R.I.P. David Eddings

[truepenny]

David Eddings died on Tuesday.

I read and reread the Belgariad as a teenager. The first fantasy story I wrote, when I was twelve, was an homage to Eddings so blatant that I think the correct word is really "rip-off." I'm careful not to reread Eddings now, just as I'm careful not to reread Heinlein, because I know I'll only see the glaring problems, and not the things I loved.

But I loved those books, and I daydreamed about having friends like Barak and Silk.

Rest in peace, Mr. Eddings, and thank you for the comfort you gave me when I needed it.

Comments

[fhtagn.livejournal.com]

Well, shit. They do seem to keep taking the greats from us. I have a friend who learned English because of Eddings' books.

I also have just recently reread the Belgariad and the Mallorean and whilst it's true that the flaws are obvious, the love really does shine through. They're a pretty damned good legacy, all told.

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I fell in love with his books when I was in high school. The characters in The Belgariad still feel like old friends.

His dialog was brilliant. He somehow blended the rapid-fire wit of a classic Hollywood film with the Tolkien fantasy tropes. His books were just so much damn fun.

I wish I could have met him.

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

His were the first fantasy novels that I read and liked. It is sad indeed to lose him.

[megaranight.livejournal.com]

"The Diamond Throne" is the first fantasy book that I read and it made me love fantasy. I can say that if I read your books today it's because one day I picked up Sparhawk's adventures and enjoyed them. His later work was less satisfaying after his wife's death but for me, he'll stay one of the great ones.

eddings

[(Anonymous)]

On Wednesday I thought of him for the first time in a long time and googled him to see if he had an author webpage...and found he'd died the day before. It was a strange feeling. I had so much fun reading his books when I was young. They were fun and delightful. And, simplistic as their good vs. evil formula may have been, many of his books featured the redemption of characters who started out as villains (like Emperor Whatsisface in the Mallorean), which was and is a much-appreciated factor in a good vs. evil plot.

[yukis-kirausagi.livejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP!!

I understand that when it's one's turn to go nothing can be helped but he gave me a whole new world of fantasy to explore and made me really intrigued with an EPIC, EPIC series. No one ahd done that sicne Lord of the Rings.


RIP Mr. Eddings!!

[girlpunksamurai.livejournal.com]

Oh man...this is a blow

First book I read from him was Polgara The Sorceress; I was 15. I devoured that thing. I don't much like that clean-clean mentality in books-real life is messier, dirtier, and earthier and frankly it'd be boring as hell otherwise, but the writing, characters, and world was too good. After that I leaped right into the Mallorean and the Belgariad. Then I read Belgarath The Sorcerer, that series with that knight (The Blue Rose is a title I remember, as well as The Shining Ones) and even read the Dreamers series. I own Polgara The Sorceress and The Mallorean series.

I'm kinda sad now...was actually wondering if he'd come out with something new in a few years or so. :(

In this world there is grief
yet we can't forget that for the dead
there is also release

[mcgooglykins.livejournal.com]

Pawn of Prophecy was the first fantasy novel I ever read. The Belgariad (and Harry Potter) got me through a really horrible time during high school when my sister had cancer. RIP David Eddings :(