Product Description

The fourth title in a magnificent fantasy epic, now reissued in a special new edition for the YA market

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13935 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Synopsis
Garion and his companions now have the Orb of Aldur, carried by an innocent young boy, and must return it to its rightful home on the pommel of the sword in the Great Hall on the island of Riva. As they journey across the lands, Murgo soldiers and Grolim sorcerers try to stop them. But Garion's true adversary, the evil God Torak - is waking up in his dark tomb - ready for the final conflict.

From the Back Cover
In the Hall of the Rivan King . . .
Garion - once a simple farm lad, but now realizing his potential as a sorcerer - has regained the stolen Orb of Aldur.Its song soars as Garion and his companions race to return it to its rightful home on the Island of Riva.

It's a perilous journey through a desert teeming with Murgo soldiers, while Grolims strive to use their dark magic to destroy them. And when Garion finally returns the Orb to the sword of the Rivan King and holds it aloft, a voice echoes in a dark tomb as his adversary - the evil God Torak - is stirring after centuries of slumber . . .

'A classic coming-of-age epic . . . The Belgariad will always have a place of honor on my bookshelves' CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

About the Author
David Eddings:
David Eddings was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1931, and was raised in the Puget Sound area north of Seattle. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1961. Before writing his first novel, High Hunt, he served in the United States Army, worked as a buyer for the Boeing Company and taught college English.

David now lives in North-West America with his wife Leigh.

Customer Reviews

Eat your heart out Tolkein
This book forms part of a terrific series beginning with `Belgareth the Sorcerer'. I don't read much of this genre (fantasy) but like The Hobbit/ Lord of the Rings this will appeal to a large audience.

Following Belgareth the Sorcerer there are two series of 5 books, `The Belgariad' and `The Mallorean' and it is advisable to read them in order, and if you can read `Belgareth' first (although you could save it and read it afterwards like a prequel).

I raced through the series. The Eddings' (the books were written by a couple) create a Tolkein-esque world with our hero Belgareth learning powers known as `the will and the word' through centuries of study under a benevolent God (the gods that created this world still live on it in physical form). This study elevates him to the status of a sorcerer and elongates his life span - he becomes a legend and a force for good in the world. However, another disciple of his benevolent master rebels and steals the holy `Orb' stone, following a more sinister God. In the later series the Gods have left the planet in fear that their battle will destroy the world but their peoples continue to war - following the Prophecies left to them by the Gods. The two series follow the course of events as Belgareth leads the hunt for the traitor and the stone. It's very cleverly written and characters and events reappear as we become familiar with the history of this fictional world through the course of the books.

Really good fun and a definite recommendation if you want a light hearted escape that will keep you reading late into the night.

This is the order of the books:

The Belgariad
1. Pawn of Prophecy
2. Queen of Sorcery
3. Magician's Gambit
4. Castle of Wizardry
5. Enchanters' End Game

The Malloreon
1. Guardians of the West
2. King of the Murgos
3. Demon Lord of Karanda
4. Sorceress of Darshiva
5. The Seeress of Kell

Amazing book from an amazing series.
Just when you think Eddings has written the best book you've ever read, he gives yet another fantastic read. More plots as the characters rush towards their destinies. I place The Belgariad on my bookshelf with a mixture of pride and awe at Eddings' work.

The FSFH Book Review says:
Book four of The Belgariad.

This is by far the most mature book in the series so far. It is a coming-of-age story, not only for Garion, but also Ce'Nedra. Both characters are forced to think hard on their changed situations and it's interesting to see how Garion, having been thrust into a position of command, finds himself lonely and confused, not being able to rely on others to make the decisions. Ce'Nedra also grows as a character as she slowly puts aside the spoiled brat that has plagued the other books in the series and takes the reigns of responsibility that go with power.

Eddings continues to capture that sense of myth, using the fulfilment of prophecy to do so, but at the same time, using prophecy to build the tension ahead of the impending war.

As always, Polgara annoys me as a character. She spent all her time talking down to people about their faults and insisting on the necessity of things and then, here she throws a magical hissy fit and trys to stand in the way of necessity. Eddings' real fault is to try and portray her as a wise character.