Today is a sad day.
David Eddings, author of more than 20 fantasy novels and cornerstone of the genre, passed away yesterday at the age of 77.
It is quite difficult writing this post.
I began my foray into fantasy reading with The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks but upon finishing it I went looking for something else to read. I quickly found a dozen books bearing the Del Rey icon. I didn’t know at the time that one man, Lester del Rey, was responsible for finding and publishing the fantastic writers I was about to start reading who included Stephen R. Donaldson, Anne McCaffrey, Barbara Hambly—and David Eddings.
Eddings is known by most fantasy readers, many reading the genre because of him. In 1982, he published Pawn of Prophecy, Book One in the five-book Belgariad series, and it became an overnight success. With wonderfully realized characters like Belgarath, Polgara, Barak, Silk, Garion, Ce’Nedra and so many more, Eddings injected humor and wit into his stories and truly made them unforgettable. The Belgariad series is one of the foundational bricks in the fantasy genre, a series everyone should read—not only for its importance in the history of the genre but because it’s also one fine tale.
Collaborating with his wife Leigh and acknowledging that fact with class, Eddings would spend the next 25 years writing books in long hand that would influence readers and future writers alike.
After publishing The Belgariad, Eddings published its sequel series, The Malloreon. He then went on to create the memorable knight Sparhawk in the three-book Elenium series. Other fantasy works include The Tamuli series, The Redemption of Althalus, and the four-book series The Dreamers. He also published The Losers and a thriller, Regina’s Song.
Proof of Eddings’ popularity can be found in twenty-seven languages.
Sadly, I never had the chance to meet Eddings, but his work influenced my development as a reader and ultimately therefore as a writer. Those who did know Eddings knew an interesting man. He was educated at Reed College, the United States Army and the University of Washington. He worked for Boeing in Seattle. He spent time teaching literature and writing. He never wanted awards; he never wanted praise. All he wanted was to write fun books that might put someone on the path to reading for a lifetime.
He did that for many. He definitely did that for me.
So David Eddings, thank you. You will be sadly missed.
And may your Orb of Aldur shine brightly forever in your stead.
This is sad. I know that I'm frequently guilty of thinking that my favorite authors or entertainers, or even friends in general, are just always going to be there. And then, occasionally, reality comes crashing through the door. Perhaps I should write more thank you letters to those authors I grew up reading who are still around.
I think that is an excellent idea. I think I will do the same.
David Eddings was the second fantasy novelist I read, I picked up Pawn of Prophecy right after I finished Lloyd Alexander's the High King. For many years he was my favorite writer (and his first novel High Hunt is still my Dad's favorite book).
I still reread them once every year or so, and it's like revisiting an old friend. As I get older, I can see some of the faults in his writing, but his joive de vivre and unique style more than make up for it.
It's like losing an old friend because he's been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Excuse me, while I go reread Pawn of Prophecy once more, as a fitting memorial to a giant in the field. May he always be read, reread and loved.
Well said, TJ. I think I may join you in a re-read as well sometime this summer. It's been far too long.
I first met David & Leigh back in '91. I flew out to his house in southwestern US with his then editor Veronica Chapman. We found David in the backyard laying bricks for a garden wall and we chatted while he continued to work & Leigh served us iced tea. Really? This is a #1 NYT best-selling author who has sold millions of books in 27 languages? That was David. Honest, honorable, humble who loved telling stories & never let success affect his life.
Thanks for the memory, Ku!
While my dad reading The Hobbit to me and my brothers really started me off on fantasy, it was Pawn of Prophecy that sucked me in. It was not only the first fantasy novel I ever read, but the first novel I ever read, and there's nothing better for a young boy growing up in the vanilla-ness of suburbia to read about a young boy who finds out that, hey: I'm destined to be a king...and I can do magic.
And then later, when both I and Eddings' writing had "matured" a bit, he gave us the slightly darker character of Sparhawk. While not exactly an anti-hero in the sense we have today, his get-it-done attitude made his a different kind of hero for me--open with his faults, and yet powerful all the same.
I think that's what Eddings' most enduring literary legacies will be (because obviously us commenting here is his true legacy): heroes whose morality rarely if ever waivers and who, in the end, are never out to actually be heroes.
Heroes that just are.
I've talked about this in a few different venues, so I realize this might be old hat by now, but to me, this should be bigger news than it is. Yes, Eddings wrote fantasy, but the fact that it affected so many people (and so many people positively) deserves celebration and, perhaps, the waxing poetic.
All the best, David Eddings.
While my dad reading The Hobbit to me and my brothers really started me off on fantasy, it was Pawn of Prophecy that sucked me in. It was not only the first fantasy novel I ever read, but the first novel I ever read, and there's nothing better for a young boy growing up in the vanilla-ness of suburbia to read about a young boy who finds out that, hey: I'm destined to be a king...and I can do magic.
And then later, when both I and Eddings' writing had "matured" a bit, he gave us the slightly darker character of Sparhawk. While not exactly an anti-hero in the sense we have today, his get-it-done attitude made his a different kind of hero for me--open with his faults, and yet powerful all the same.
I think that's what Eddings' most enduring literary legacies will be (because obviously us commenting here is his true legacy): heroes whose morality rarely if ever waivers and who, in the end, are never out to actually be heroes.
Heroes that just are.
I've talked about this in a few different venues, so I realize this might be old hat by now, but to me, this should be bigger news than it is. Yes, Eddings wrote fantasy, but the fact that it affected so many people (and so many people positively) deserves celebration and, perhaps, the waxing poetic.
All the best, David Eddings.