David Eddings dies.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by davem

The Mallorean - which I didn't read myself. I don't think Eddings work has the depth (or touches the heights) of Tolkien's, but the Belgariad is a nice escapist read, uplifting, clever & funny (as I remember - its over 20 years since I read it). I have the urge to re-read it now, but am afraid of being disappointed - 'There's no going back...' & all that. Then again, maybe I'll dig out a copy of Pawn of Prophecy just to see.....

I loved Eddings when I was 10-12 years old and reread the Belgariad a few years ago with very low expectations (everybody had dissed Eddings so much that I thought I must have had a bad taste as a kid) and was positively surprised. It was good. But now, last autumn, I read his later Elenium series (which I also liked as a kid) and was really disappointed - it was funny and captivating, but it was also sort of dorky, chauvinistic, approving of violence and maybe worst of all, copying the characters of his earlier works (although I did notice that last part even back then as a kid)...

Anyway, I agree about him not reaching the depths of Tolkien or even such "lighter" authors as George R.R. Martin or Robin Hobb, but the Belgariad at least is well worth the read for someone who wishes to a) have a well-written and amusing fantasy story to entertain him/herself with or b) know the "basic works" of the fantasy genre.