The Malloreon Volume 1, by David Eddings
Book Review by David A. Olson
Have you read this book?
The Malloreon is the sequel to the Belgariad series. Volume One contains the first three books in the Malloreon: "Guardians of the West," "King of the Murgos," and "Demon Lord of Karanda." Besides those three books, it also has a map of the Kingdoms of the West and the Angaraks as well as a very short preface by David Eddings. He comments that the Malloreon is longer than Belgariad and how this book is more adult than the original series.
I really tried to like this book. I forced myself to read chapter after chapter, but I found it simply horrible and it didn't get any better. (I know this will be a very unpopular review, as this series does have fans, but I have no idea why anyone likes it.) The things that really made me detest this book are the characters and the plot.
I can only suppose that someone who read the original series and liked the characters there will also like the characters here. I found them irritating. First we have Belgarath the Sorcerer, who is ornery, which is fine, but also is an alcoholic. That wouldn't be so bad, but his alcoholism is treated as a joke, and I have to say I don't find it the slightest bit amusing. Polgara the Sorcerer is a tough woman who gets what she wants through tough looks and incessant nagging. She is supposed to be funny with such lines as, "If the medicine doesn't taste bad, it isn't working," and "Why me?" This is pretty typical for the type of humor and dialog found in the book; that is, tired old cliches. Every time someone opens their mouth, a cliche falls out. This book seriously deserves an MST3K version. That I WOULD enjoy. Errand is the only character who I liked a bit, and that's because he has an air of mystery and isn't supposed to be funny.
The plotting in these books is at a complete standstill. In the first chapter, nothing of interest happens. The closest thing to interesting is a very minor sledding accident that is mentioned for a few paragraphs but doesn't advance the plot one iota. Most chapters are about some small adventure, such as helping someone with their marriage problems, which is resolved quite easily, with no appreciable advance of the larger plot. The marriage problem I mentioned is solved by off screen by Polgara by her talking to the involved couple. Another chapter involves a king dying because he got overweight and sick. In another, there is nearly a war over a woman, which you might think would be exciting, but it is resolved without much effort and again within one chapter.
Honestly, I was expecting a lot more. I'd rather read a dozen self-published books than one more Eddings book. At least the authors of self-published books are trying and don't look down on their audience. I can't think of a single reason to recommend this book to anyone and have no idea why these books sell. I can only assume there is some reason, but it completely evades me.
I really tried to like this book. I forced myself to read chapter after chapter, but I found it simply horrible and it didn't get any better. (I know this will be a very unpopular review, as this series does have fans, but I have no idea why anyone likes it.) The things that really made me detest this book are the characters and the plot.
I can only suppose that someone who read the original series and liked the characters there will also like the characters here. I found them irritating. First we have Belgarath the Sorcerer, who is ornery, which is fine, but also is an alcoholic. That wouldn't be so bad, but his alcoholism is treated as a joke, and I have to say I don't find it the slightest bit amusing. Polgara the Sorcerer is a tough woman who gets what she wants through tough looks and incessant nagging. She is supposed to be funny with such lines as, "If the medicine doesn't taste bad, it isn't working," and "Why me?" This is pretty typical for the type of humor and dialog found in the book; that is, tired old cliches. Every time someone opens their mouth, a cliche falls out. This book seriously deserves an MST3K version. That I WOULD enjoy. Errand is the only character who I liked a bit, and that's because he has an air of mystery and isn't supposed to be funny.
The plotting in these books is at a complete standstill. In the first chapter, nothing of interest happens. The closest thing to interesting is a very minor sledding accident that is mentioned for a few paragraphs but doesn't advance the plot one iota. Most chapters are about some small adventure, such as helping someone with their marriage problems, which is resolved quite easily, with no appreciable advance of the larger plot. The marriage problem I mentioned is solved by off screen by Polgara by her talking to the involved couple. Another chapter involves a king dying because he got overweight and sick. In another, there is nearly a war over a woman, which you might think would be exciting, but it is resolved without much effort and again within one chapter.
Honestly, I was expecting a lot more. I'd rather read a dozen self-published books than one more Eddings book. At least the authors of self-published books are trying and don't look down on their audience. I can't think of a single reason to recommend this book to anyone and have no idea why these books sell. I can only assume there is some reason, but it completely evades me.
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