Belgarath the Sorcerer

Rating:
Summary: New ideas wanted!
Review: You liked the Belgariad and the Malloreon? Keep it this way. Belgarath the Sorcerer will reveal nothing new despite going a way back into the future. At least nothing you wouldn't expect. I also don't recommend this book as a starter to fiction reading. I believe only desperate readers continue with Belgarath, Polgara or the Rivan Codex.

Rating:
Summary: Lost its magic
Review: The Belgariad began with a wonderful, original and insightful story, with unique characters who had a vast potential for personality growth. By the time Eddings reaches Belgarath the Sorcerer, however, the quality has plummeted into nothing more than trite, overused words filling the pages. The story itself had so much potential, but the writing and characters were written so poorly that the book was difficult to read without becoming frustrated. The author attempts to make the narrative amusing with smart comments and the like, but what this actually achieves is making Belgarath the sorcerer, the powerful, insightful, complex man, into a peevish, cranky, one-dimensional character. What's more, the characters have all become flat and dull - the dialogue that springs from the mouth of any character could just as easily come from any other, with its weak attempts at sharp tongued witticisms and hopeless characterization. All females are portrayed as manipulative; all males are portrayed as hot tempered lunkheads. Do yourself a favour: If you enjoyed the belgariad, don't bother with this book as it will ruin the entire experience for you.

Rating:
Summary: A great novel to complement the series
Review: Eddings is one of my favorite fantasy authors. His books are interesting and don't contain some of the obscure and boring sections that plague many fantasy novels. I expected this to be fairly long-winded, considering its length compared to his other novels, but it was surprisingly interesting. Anyone interested should read the Belgariad and Mallorean first, because the book is filled with comments that first time readers won't understand. If you've read the series and liked it, you've probably picked up this book already.

Rating:
Summary: all in all good
Review: I have to admit that I read the whole series in less than one month and that includes the belgariad and the mallorean but not polgara, so of course I was addicted and will obviously give it a good review. This book, like all the others written by Eddings, will cause the reader to go into withdrawl with it closed. I'll be the first to admit that Eddings didn't do anything monumental with his series but did acomplish what I believe was his purpose- a novel that will suck you into it and let you escape reality for a while. This book wasn't quite as good as the other series but it was definately worth a try. Do yourself a favor and don't leave this on the shelf.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Start into Science Fiction.
Review: I just started reading science fiction of this sort and I was thrilled with this book. I was eager to continue reading about this strange new world.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This book takes you back to a time before the world was ripped assunder by the evil Torak. This tells you how things happend to lead up to Garion's story. It is a must read for Eddings fans. I suggest that you read this after completing the Belgaraid, and the malloreon series.

Rating:
Summary: Enchanting! A MUST READ!
Review: Wonderfuly written fiction. This book not only entertains by taking you to a far away and magical place, but unlike some sci fi/fantasy fiction the bases and explanations are believable. The charecter Belgareth is one anyone can relate to. Full of wisdom and wry wit. Eddings masterfully draws you into his world with this book and the others in the series. A must read. I have read it more then a dozen times and am currently reading it to my husband. I strongly encorage any fiction lovers to read this book. [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Fun, easy, pure escapism
Review: If you are looking for fantasy that is fun, pure escapism and easy to read, over and over again, then Eddings is it. Predictable - yes, unbelievable - yes, but fun. Enjoyable and a light way to lose yourself into something that is not quite real to take you away into another world - which is exactly what fantasy fiction is supposed to do.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book.
Review: This is probably one of the best books I've read. Surpassed maybe by Polgara the Sorceress. This book introduced me to the world invented by David and Leigh Eddings, and I've read every other book by them since. Belgarath is so incredibly well written that at times I found myself cracking up, usually while at school. Other times I wanted to cry, the characters are described so well that I find myself feeling what they feel, and hoping what they hope. Even though the paperback version has around 800 pages, I can read it in a weekend if I really get into it.

Rating:
Summary: Too many inconsitencies
Review: As an avid reader of Eddings works, including High Hunt, I found Belgarath the Sorcerer, and Polgara for that matter, a real disappointment. There are a number of inconsistencies between them and the Belgariad. For example, all of Garions ancestors call Belgarath "Grandfather", but in the original series, when Garion first calls Belgarath "Grandfather", it comes as a surprise to him (Belgarath). Polgara's engagement also conflicts with what Aunt Pol tells Garion when he suggests she marry Durnik in the Belgariad also. I have read both the Belgariad and the Malloreans, and the Elenium and Tamuli series for that matter, numerous times, I doubt that I will revisit Belgarath or Polgara.