[Loque]

Didn't want to clutter up the top five topic with irrelevance so:

Mifthanion you're not alone, I can't believe so many people have rated Eddings so high. I agree he has skill as a writer, in most ways he is fantastic (nowhere near tolkein but hey) my major problem with eddings is the lack of believability. Where, in any of his books, are the 'good guys' truly threatened? In the two of his works i have read (the belgariad and althalus) the protagonist comes up against gods, and they are pushovers, none of the 'good guys' ever, ever die. It's so annoying because i really do like his style and humour, but it's all too easy, too happy go lucky, it drives me mad.

[Bardos]

Simple put: Eddings is a merchant, not a writer.

[Mithfânion]

Check this

http://www3.tolkienonline.com/thewhitecouncil/messageview.cfm?catid=23&threadid=22018

[Warewolf]

Okay, I'm finally going to put in my two cents worth on the Eddings topic. I first started reading his stuff about 14 years ago with the Belgariad. I loved it. Of course, that was when I was a freshman in high school, so my tastes weren't too refined yet http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif I'll agree that he's nowhere as sophisticated as Tolkien, Jordan, or Goodkind (okay, this is an Eddings topic, so no Jordan bashing http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif ), but he's good for a lightheated romp. He's got vivid worlds and truly enjoyable characters. Unfortunately, his stories all seem to be very very very similar, so, if you read more than one series, it gets a little repetetive. However, I still think he can be appreciated on a lot of levels. Definitely not in my top ten, but he still tells enjoyable stories, at least in my opinion.

[willowones]

Why must there be this eternal Eddings bashing? Is there a rule I missed that says fantasy has to be dark and violent to be good? Eddings is only one of several light fantasy authors I read. I won't name them-they would get bashed too.

[Aglaranna]

Eddings was one of the first Fantasy writers I had pleasure in reading. For me he creates likeable 'good' guys, funny & light hearted stories. I think the good guys need to win in his books - can't recall him killing off any main good guys.

I was disappointed with Althalus, was pacthy and didn't flow well.

[Vitriol]

He takes a LONG time developing characters, I think that's why Althalus didn't really work; he's trying to develop about ten characters in one (albeit long) book, and it just falls flat. I finished it, but have no urge to ever read it again.

[Aglaranna]

Since I read Eddings I have been a big fan of his, but have to say I stuggled to finish Althalus. Sadly wont be buying the rest of this series when it comes out.

Do you think a writer only has so much imagination/stories in them?

Aglaranna

[Alucard]

I don't think Eddings is nearly as awful as everyone makes him out to be. I like all types of styles. His happens to be light. I'm also not incredibly wowed by his work either. I can live with him, I can live without him. Have read better, have read worse. The man seems somewhere in between great and crap for me. In fact, I can sum my feelings for Eddings in one word:

"Eh."

[Mithfânion]

http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif