Pawn of Prophecy

Rating:
Summary: If you're looking for fun, you've come to the right place
Review: Okay. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that David Eddings writes deep, weighty fantasy. He doesn't. He writes light, breezy fantasy with just enough menace to move the plot along. (Although there are moments in some of his books--for example, Sparhawk's memory of the bells in the Elenium, or Mara's wailing among the ruins of his dead city, that indicate he is capable of much more; why he's been idling for so long I don't know.) However, what attracts me to Eddings, and always has, is his ability to make wonderful characters. Better than any other author I've come across, Eddings can take a few broad strokes of the brush and sketch out remarkably distinct and memorable characterizations; it's a skill that he has employed in every book of his I've read, including The Losers (one of his few non-fantasy books). He makes you fall in love with his characters--I absolutely adore Polgara, and would love to know her in real life; the same with Sephrenia and Flute in the Elenium. When added to the sense of fun and adventure he brings to his work, these great characterizations make his books thoroughly enjoyable experiences. Picking up an Eddings book is like coming home. So if you've finished reading The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Wheel of Time, Song of Ice and Fire, the Sun Sword or other weighty fantasy and you need something to clear your head, try David Eddings; you won't be sorry. The fantasy genre is a vast universe, and there's room in it for Epic Quests *and* simple, fun adventure stories. Eddings belongs here too, guys.

Rating:
Summary: Great Fun
Review: Let me first say that I only give five stars for books that, to me, are the very best of the genre. My 4 star rating is not intended to slight this series at all.

I have seen several previous reviewers complain about the predictable storyline and lack of intricacy in the plot. And hey, I agree. These books are NOT written to be complex; they are written to be FUN. I have read the Belgariad and Mallorean more times than I can count, and they are both extremely enjoyable, and at times, touching. Eddings has a flair for writing dialogue that brings his characters to life. On the downside, those characters are mostly static, and rarely change - their personality types are set in stone, and their interactions are almost always the same. Occasionally, however, Eddings will surprise us and reveal a facet of a character's personality that we have not previously seen.

This particular book is actually a bit slow, and not really all that much Cool Stuff (TM) happens. In the second book and onwards, Eddings describes the magic and lands of his world, and I must say that they are both extremely interesting.

If you are looking for a deep, intricately woven plot that has turns within turns, I would suggest picking up Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy or George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. If, however, you are looking for a rollicking, fun adventure then I can wholeheartedly suggest the Belgariad, starting with Pawn of Prophecy.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This book, although a quick read was definity really good. The characters were well thought out and had a witty sense to them. It didnt take long for me to know that I was going to love this book. I got through the whole seris in a week and I loved them all.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I am a fantasy connoisseur - I must have read at least one book from just about every famous fantasy series/authors, (usually all the books) - and "The Belgariad" is definately one of my favourite series of all time. Its virtues are too numerous to count. It is beautifully written, rich in detail, but not so much that it bores you; a quality I have found becoming increasingly rare in literature. The characters are fully developed, and very endearing. Plus, the magic doesn't end after just 400 pages, like many excellent fantasies.
The story begins with Garion, a young scullery boy on a farm who possesses a strange silvery mark on his palm. He lives in isolated ignorance with his Aunt Pol, (who is not what she seems), until one particular night when he is hurridly bundled up and carted off on an intriguing journey - upon which depends the fate of the entire Universe.
Garion's naive innocence is very loveable, and his companions are equally so, or at least extremely entertaining. Eddings fully creates an entire world, much in the same fashion as J.R.R. Tolkein (only more humerous). These books are jewels of the literary world. Don't pass it up!

Rating:
Summary: I never really liked fantasy
Review: Until I picked up this book, the first in the Belgariad. It was a quick read, but the characters are so vividly drawn, the personalities so unique, and the tale so grand and engrossing, that it seemed like I was actually living the tale. Eddings (all both of them <wink>) sets up the next four books in this one, laying the foundation for the epic saga to come, by focusing on the childhood and early adolescence of Garion, the Boy With A Destiny As Yet Unrevealed (tm). While not my favorite book in the series (that would have to go to Castle of Wizardry, book 3) it definitely hooks you in and makes you want to keep going. Nearly twenty years after first picking up the Belgariad, I'm reading ... and enjoying ... it as much as the first time around. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Great Series with a great start
Review: A Must Read for any fantasy or non-fantasy fan. The book moves along fantastically. It is not overly detailed, and therefor moves along at a great pace.

The story centers around Garion and his mysterious Aunt Pol. The story starts on the farm that Garion grew up in, raised by his Aunt Pol. A few events quickly take place and we are gathered into the story as it moves from place to place in an exciting, but unpredictable journey.

A wide range of characters makes this story great.

Check it out, you wont regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Bread pudding and whip cream
Review: I really like the Eddings books. I've picked them up about 6 years ago and have read the entire series about once a year.

After re-reading Jordan's WOT and reading for the first time Goodkind's SOT, I have to say that if you are die-hard fans of either book, you might not like Eddings. The Eddings' (D and L let's give credit where its due) books are fun; there aren't many grueling plot twists, you don't get the sadistic touch of either RJ or TG, and you don't see much of the evil minds of the malevolent characters. The protagonists are all a pretty happy group and you have a hard time believing that anyone is going to be hurt or killed, much less brutally raped or tortured like SOT and WOT.

The key is, if you're looking for something heavy, slow, dark, with detailed descriptions of every rivulet in a dead tree branch, don't read Eddings. It would be like craving bread pudding and getting whip cream. If you ARE looking for fun, light-hearted, fast moving fantasy with lots of laughs, then buy this book.

I'd advise folks to be careful of people who are really abusive of these books, because after reading their comments I think most of them are bitter RJ and TG readers. Much of what they say is true, but unless you are in the mood to slog through 10000 pages of misery, you won't care if some of the jokes a little corny!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I LOVED this series! Overall, the first book is ok, but the books that continue these series are awesome! David Eddings was referred to me and I said,"Hey, I'll try it." Now, I am reading all his books. They're fairly addictive! The characters are a work of art! I don't know how David Eddings wrote such a wonderful series! I STRONGLY suggest this series. Also, read the Malloreon. I don't know about the people that said this book and series were ok...They must not be fantasy readers. This series is highly addictive, and it does not take that long to read! I loved the Belgariad...So, anyone else who is thinking about reading this book, definitely read it. It will be the best series you have ever read. This is a must read for all fantasy lovers!

Rating:
Summary: The Coolest Fantasy Ever
Review: I like this book a lot because it helped me learn a lot of new vocabulary and it helped me out in class even though at first it wasn't what i wanted in a book until i read further into it and it became amusing and happy.

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre
Review: This book was okay. I have to give it credit for having a semi-interesting storyline and I guess he's sort of held to a higher standard because he was one of the earlier writers of epic fantasies (am I right here?)
ANyway, aside from the credit he deserves and the semi-interesting storyline, the book, quite frankly, wasn't that great. The writing was mediocre, cliche-ridden and not too intruiging. Some of the characters and minor story details were inconsistant.
I understand that it's sort of just starting some big epic thing, so maybe it's only expected to be slow, but I felt that there was no real reason to keep reading the book except that I like to finish what I start. And, quite honestly, I am not hurrying to read any of the other books in the series.
I really don't think Eddings is too skilled with words. As I said, his characters and story details were inconsistant, but I didn't feel any sort of rhythm or beauty to his writing style. Sometimes I felt like he was trying too hard to make the story suddenly interesting or trying to hard to make his characters sound "sly", "wise" or "arrogant"...
That of course ties into the cliches. Many of the people had stereotypical personality traits and sometimes that was just completely overdone to the point of annoyance.
Especially with the main character. You are supposed to like the main character in a book you are reading (well, sort of). In this story, however, I felt that Eddings seemed to have forgotten what childhood is like and was only basing it off "moody and immature but wanting to be a big kid" or something. *rolls eyes* I felt like the main characters age was only getting in the way of a semi-interesting story.
Anyway, to sum it up, it's a decent read but not something I would reccomend at all. Maybe one day I'll try to read some of the other books in the series. But for now, I'm going to find something else to read.
By the way, if you want to read an epic fantasy that really captures a little boy in a huge kingdom...read Assasin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. That's what I call a good book.