Rating: 
Summary: The Beginning of a Wonderful Series
Review: ALthough David Eddings is not as well known or as well liked as Tolkien he still deserves a lot of good comments. In the book "Pawn of Prophecy" a small farm boy named Garion lives out his small life on a farm in the land of Sendaria. He is a simple boy that seems to be satisfied with his life on the farm where he lives with his Aunt Pol. Several times during the year a very old story teller visits the farm where Garion and his Aunt live; the story teller takes a liking to Garion, and his aunt as well. Soon Garion begins having encounters with a man dressed in black that constantly watches him. Garion's aunt, and the story teller (Old Wolf) soon find out, and all three of them including the farms blacksmith leave the farm for a far away place that Garion knows nothing about. Drivin by the prophecy of old, and the events that are to come the small party begins a long adventure that captivates your imagination. The characters are described very well, and are given individual personalities that vary in every extreme. You can't help but fall in love with the characters, and care about everything that they do. The book starts out slow, but picks up halfway through and then you become sucked into the world of David Eddings' books, and you won't be able to quit reading them.
The only reason the book is rated four stars instead of five is because the book starts out a little slow.
Rating: 
Summary: very good series
Review: The Belgariad series is one of the first fantasy books and fantasy series I ever read and I think one of my favorites. There are five books total in the Belgariad and then another series that continue the adventures of Garion and his friends, called the Mallorean, which consists of 4 books. I personally think the Belgariad was the better of the two series though..just my opinion.
Anyways, I thought the books in these series were pretty well written..and humorous as well. I don't know how many times I laughed at the antics of the characters..I was always laughing at Garion (main character in the book) especially when the girl Ce'Nedra was around..too funny. You'll just have to read the books to know what I mean.
Basically, the book and series is about a boy named Garion and his adventures...and most important the Orb, a magical stone that was created by one of the gods. A very powerful stone that an evil god covets. He grows up with his "Aunt Polgara", his parents killed when he was a baby, not knowing who he "really is". He has always wondered about who he is, but doesn't find out till much later what everything means..like why he has the strange circular marking on his palm..and how the Orb fits into things, what he's supposed to do.. i guess you could call his destiny....
Hmm..Well, you'll have to read for yourself to know what everything is about. I dont' want to write too much and spoil it for everyone!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Start...
Review: Almost immediately, you can see the work Eddings has put into creating this fantasy world before actually doing the writing. (the book The Rivan Codex shows you exactly how much) It starts off with Garion's childhood, on a small farm, seemingly with a ordinary boy. Eventually he heads off with the local storyteller, and the head cook on the farm (his Aunt Pol), as if he's just being brought along. They soon start finding some adventure, leading up to something big... you just don't quite know what.It starts out a little slow, but not too slow to draw you in, pushing ahead at just the right speed until the action starts to pick up. There is a good climax at the end of the book, bringing the story forward, but leaving plenty open for the next book(s). One of the best features about this series, and it starts immediately, is the natural-feeling banter between the characters. The dialogue doesn't feel forced - the smart-aleck comments, the sarcasm, and such, reminds me of how real people are to each other, and doesn't feel fake, like fantasy often tends to do. It's not exactly deep in philosophy, or that original in plot. If you don't mind those shortcomings, it's a very fun series with characters you easily grow to like and care about.
Rating: 
Summary: Silly adolescent fantasy
Review: David Eddings commits every sin a writer of fantasy can: there's the wise old all-powerful magician, the big strong warrior, and the boy who is destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy; and not to forget angry Gods who for some reason turn out to be complete nincompoops and allow themselves to be defeated by humans at the end of the series (I'm not considering this a spoiler - this seems obvious). Eddings wrote in his foreword that he wrote this book in order to tackle philosophical issues that bothered him at the time. I don't know what kind of issues he had while writing this, but the deepest philosophical message you can get out of these books is something akin to love conquers all (or of the same type of "keen" insight). Might satisfy adolescents, but absolutely NOT for adults. I'm not a fantasy buff but I _know_ there is better fantasy out there - such as that by lord Dunsany and others. Try checking it out when you give up these books.
Rating:
Summary: On par with Lord of the Rings!
Review: I was first introduced to the Belgariad when I was told to read something. My girlfriend suggested it saying it as the best book she'd ever read. After reading the Lord of the Rings I was ready for another fantasy novel, not thinking that it would be possible to live up to the expectations Lord of the Rings had so succesfully laid down. For weeks the book just lay on my desk. I never had any time, and it wasn't a book you could just dip in to. Eventually, I did actually sit down for an afternoon and read, and I was still reading at midnight. Once the Belgariad has you in it's spell it is impossible to put the book down. You always want to know what happens next, and what the secrets of Polgara and Belgarath are. Immediately I went to my library and read Queen of Sorcery, which if anything is better than this. I am currently reading The Magician's Gambit (3rd book) and am planning to read the rest of the Belgariad and start the Mallorean (David Eddings second series of this story). Final comment? If you're prepared to sit through the barrier of the first book you'll be hooked beyond escape. Be warned, it will capture you in it's spell!
Rating:
Summary: Brillant
Review: I first read this book when I was about 10 years old, and now 20 I still return to it every now and then. This book is a work of brillance, easy to read for the younger generations, and yet still amusing and entertaining for older readers. Definitely get this book and the following ones in the series. David Eddings is one of the best authors I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Start for a Good series
Review: I myself thought, unlike some of the other reviews, that this book was very well done. It is true that this book was kinda slow, but it is an opening for the rest of the series, and like the opening of most books, it serves to introduce the characters and the story, rather than immerse you in the action to quickly.I myself enjoy the charactere of Silk and his humour throughout the book, and I think this book shows the most of that then the others. THe only thing annoying about this book and the others is that Garion acts clueless and like a little kid all through the books. THe plot in these books is also quite predictable, but fun all the way through. I recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, enjoyable fantasy series, but won't be to demanding of it. just keep an open mind and enjoy how the series turns out.
Rating:
Summary: weak and boring
Review: The concept for this story was good, if not the most original ever, and Eddings put a tremendous amount of work into his world-building. I have a great respect for a well-built world that is entirely separate from my opinions of the stories, and it is for the world-building that I award two stars. For the story and characters, none.
When I read anything at all, especially fantasy, I like a story to keep me guessing. When I figure something out before the characters, I like for it to at least feel like I accomplished something by doing so. My main criticism of this book is that there was none of that feeling in it. The 'secrets' were either so painfully obvious only an idiot wouldn't have figured them out (ie. the true identities of Aunt Pol and the storyteller), or else completely abrupt, with no clues that give the reader a chance to either figure it out in advance, or at least to kick themself and say, 'oh, of course!' when the truth finally comes out.
My only other major criticism is that the storytelling is jerky. The time gaps, in particular, are frustrating. One event happens, and then, years later, the story continues... I can't help thinking that the opening chapter would have worked better in flashback.
The exposition, both of the (fabulously built) world, and the characters, is weak. The prologue, though interesting, takes all the mystery and feeling of discovery out of the first half of the book. The characters are flat, with thoughts and feelings that seem somehow detached. Honestly, how many young teen-aged boys look back on their lost innocence with regret, in so many words? Good character writing is usually a little more subtle than that.
The idea had potential, but the book bored me so much that I'm unwilling to subject myself to the sequels. Maybe it does get better. Maybe the other cycles are better. I've heard a lot of good things about them, but I don't know. I heard a lot of good things about this one, too. All I can say for sure is that this book did *not* make me want to read the others.
Rating:
Summary: Fun Read
Review: Brisk, fun read. A little light on character development, but the pace is so quick, and the authors seem to be having such fun, that the book quickly becomes a guilty pleasure. A nice entry into the Fantasy genre, or a solid addition to the hard-core fan's library.
Rating:
Summary: Really Good Starter
Review: This book is a really good starter to the series. While many people complain about all the unanswered questions, I'm glad that they are left that way. This creates the excitement to read the next books. Also, I really love how each character has their own personality and history. This book only gets four stars though because there were many repetitive lines, and once in a while, the book would get dull for a chapter or two. However, Pawn of Prophecy is a great book altogether.
|
