[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Here's my take on David Eddings. I have some nostalgia for his earlier books, as they were really the first fantasy I read as a child, after Tolkien. His earlier stuff, while it doesn't hold up for me now, did have some interesting parts, and would make a good intro to fantasy for a young reader. The plot is straightforward, some of the characters are fun, and it would be a good way to get started. It was for me anyways. True, there are plenty of fantasy cliches, but if it's your first fantasy, you won't realize that. I don't know that I will ever reread any of it, but they were great when I was 11. The Belgariad and The Mallorean were a fun read, and a good way to get a young boy to read 10 books in a row. The Elinium and Tamuli were also good, probably better, for the same reasons.
That's what I have to say that's nice about Eddings. Now let's slam him. I was being generous when I said there were plenty of cliches. It's filled with him. The characters that are interesting become boring, because he continually recycles them with different names through each new series he writes. HIs writing is simplistic, the new stuff in particular. The vocabulary is unimpressive, the plot obvious, and I do not know how he is passed off as a writer of adult fantasy fiction. That's what i have to say about his old stuff that I used to like. Now, on to the new stuff. His new series, THe Dreamers, is the biggest steaming pile of crap ever forced out of a word processor. I'm not sure if this is because he's made enough money and is just going through the motions at this point, or what. This is the first series where his wife is credited as a co-author, although she has collaborated for years with him. Imho she has crushed and ruined any redeeming factors that were present in Eddings' writing. Why do I read them then, you may ask. Simple. My sister remembers that I loved him as a child, and buys me the new Eddings book for Christmas every year that there is one. I feel obligated to read it. I could go on about the downfall of Eddings, but this post is long enough already. I will elaborate further if anyone cares. Discuss.

[Aimless]

I've read all the books featuring characters from the Belgariad, and then the Tamuli, and I still love them. Actually, I'm in the process of reading King of the Murgos right now.

Your criticisms are obviously valid, but I actually tend to appreciate what he does with the simplicity, the recycling, the clichés. The "recycling" is a conscious decision, probably one of those ideas he wanted to explore in his writing, and I can respect that. I love his shameless use of stereotypes (esp. of the nations in the two worlds I've read).

Some things that you just accept on your first read of Eddings as a young reader can make you really think when you return to them as a young reader. How good are those good guys really?

[Werthead]

The Tamuli may just be the worst trilogy ever published by a respected publishing house, ever. It had no redeeming features whatsoever and was quite clearly written by someone who was mentally insane, whilst they were in a coma.

Some of his earlier books were okay to read as, say, an eight-year-old, but The Tamuli is so henious it defies belief. My brain recoils at the very thought of this series. I weep that I ever had to read it.

[Aimless]

I love The Tamuli

[McLovin]

I tried to get into Elenium (can't remember the book title). Just awful. All I remember is the dialog between the characters was so stupid.

[fan_83]

eddings works has a place in the pantheon of great writers.. before i am flamed for this..

one does not give the mbotf to a 8-10 year old kid or give them carey's work.. they will either not understand or you will be distrurbed if they ask for explanations on whats going on in kushiel's avatar..

the majortiy of his work is a great hook and catch to reel in the young uns into this category.. i know it did for me...

[werewolfv2]

and for me. eddings has a ton of respect from me.

[Mulch]

I agree with Fan 83, Eddings has his place as a way to get youngsters into fantasy books.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

I agree with Mulch and fan 83, who agreed with me. In fact, rep for eveyone! You won't find me arguing that Eddings is a must-read for a serious, adult fan of fantasy, but it's safe and fun for the youngens. ANyone reading the Goodkind thread notice one of their people is named Kheldar, an Eddings name? Hmmm, Goodkind and Eddings. Some people have strange favorites. Has anyone else read the new stuff, so they can comment on my idea that his new work, since his wife began to be credited, is much worse than the old stuff?

[Dr Trouble]

Eddings is a good memory for me. I use to read his books with a zeal I never knew I had.

That said, I tried to read the Belgariad again and had to stop before it ruined everything I believed in.
He was good when I first read him, and will continue to be good aslong as kids still pick up his works.

[stone monkey]

Great if you're ten years old, unreadable juvenile tosh if you're not.

[Aimless]

Thaaaat's... clearly untrue! My beloved characters are just about to meet Sadi again <3

[VigoTheCarpathian]

I also read Eddings after Tolkien, when I was a kid, and it helped to induct me into fantasy. Being a 11 year old kid, I felt pretty awesome carrying the books around, and knowing that I had read through 9 other books of the same size.

Besides Lloyd Alexander, and maybe C.S. Lewis, I honestly can't think of another author as a child that would have been as accessible without being condescending. After Eddings, I started consuming fantasy with abandon, and since I knew very little about other fantasy authors, I tried reading some fantasy books that sent me screaming back to Eddings books. I still will not touch the Pern books (McCaffery?), or Earthsea (LeGuin), based on my attempted reads when I was younger.

I seem to recall one of my favorite characters being the morbidly obese king of whatever land Kheldar was from. He was a military genius, but ended up overdosing on pork and ale. Pretty good, considering fat people are typically the baddies in most fantasy.

[Gem Windcaster]

The Timuli series has the worst ending in the history of fantasy (not very long but nontheless). I can take alot when reading, in fact I can usually appreciate more books than most readers - since I am good at focusing on the good parts. But this ending makes me weep. Litterally.

The Belgariad and The Mallorean are still on my favorite list though - because I love the characters. Those ten books are still what I read when I want some pure light entertainment- without much need for deep thinking, I grant you, but even so. The plot was never a thing I concentrated at when reading them. It never gets really interesting. I think the goal with the series never was the big ending when the darkness is defeated and everything - even though it probably was a requisite - but I think the relationship between the characters is the real issue all through the books.
The characters get to me somehow. And I can read it over and over again. Simply because I pathetically care for them. And I like the dialogue. It is true that Eddings repeats himself often between different series, and never in a good way, but it doesn't take away the good stuff about The Belgariad and The Mallorean. Characters like Belgarath, Polgara and Silk just sticks on me like glue - I can't help myself.

I recommend reading them again for those of you that hasn't read them for awhile.
The impression will be different than the one you got as a younger person, but it will be different in a good way (if you let it).

[Chaos]

I came to him late. I made the mistake of buying three books before i'd read one. The only fantasy book i've given up on before i've finished. Terrible. Beyond words. Still.. brings hope to everyone who wants to get published, I mean if HE can with that ****?

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Saint Chains said:

Yeah, but what's the point in publishing something that you're not proud of?

You mean other than fame, fortune, and the chance to later publish something that actually means something to you? Not much, I guess. I suppose it comes down to if you consider your writing an art or a job. If you see it as a job, why not sell out?

[Brys]

I thought Eddings was ok when I read him at about 13, but Feist was vastly superior, and I read Tolkien at about the same time, so I don't really have any nostalgia for Eddings - he didn't get me into fantasy, Feist did, and he wasn't even as good a writer as Feist. I still have no idea why I actually read the Elder Gods a couple of years ago. It was one of the worst fantasy books I've ever read.

[polishgenius]

raymondluxuryyacht said:

You mean other than fame, fortune, and the chance to later publish something that actually means something to you? Not much, I guess. I suppose it comes down to if you consider your writing an art or a job. If you see it as a job, why not sell out?

Yeah, but Eddings published his best story first, and is decending increasingly into farce and accidental self-parody. I'm told he's admitted that he does it purely for the money, but I haven't read the interview myself.
I do know he writes all his books longhand, by hand, for each draft, and I can only assume that his editors don't have the heart to tell him to try again.

[Werthead]

Interview? He says is plain and clear in his book The Rivan Codex (a behind-the-scenes, 'making of' of The Belgariad and Malloreon).

Quote

"I saw that Lord of the Rings was on its 44th printing, so I went home, pulled out an old map I'd been working on years earlier and saw possibilities."