the six-page prologue of each book. I wish I hadn't. It gave me knowledge of Eddings's cast of characters that, afterward, spoiled aspects of the plot. You knew who the cast was (or could easily guess), and you understood their purpose. Mostly, the story reminds me of a very well-written novelized depiction of a Dungeons and Dragons game, complete with the wizard, the healer, the warrior, the thief, the paladin: even the cave-dwelling gnomes eventually make their way into the story. It doesn't detract from the story; it does enrich the genre.
I liked the novels. The characters were engaging enough to hold my interest, despite being cut from a predictable mold. For those who enjoy an easy, somewhat predictable, read, I'd recommend the Belgariad series. In fact, I passed them on to my fifteen year-old son, who's already started reading Eddings's followup series. I'm not quite sure of their staying power in my memory. I have a feeling it will slip, like many stories, into my subconscious, and in a year I won't have anything but the vaguest recollection of the works. That said, they work. They're certainly not the best in Fantasy literature, but not the worst either.
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series. I will blame the font because, in those days, I truly did judge a book by its cover (especially if that book was a fantasy novel, and the cover wasn't designed by Darrell K. Sweet). Now that I'm no longer fifteen years old, I've decided to read some of the titles I remember, but never actually settled on. I found The Belgariad in the "free" bin at my library and decided I needed something light. I hadn't been reading recently. I've been bogged down in a few heavy novels (literally. One book weighs several pounds). THis is an omnibus edition, comprised of the first three novels, Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, and Magician's Gambit. The books run smoothly from one to the next without much break in action. Enough backstory. The Belgariad is quite good. It never won any awards, I believe, but has firmly established itself smack in the middle of 1980s fantasy literature. It's about an orphaned boy called Garion, who finds himself pulled into world-changing politics. Along with his companions, his Aunt Pol, an old storyteller called Mr. Wolf, a huge, bearded warrior (Barak) from the north, and a smooth talking thief who goes by the name of Silk, all the archetypes are there. Hovering over it all is the deformed god Kal Torak, whose evil priests and soldiers control the eastern half of the continent.
The story is good. The characters are solid and interesting. Eddings holds our interest in the plot through the interactions between his characters. Most of the three books' perspective is through Garion's eyes, and he's constantly struggling in that age where a boy isn't quite a man. His Aunt Pol hovers and nags. He is at times belligerent, as a fourteen year old boy would be.
Edding's Universe is complex and had me referring often to the maps, (there were three) and the book's prologue. His Realms are rigidly constructed, with peoples varied in personality, if not lifestyle. Sendari are pragmatic to the point of obnoxiousness; Chereks celebrate in warlike mead-hall fashion. The Nyissans are swamp-dwelling snake worshipers. Each land opens up a glimpse of Edding's Universe, and usually, had me scampering back a hundred pages to remember where I'd heard the name of that Realm before. This wasn't a bad thing, but the book probably would have benefitted from a brief gazeteer.
I read through the six-page prologue of each book. I wish I hadn't. It gave me knowledge of Eddings's cast of characters that, afterward, spoiled aspects of the plot. You knew who the cast was (or could easily guess), and you understood their purpose. Mostly, the story reminds me of a very well-written novelized depiction of a Dungeons and Dragons game, complete with the wizard, the healer, the warrior, the thief, the paladin: even the cave-dwelling gnomes eventually make their way into the story. It doesn't detract from the story; it does enrich the genre.
I liked the novels. The characters were engaging enough to hold my interest, despite being cut from a predictable mold. For those who enjoy an easy, somewhat predictable, read, I'd recommend the Belgariad series. In fact, I passed them on to my fifteen year-old son, who's already started reading Eddings's followup series. I'm not quite sure of their staying power in my memory. I have a feeling it will slip, like many stories, into my subconscious, and in a year I won't have anything but the vaguest recollection of the works. That said, they work. They're certainly not the best in Fantasy literature, but not the worst either.
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LibraryThing member MelindaG.
I first began reading the Belgariad series while in high school and still re-read these every few years. The series cemented my love of fantasy.
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
Omnibus edition! I'll be breaking these out as I finish them. The usual disclaimer - I first read these when I was a kid (maybe 13, at the oldest) and am irrationally fond of them. This will be an attempt to look at them with grown-up eyes, but that never actually works.
Pawn of Prophecy:
Two things
On the narrative side, I noticed something for the first time - reading this book *without* reading the prologue must be a very different experience. Because the prologue not only sets up the cosmology of the world, it also lays out very clearly how all of the nominal mysteries in this first volume are going to end - we know who Aunt Pol is, what Garion's family secret is, and what their mysterious quest must be right up front. But the actual text reveals those things gradually or not at all, in a way that's clearly intended to set up narrative tension. So... this is a self-spoiling book. I wish I could purge it from my head and read it unspoiled, for once, just to see how it went.
Queen of Sorcery
Queen of Sorcery focuses on Garion's development as a moral being, which makes sense, given that he's fifteen, barely hitting puberty, and just now noticing the world around him. I wouldn't say it's deftly handled, exactly - there is very little that is subtle in this series - but the various adventures are entertaining as well as not too obtrusively didactic. The various "hints" leading up to the "big reveal" of Garion's sorcerous power are equally obvious, but the actual climax is exciting enough, and both the justice of the act and its emotional cost are earned, I think.
The book also has a self-spoiling problem, in that the Prologue makes is very clear that Garion and Ce'Nedra are destined to be together, which undercuts any possible tension in their early relationship. I don't love that - they have some genuine problems to work through, and it feels like they're handled much too lightly because Prophecy. I am not generally a fan of relationships that begin with screaming fights and contempt on one or both sides. Ce'Nedra is only lightly characterized here, and I will no doubt gripe about her more later, but this is not an auspicious beginning.
There are some cool bits in this one, but it was never my favorite, and still isn't - too much of it feels like stalling to set up character development, rather than making the development part of the plot. There are also just plain too many characters, I think, and this book is where the author begins to find various excuses to ditch parts of the group for whole chunks of time just so it stays manageable. Lelldorin had some potential as a character and not a cardboard cutout but he goes poof almost as soon as he's introduced, Mandorallen never really becomes more than a caricature, Hettar gets plain forgotten for big chunks of the text, and Barak, Durnik, and Silk trade off the minor character moments but never really grow. Add in Wolf, Pol, Garion, and Ce'Nedra, and we're talking ten members of the ensemble - and every single bit of plot or action is initiated by someone outside the group, not within it. No wonder nationality serves as a stand-in for personality - it almost has to.
(And yes, this world has no black people. None. There are white people, who are good, and there are Asian people, who are evil. Just saying.)
Magician's Gambit:
Magician's Gambit covers not just the development of Garion's powers but the esoteric side of the worldbuilding, which has not been covered in much detail up until now. We meet a couple of gods, the Purpose of the Universe, and a high priest or two. The reason the Asians - excuse me, Angaraks - are evil is explained in detail (woo human sacrifice!) although the blame is very carefully laid on the people in power - lunatic kings and a power-mad priesthood, as well as their megalomaniac god - and we're actually left with at least a little sympathy for the common people. It's better than it could be, I guess.
We spend a bit of time in Ce'Nedra's head before she's conveniently left behind, and, try as I might, I have trouble finding fault with the characterization. She's spoiled, intelligent, and adolescent, and therefore mostly irritating but not unsympathetic. I think that over the course of the series, she doesn't develop as far away from that as she could, but right here I'm pretty much ok with her.
There are some bits that nag at me about this half of the series (Barak and his wife! Taiba! Relationships-as-cosmic-reward!) but they're better saved until later - I can't not know what happens, and be annoyed at the breadcrumbs when they appear, but on the whole this is is inoffensive. (Except, you know, for the race thing.)
And while I am not the same reader I was when I was 11, I still kind of love these books. They are fast-paced, amusing, and give the impression of discussing Serious Things without being at all challenging to a middle-class white American kid. The writing is fine, the dialogue is snappy, and the tropes are well-worn enough to feel totally comfortable. I can't help but be critical, now, but these are totally staying on my shelves. Everyone needs their wubbie.
Pawn of Prophecy:
Two things
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struck me particularly about this book. First of all is the extremely stylized language - it worked very well on my as a kid, being completely understandable while still feeling Important. As I recall, this tone quickly fades as the series goes on, but it works well for me here. Second, there are some spectacular examples of telling-not-showing, largely in the matter of Garion's identity-crisis subplot. As an adopted kid myself, his clunky and heavy-handed struggle to deal with his genetic identity didn't make much sense to me then, and now it just highlights one of the classic bad-eurocentric-fantasy tropes - that race=culture=identity, such that people can identify nationality (even within a group of nations that are explicitly the same ethnicity, or in a nation that is explicitly a melting pot) at a glance. It's lazy writing, and it does bug me a little. On the narrative side, I noticed something for the first time - reading this book *without* reading the prologue must be a very different experience. Because the prologue not only sets up the cosmology of the world, it also lays out very clearly how all of the nominal mysteries in this first volume are going to end - we know who Aunt Pol is, what Garion's family secret is, and what their mysterious quest must be right up front. But the actual text reveals those things gradually or not at all, in a way that's clearly intended to set up narrative tension. So... this is a self-spoiling book. I wish I could purge it from my head and read it unspoiled, for once, just to see how it went.
Queen of Sorcery
Queen of Sorcery focuses on Garion's development as a moral being, which makes sense, given that he's fifteen, barely hitting puberty, and just now noticing the world around him. I wouldn't say it's deftly handled, exactly - there is very little that is subtle in this series - but the various adventures are entertaining as well as not too obtrusively didactic. The various "hints" leading up to the "big reveal" of Garion's sorcerous power are equally obvious, but the actual climax is exciting enough, and both the justice of the act and its emotional cost are earned, I think.
The book also has a self-spoiling problem, in that the Prologue makes is very clear that Garion and Ce'Nedra are destined to be together, which undercuts any possible tension in their early relationship. I don't love that - they have some genuine problems to work through, and it feels like they're handled much too lightly because Prophecy. I am not generally a fan of relationships that begin with screaming fights and contempt on one or both sides. Ce'Nedra is only lightly characterized here, and I will no doubt gripe about her more later, but this is not an auspicious beginning.
There are some cool bits in this one, but it was never my favorite, and still isn't - too much of it feels like stalling to set up character development, rather than making the development part of the plot. There are also just plain too many characters, I think, and this book is where the author begins to find various excuses to ditch parts of the group for whole chunks of time just so it stays manageable. Lelldorin had some potential as a character and not a cardboard cutout but he goes poof almost as soon as he's introduced, Mandorallen never really becomes more than a caricature, Hettar gets plain forgotten for big chunks of the text, and Barak, Durnik, and Silk trade off the minor character moments but never really grow. Add in Wolf, Pol, Garion, and Ce'Nedra, and we're talking ten members of the ensemble - and every single bit of plot or action is initiated by someone outside the group, not within it. No wonder nationality serves as a stand-in for personality - it almost has to.
(And yes, this world has no black people. None. There are white people, who are good, and there are Asian people, who are evil. Just saying.)
Magician's Gambit:
Magician's Gambit covers not just the development of Garion's powers but the esoteric side of the worldbuilding, which has not been covered in much detail up until now. We meet a couple of gods, the Purpose of the Universe, and a high priest or two. The reason the Asians - excuse me, Angaraks - are evil is explained in detail (woo human sacrifice!) although the blame is very carefully laid on the people in power - lunatic kings and a power-mad priesthood, as well as their megalomaniac god - and we're actually left with at least a little sympathy for the common people. It's better than it could be, I guess.
We spend a bit of time in Ce'Nedra's head before she's conveniently left behind, and, try as I might, I have trouble finding fault with the characterization. She's spoiled, intelligent, and adolescent, and therefore mostly irritating but not unsympathetic. I think that over the course of the series, she doesn't develop as far away from that as she could, but right here I'm pretty much ok with her.
There are some bits that nag at me about this half of the series (Barak and his wife! Taiba! Relationships-as-cosmic-reward!) but they're better saved until later - I can't not know what happens, and be annoyed at the breadcrumbs when they appear, but on the whole this is is inoffensive. (Except, you know, for the race thing.)
And while I am not the same reader I was when I was 11, I still kind of love these books. They are fast-paced, amusing, and give the impression of discussing Serious Things without being at all challenging to a middle-class white American kid. The writing is fine, the dialogue is snappy, and the tropes are well-worn enough to feel totally comfortable. I can't help but be critical, now, but these are totally staying on my shelves. Everyone needs their wubbie.
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LibraryThing member Ailinel
Eddings' Belgariad is immediately identifiable as a coming of age tale. Garion, who lives on Faldor's farm with his Aunt Pol, the head cook, is dragged on a mysterious quest with his aunt and an old storyteller who are soon identified as the millennia old sorcerer Belgaroth and his daughter
The most difficult part of this series for me was Eddings' inability to write women. Polar, a 4,000 year old sorceress and one of the most powerful beings in existence, regularly spends her time chiding the men about drinking beer and ale. C'Nedra, who we know is significant as she is destined to become Garion's wife, is one of the most ridiculous, petty, and flat characters I've come across and the attempts at chemistry between her and Garion appear forced and out of character on both sides.
Eddings' strongest comeback lies with his side characters. Silk (aka Prince Kheldar of Drasnia, Ambar of Kotu, Radek of Boktor) is fun, enjoyable addition to the tale. He is consistently witty, sarcastic, and hilarious to follow. His skills as an assassin, spy, fighter, and merchant lead to his being central to some of the most memorable scenes. Hettar and Mandorallen are similarly enjoyable, and their constant friendly banter, vices, and interests are what convinced me to keep reading.
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Polgara. Garion is clueless and innocent, but he slowly begins to develop a variety of skills as he works with members of their party. Unfortunately, he may be tied with Harry Potter as the most inept gatherer of information known to man. It becomes clear readers that he is the heir to the Rivan throne, and yet despite picking up every other scrap of available information he remains oblivious to this.The most difficult part of this series for me was Eddings' inability to write women. Polar, a 4,000 year old sorceress and one of the most powerful beings in existence, regularly spends her time chiding the men about drinking beer and ale. C'Nedra, who we know is significant as she is destined to become Garion's wife, is one of the most ridiculous, petty, and flat characters I've come across and the attempts at chemistry between her and Garion appear forced and out of character on both sides.
Eddings' strongest comeback lies with his side characters. Silk (aka Prince Kheldar of Drasnia, Ambar of Kotu, Radek of Boktor) is fun, enjoyable addition to the tale. He is consistently witty, sarcastic, and hilarious to follow. His skills as an assassin, spy, fighter, and merchant lead to his being central to some of the most memorable scenes. Hettar and Mandorallen are similarly enjoyable, and their constant friendly banter, vices, and interests are what convinced me to keep reading.
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LibraryThing member writewellme
This is my favorite fantasy series, and one I go back to and read. I love the characters and the plot, and there are times when I laugh out loud (especially at Silk).
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
Castle of Wizardry (1984)
Enchanters' End Game (1984)
Physical description
8.3 inches