Do I have to read The Elenium before the Tamuli? - Page 2

pwalker8 · 03-08-2014, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKFFW

I loved them all when I first read them and re-read them all a couple of times when I was younger. Then I tried re-reading them when Eddings died. I guess my tastes had changed too much as I just didn't enjoy them this time. That was kind of sad.

As a separate question, does anyone else feel that the Mallorean was more or less a re-telling of the Belgariad and the Tamuli very much a re-telling of the Elenium?

That's kind of the point and a recurring theme for Eddings. Of course, it's not so much a re-telling as the idea that events keep repeating themselves until the final resolution. The idea goes way back. One sees it in a number of mythologies and Eddison's classic "The Worm Ouroboras" is an example of a similar theme.

HarryT · 03-09-2014, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

That's kind of the point and a recurring theme for Eddings. Of course, it's not so much a re-telling as the idea that events keep repeating themselves until the final resolution.

Exactly. One of the characters in the "Mallorean" even comments on the fact that they seem to be repeating the same things they did before in the "Belgariad". It's a central theme of the books.

PKFFW · 03-09-2014, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

That's kind of the point and a recurring theme for Eddings. Of course, it's not so much a re-telling as the idea that events keep repeating themselves until the final resolution. The idea goes way back. One sees it in a number of mythologies and Eddison's classic "The Worm Ouroboras" is an example of a similar theme.

I got the idea about the repetition of things. I guess I thought the idea could have been expressed without resorting to writing two 5 book series that are basically identical except for a few place and character names. And then to repeat the process with two trilogies just made it sort of seem like Eddings figured while he was on a good thing he would cash in on it.

pwalker8 · 03-09-2014, 06:15 AM

They aren't really identical. The Belgariad is more or less the story of Garion and his discovery of who he is. The basic plot line is first the quest to recover the orb, and then the defeat of Torak. It starts with Garion as a 14 year old boy and ends with him as a married man. The Mallorean has superficial similarities, they are both quests to complete prophecies and restore the universe to where it should be, but the stories and events are different.

It's been said there are really only five unique stories, everything else is just a variation of those five stories. What matters is what the writer does with those stories. My take is that Eddings was a very engaging story teller (I don't think that it is a coincident that one of main characters is first portrayed as a wandering story teller), which makes most of his books easy to read. That is why I find myself re-reading his books. It's not because I've totally forgotten the storyline, but rather how he tells it.

PKFFW · 03-10-2014, 02:56 AM

Yeah I can see your point. I guess I just saw them as being much more similar than you did.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy them immensely once and re-read them quite a few times. I really did like Eddings' style and humour.

BenG · 03-10-2014, 08:36 AM

I really liked them when I first read them in the 80s but I was less impressed with them on a recent re-read. The plot of each of the following series is basically a re-hash of the earlier ones and most of the characters have the same personality or at least the same sense of humor. Still they are OK for a light read.

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03-09-2014, 06:15 AM	#19
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	They aren't really identical. The Belgariad is more or less the story of Garion and his discovery of who he is. The basic plot line is first the quest to recover the orb, and then the defeat of Torak. It starts with Garion as a 14 year old boy and ends with him as a married man. The Mallorean has superficial similarities, they are both quests to complete prophecies and restore the universe to where it should be, but the stories and events are different. It's been said there are really only five unique stories, everything else is just a variation of those five stories. What matters is what the writer does with those stories. My take is that Eddings was a very engaging story teller (I don't think that it is a coincident that one of main characters is first portrayed as a wandering story teller), which makes most of his books easy to read. That is why I find myself re-reading his books. It's not because I've totally forgotten the storyline, but rather how he tells it.

03-10-2014, 02:56 AM	#20
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 3,791 Karma: 33500000 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O	Yeah I can see your point. I guess I just saw them as being much more similar than you did. That's not to say I didn't enjoy them immensely once and re-read them quite a few times. I really did like Eddings' style and humour.

03-10-2014, 08:36 AM	#21
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	I really liked them when I first read them in the 80s but I was less impressed with them on a recent re-read. The plot of each of the following series is basically a re-hash of the earlier ones and most of the characters have the same personality or at least the same sense of humor. Still they are OK for a light read.

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