Comments on: Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

By: Dread Pirate Terje

Dread Pirate Terje — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:16:11 +0000

“Will you check out the next one too?”

If you mean the next book, yeah. I plan on reading the whole series, now that I’ve started it, so unless books four and five turns out to be black holes of boredom and awkwardness, I’ll read those, too.

“Quite honestly, I’d rather see them read the Belgariad first than Harry Potter.”

I’m not sure I necessarily agree with that. I think I’d rate the two pretty much equally, and recommend one of them above the other based on an evaluation of the whole primary/secondary world thingy, as well as some other things. But I don’t think I’d make a general recommendation. (No matter how much I want to place my beloved Harry Potter on top, I’m afraid I can’t honestly do so, at least not yet.)

By: Loki

Loki — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:50:46 +0000

Read it now, seems like you liked it better than I’d have feared you would. Will you check out the next one too? If I remember correctly, book 2 and 3, and maybe especially 3, are the better parts of the quintology. 4 and 5, while they struggle a lot with the stereotypical plotlines again (2 and 3 do too, of course, just far less), are probably still better than 1, though.

By: Loki

Loki — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:46:01 +0000

Ah, Drasnia and Cherek were the names of the kingdoms. I knew I knew it, it just took a while.

By: Loki

Loki — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:52:02 +0000

Indeed. Eleven or twelve, here too, and my (gazillion) rereads all occured before I turned sixteen I think. I’ve read some Eddings after that, but just new stuff. (Though the difference is maybe a little hard to spot, the guy recycles characters and plots without blushing) Glad you validate my opinion that this is a good introductory series to the genre for young readers, though. Quite honestly, I’d rather see them read the Belgariad first than Harry Potter.

By: Amras Elensar

Amras Elensar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:41:57 +0000

I also managed to remind myself that this is usually considered children’s’ fantasy, although personally I’d probably label it more as a novel for kids in their early teens.

Huh. It’s normally recommended as a good starting point for new, young readers to the genre, but I’ve never heard them recommended to “kids”.

I read Belgarion a long, long time ago when I was eleven or twelve (it seems a long time ago at least), and I also have very fond memories of it. Not so fond that I’d consider re-reading ‘em, but they did the trick for me at that age.

By: Loki

Loki — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:25:55 +0000

Glanced your last sentence, and yes, Barak and especially Silk rocks. I’m also quite fond of Belgarath and the yet-to-be-introduced Beldin and Ctuchick, as well as the kings of the two kingdoms of… whatever people Barak and Silk comes from. Can’t remember their names now. I will read this review tomorrow and respond to the rest.

By: Dread Pirate Terje

Dread Pirate Terje — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:21:51 +0000

An almost ironic aside to the Tolkien-copying of this novel and series, is that the editions I’m reading have cover art which includes cut-outs from a map of Beleriand and the lands of the West in the First Age of the Sun.