Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I will acknowledge that there is a certain degree of, er, similarity between Eddings' various series, but for me there's still sufficient that's unique in each to make it an enjoyable read.
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I wish I could agree. I read the Belgariad with pleasure. He had a smooth, engaging prose style, sympathetic characters, and a flair for dialog. I plowed through the Mallorean with a sort of grim determination. The authorial strings were far too evident, as he carefully maneuvered his protagonists to
every location on his world. It felt like "paint by numbers" fantasy. I saw commentary from folks back then who loved the Belgariad, and "wished the series would go on forever". By the time I finished the Mallorean, I felt like it
had.
My SO likes him better than I, and has read more of his work. I tried a few of the others, but the similarities outweighed the differences too much for me to find them worth the time. There are too many
new books to read. I can't be bothered with reruns, even if they
are unintentional.
I can't blame Eddings for writing them, or his publishers for issuing them, since he pleased a large audience. I simply stopped being able to read them.
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Dennis