[Belgarion]

but I didn't expect to be slaughtered by anti-David Eddings fans. LOL! I have read a lot of the archived forum topics and have a lot of respect for the regular chatters. I have realised how well-read you guys are in the fantasy genre. No I am not patronizing you! So respect to you guys from me.

But I need respect from you guys too...as I like to describe myself as one of the most avid fantasy literary critic! I sure you all see that for yourself as well LOL.

I am very confused about one thing...why do you guys have no respect for David Eddings. The man is 70 this year and spent 20 years to write 20 exceptional books. And I find that you guys practically spit him in the face. Why, what has he done to upset you? I don't expect you to praise him as every one is entitled to their opinion but it bit like critising Steven Spielberg for directing crap films!! JRRT only wrote one good book - LOTR. The Hobbit is an average book although a very famous and classical one as it was the impetus for the genre of fantasy.

But I wont argue with you guys too much as I am a believer of respecting everyone's opinion. However, can you do me one favour to welcome me in the wonderful website? Can every reader reply to this post with their favourite author and book. It only cost you a sentence or two to reply. I would be very much appreciated as I wish to jot down the most popular author using you as the census population.

Thanks in advance...I hope to read you guys later. Have a good day. Or "Having a Torak" as i would sometimes say as a subsitute!

[FitzChivalry]

I don't think anyone spits in Eddings' face.
I don't know the guy, he is probably a great grandfather, telling his grandchildren nice tells before they go to sleep (probably all with the same plot).

But in regarding to his ability to write books, i don't think people should hide their opinion about his books because he is 70 and wrote books for the last 20 years...
These are people's opinions and they say what they think, nothing more.

Favorite author - Roger Zelazny.
Favorite book - hard to tell, probably A night in the lonesome october by Roger Zelazny.

[allanon]

David Eddings is pretty good author.He has very nice sense of humour,good characters[like Beldin,Poulgara&you[joke]].He is not of my favourite authors,but I like him.MY favourite author is Raymond E. Feist.And...you are absolutely right about JRRT.

[Cadfael]

In fact he is totally wrong, Tolkien wrote about 18 books, but however...

I have read Eddings, he is far from the worst fantasy author I have read, but he is far from the best as well. He keeps repeating certain phrases, and I find the very annoying..."be nice", "don't pout dear" and "try not to fall in tha water dear" and on and on.

Favorite Author = JRR Tolkien 51%, S Donaldson 49% (and no appologies for that)

[DarthV]

I think I liked Eddings' books more for their comedic value than for the fantasy content. Decent stories...

[Ntschotschi]

I hold the Eddings in dear regard, their books kept me company in a dire time of my life, writing my dissertion. I still like Sparhawk and his companions (couldn't stand the princess and the goddess).But although I still think he has quite a lot of imagination and good skill at writing I must agree with many on the board that he's exploiting his own ideas too much.
I'd love to read a book by him with truly new characters and new ideas.
But on the other hand, don't be upset by the load of critique heaped on him - if you've read the past topics you will find that almost every other author get's "spit in the face" from time to time. With the exception of George R.R.Martin maybe - but even there was already a discussion about some disgusting contents of his books. And I wouldn't be surprised if some people are already digging their heels to jump on him on the next possible occasion. Even if it is only out of frustration of having to wait too long before his next book comes out.
So in this regard Eddings is in good company.

[Macros]

See, this is the way it goes. David Eddings at the start of his career, wrote a very good story (The Belgariad). He soon followed with the Mallorean and established himself as a mainstay. However, every book afterwards has had tangents upon his original work. He has not done anything new for a while. Redemption of Althalus was just the Belgariad/Mallorean condensed with a smattering of plot points from the Elenium/Tamuli. Not to mention his constant revisitations to the world of the Belgariad with books like "Belgarath the Sorceror, Polgara the Sorceress and The Rivan Codex." All three basically detail things already known from the Belgariad/Mallorean.

One thing I do like about Eddings is the interaction between characters. Yeah yeah, I can hear the grumbling starting already. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

So, it's not that we disrespect Eddings, it's just that he has begun to repeat himself. I want to see a new plot (preferably without a search for some mysterious all powerful entity with the colour blue) Let's see if Eddings can do something other then the formula he's developed over the years.

[Rob B]

Belgarion: I warned you (albeit after your post) that you were inviting the "welcome" you received.

JRRT did a lot more than LOTR as dennizm pointed out.

[Eventine]

Author - Janny Wurts 55% Stephen Donaldson 45%
Book - White Gold Wielder - What a way to finish a series!!!!

[Metosblat]

Belgarion said "JRRT only wrote one good book - LOTR." I emphasize the word good. All the rest of his books we're crap.
Anyway, we're not all Anti-eddings fans. I'm a supporter of his series.
How can you really respect a person who dislikes Robert Jordan anyway?