Rating: 
Summary: A neat book
Review: This book is cool. It has all sorts of background for the Belgariad and the Malloreon. Keep in mind this is not an actual story. It has a lot of background about Eddings' world.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable
Review: I was fascinated by this book. Having read the series many times, I felt that this book served a scholarly function. First, as an interesting introduction to the art and artistry of the authors' procedure, the "personal" chapters are interesting and informative. Second, the background content is fascinating if one is quite familiar with the Eddings' work. I was pleased to read of the corollaries and appreciation of Medieval Romantic Literature. I highly recommend this work if, and only if, the future reader has read the series (perhaps more than once), and has a genuine interest in how the authors work.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: A major disappointment. Especially if one was expecting something in the likes of 'Belgarath' and 'Polaga'. However taken into context that these were all his 'pre'-notes to writing the Belgariad and the Mallorean it does give an intersting insight as to how he came up with his concepts for both sagas. A must buy for Eddings collectors and 'wannabe' fantasy writhers. For the causal reader- give it a miss.
Rating: 
Summary: A valuable addition for fans of the Belgrad/Mallorean
Review: "The Rivan Codex" is a must-have for dedicated fans of David and Leigh Eddings, because it describes the creative process that went into the making of this incredible world. I throughly enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the various races and finding out who their real-world correspondents are. However, If you're only a casual reader of Eddings you probably won't get much of this, because it's more of a textbook in a way of what goes into creating a fantasy world, then a novel. But if you're into Eddings it's a must.
Rating:
Summary: We should be lucky that we got anything new!!!
Review: If you read Polgara then you should know that David said that was the last book. This new book is not a new story. It was not meant to be a new story. It does give you alot of background info on the making of the series. I think if you pick up this book knowing that it's not farther adventures, but a book that let's you see the other side of how a author makes a world that we love to visit. I don't believe David Eddings is going to be writing any more books in the future. I was very suprised to see this new book on the shelf when I went to the book store. Since he pretty much said he wouldn't be doing anymore in Polgara. So stop complaining... Just be glad that we got one more piece of work from a great author!!!
Rating:
Summary: A disappointing effort from David and Leigh Eddings.
Review: The Rivan Codex is a disappointing effort from the Eddings. Rather than advance the story of Pol, Garion, Old Wolf and company, this book seems to have been published just for the sake of publishing. It contains material that the authors wrote as references when they began writing their trilogies. Some of the 'holy books' are truely mind numbing while others are just gibberish. In the foreword David Edding states that they published because of pressure from fans of his trilogies. After reading the Rivan Codex I think fans would have been better served re-reading the original books.
Rating: 
Summary: Addition for every Eddings Collection!
Review: David and Leigh Eddings have done every Eddings fan an enermous favour and privilege by releasing this. The Rivan Codex is the "back story" the working notes from which the Belgariad was produced. Any Eddings fan will love these documents, original style writings that reflect the different chartachers and cultures, from the epic Battle of Vo Mimbre to the History of Tolnedra with notes by Master Jeebers to the Book of Torak. Eddings' show us the basis of their work, the hard work that created this world before the Belgariad was produced. While I would not encourage this as an intro for Eddings work, it is of interest to anyone who loves his work, hs read his work, or is interested in how a grat fantasy work is written. And I think those of us who are into medieval literature woudl also get a kick out of it. I highly recommend this, even just for the intro - where we are told how the Belgariad was written, and the top ten things a fantasy novel needs list is a winner. Highly recommend it, but read it after the other books - you will get much more out of it! And it looks great sitting beside the others :)
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth getting if you've read all Bellgariad books.
Review: Although I'm a great admirer of Eddings work, this book defies any useful purpose. The only reason to get this book is if you've already read the entire set of Belgariad books. Yet it offers no new or insightful comments that followers of the series don't already fully comprehend. Reproduced work on this scale can never be justified. Instead of buying this book re-read the series, much more enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: unasked for and unneeded
Review: The Belgariad is considered an epic by most, and the Mallorean is a welcome continuation. "Belgarath" and "Polgara" were reasonably interesting, but not this one. The Rivan Codex is contains such trivialities that the authors had forgotten to include in the books, along with tidbits that no one really wanted to know. It seems as though the authors are milking the cash cow that is this series as far as it can go. Read the first ten books of the series, and the two following if you wish, but this book is by no means a necessary addition to your library.
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