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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lifelong Friend, July 19 2002
The Belgariad and The Malloreon have been my lifelong friends. Since reading them for the first time over a decade ago to reading them for the 10th time this summer, I find that the wit and the wonderful realtionships between the characters are still as strong. Not to mention the strong, female characters which are lacking in many other fantasy series. Anyone who enjoyed the recent Harry Potter series would do well do read these. As in introduction into fantasy, they are tops. Several laughs out loud are guaranteed. I suggest reading them aloud with someone you love since the dialogue flows better if spoken.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top class fantasy, May 13 2002
The book follows Garion as he grows up on a farm in the kingdom of Sendaria, where his Aunt Pol manages the kitchen. The first few chapters cover his life up to the age of around 14, which is when the main story begins. At that time he is just a normal farmboy, and knows little of the world. Even a trip to the closest village is an adventure. But suddenly he has to follow his Aunt as she and Wolf, the storyteller, leave on a quest to find something which has been stolen. As the story progresses, he begins to suspect that his Aunt and Wolf may be different from what he has known them to be his whole life. This is just the start of a great series of five books known as 'the Belgariad', later followed by another five in 'the Malloreon'. The story is the classic fight between the Evil which seeks to rule the world, and the Good which wants to save it, but what really makes the book so great is the characters. They are all very distinct from each other, with their own personality and desires. Eddings manages to keep them all separate, so that they are not mixed together in a faceless group. Instead they each have their part to play in the quest to save the world. I have read the entire series at least 20 times by now, and it remains my favorite fantasy. It is lighter than 'The Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, which makes it suitable for younger readers as well, but it is great for anyone from around 12 to 112. I think many, like me, read this series as their first fantasy, and it is a great start to get interested in the world of magic and swordfights. By now Harry Potter is probably a more common start, but this series is still required reading for fantasy lovers.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The start of one of the best fantasy series ever written, Feb 15 2002
First of all, if you go into this book with a bunch of arrogant predispositions and an elitist literary critic attitude, you definitely won't enjoy it. Something like Martin's Song of Ice and Fire is for you. Really, if this is your attitude, you probably lead a pretty depressed life. Anyway, some people complain that he thinks he is original but only uses the same formula as is typical for fantasy. He quite openly admits to using a formula in The Rivan Codex (where you will find that he did, in fact, put a lot of work into the belgariad). Personally, I believe that it's not the initial framework that defines a good author, it's what he does with it. David Eddings does an excellent job with it. Now some readers choose to complain that this series is not realistic enough. First of all, the name of this genre is Fantasy, not reality. Look it up. The author is much freer to do things with mythical creatures, magic, prophecies, et cetera, while remaining "in bounds." The author who chooses to minimize such things and focus on politics and other "realistic things" isn't as original as he thinks he is. He is either medieval, or shouldn't be trying to write under the fantasy title. Enough of that. Should you choose to have an open mind, this book contains a lot of humor, despair, mystery, and some rather strange, but humorous romances. It is a great coming-of-age story and is not in the least bit confusing. The characters are all clearly defined, and many of them play off of each other very well. Anyway, this can be one of the best series you will ever read if you allow yourself to enjoy it. Whether you do or not is up to you.
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