I’m apparently really out of touch at the moment. 

David Eddings, the author of The Belgariad and The Elenium, died three weeks ago. I only learnt of it today.

The Belgariad was the "big" fantasy series when I was still at school. (Along with the Riftwar saga, by Ray Feist). It took some time for me to actually get around to reading it, but it was so worth it when I eventually did. The genius of Eddings was in his characters’ dialogue: it was funny, it was enjoyable, and it showed me that big fantasy epics didn’t have to be stately like The Lord of the Rings – they could be lots of fun as well.

After I read The Belgariad, I joined the many, many people waiting for Eddings to finish writing the Mallorean, a series that seemed to have more than its share of delays. Actually, looking at the publication dates, it didn’t have those delays – it just seemed like it at the time. Of course, it didn’t help that books 1-4 came out in 87-89, and then the finale in 1991…

My favourite Eddings series, however, would have to be the Elenium, telling the story of Sir Sparhawk, Knight of the Pandion Order. Unlike "The Belgariad", it isn’t a coming of age story. Instead, the main character is older, battered by the world, and incredibly sympathetic. It’s sequel, "The Tamuli", while fun, wasn’t up to the high standards of the earlier books: unfortunately Eddings’ later books tended to be repetitive and without credible threats: the main characters would tend to just laugh off anything.

I enjoyed "The Redemption of Althalus", although it was obvious Eddings was slipping, but his final series "The Dreamers" was so full of repeated phrases and jokes that I didn’t progress past the first book. It was sad to see a great author in his twilight years.

However, that leaves 17 books that I enjoyed very much – more than enough for most lifetimes.

Thank you, Mr Eddings.