Crystal Gorge by David Eddings

If this were the first book I read by Eddings it would be the last. Crystal Gorge is by far the worst book I have ever read by (the) Eddings (team).

In the first two books of The Dreamers series the number of characters was large and the development was a bit thin but in the third installment the number of characters is ridiculously large and development has become downright emaciated.

The same scene is revisited from a slightly different perspective with precious little new information imparted on several occasions. It reminded me of a 6th grade essay that was written by a child desperate to reach a specific word count. Having run out of information the youngster rewrote the essay with each piece of information given in separate identically constructed sentences.

If this is what is going to happen now that Leigh is getting cover credit along with David I won't be buying any more of the Eddings' works.

As with all of David and Leigh Eddings' books, in my opinion, this was very well crafted. The characters are a little trite, with a gentle sense of humour belonging in a past of buttered scones and cream teas, but still very comforting and far removed from the shock and awe tactics of a lot of modern writers. However, it is very gratifying to have a lead character in Longbow who doesn't dabble in magic. In fact, none of the leading non-divine characters show anything supernatural apart from intelligence.

I liked the way that diversity was encouraged and the new folks they meet as their company extends are not belittled. However, the major fly in the ointment was how they come to rely on their mysterious helper to pull their chestnuts out of the fire. All of the previous books, in all series, left the Gods pretty much to themselves and the characters overcame the adversity. This book started to smack of 'regardless what we do, Mother will win it for us'.

All in all, okay, intelligent use of bison, rather than buffaloes, and you know the difference between the two?

You can't wash your hands in a buffalo;-)