David Eddings passes away

[Werthead]

And there goes another major and important epic fantasy author :(

 

He didn't write great literature, but The Belgariad was a solid 'gateway book' for many budding fantasy fans. He'll be missed.

[Besolyn]

What a super sad day! :'( :'(

 

My sister had to force me to read Eddings. When I finally gave in, I fell in love with his easy to read characters and always ready humor.

 

Fare thee well, Mr. Eddings.

[Daruya]

No, no!  :'(

 

I've been doing an Eddings re-read lately and am currently on Sorceress of Darshiva.  I've always enjoyed going back and re-reading his books when I was waiting for the next book in one of my other favorite series to come out. 

 

This truly is sad news.

 

 

[Corki]

That is sad news as it was Mr Eddings that got me into the whole fantasy genre. One reason I liked the 2 series I read (The Elenium and The Tamuli) were they were easy reads.

 

He'll be missed a lot.

[Krakalakachkn]

This blows.  He was my favorite fantasy author before Jordan.  This is a sad, sad day

[Raena]

That's sad.  :(

 

He was the author who got me into fantasy. My mom took me to the library and put Pawn of Prophecy in my hands and told me to read it. I've been stuck ever since.

[Verbal32]

Wow.  I knew his wife had passed away a few years ago, and this is sad as well - they made a great duo.

 

At least he is now with his wife again. *nod*

[JenLenaMom]

Whoa. Eddings was, like a lot of people I guess my gateway author into fantasy. Very saddening news.

[goldeneyes05]

and another great one passes. another sad day for the fantasy world.

[Amethea]

Such a shame.  His books were among the first fantasy books I read, years ago, and they still have a fond place in my heart.

[Mangakhan]

I just bought Pawn of Prophecy for my oldest son yesterday.  It was one of my most favorite books as a kid and I loved the whole series. 

[Elgee]

Oh dear me  :'(

 

David Eddings got me hooked on fantasy as well. I love his earlier work!

 

Sad day indeed  :(

[christe1602]

That is sad to hear. He and Stephen Donaldson were the first to get me addicted to fantasy. I used to read his books while I was supposed to be writing notes at Uni lectures (a long time ago). He will be missed!

Christe1602

[cfin5256]

:'(

 

RIP Mr. Eddings. After Tolkien, The Belgariad and Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series were what helped water my love for the fantasy genre.

[lisagslack14]

NOooooooo it is horrible I can not believe that I did not know about this until now. I loved him and his books especially the Belgariad and the sequel series with name I can not remember right now.

[Verbal32]

The Mallorean.

[Ashaman Kovan]

Geeze...I didn't even know that. I've read the Elenium and Tamuli and the Belgariad and the Mallorean and Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Soceress, Rivan Codex, all of those tens of times.

 

Just to make sure, Piers Anthony, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are all still alive right?

[Sayerin]

Oh, I didn't know that either! Too sad!  :'(

[Tumeric]

I only stumbled across this sad news by accident this morning, and felt compelled to add my tuppenceworth.

 

Like many of the respondents so far, David Eddings was my gateway to sci-fi/fantasy.  A girl for whom I carried an unrequited torch, left a library copy of Domes of Fire laying idle at my place once, and I started reading, out of a lack of my usual material... it was only a recent release at that stage, and so, being an urchin of means (at that stage) and much spare time, I trolled the back catalogue, initially working through the Elenium{/i] (since I was already into the Sparhawk saga), and then through The Belgariad and The Malloreon while I was waiting for the release of the Shining Ones.

 

The same girl also introduced me to The Wheel of Time soon after, and while I certainly felt RJ's works to be infinitely better fleshed-out, and a more credible and "real" (and I guess thusly more "belieable" and engaging) read, I'd been at least interested enough in Eddings' books to enjoy Belgarath the Sorcerer and the Polgara companion later on.

 

Always sad to lose someone who has contributed positively in some way to your life.

[MatsLuck]

I found this out on Brandon Sanderson's blog and was saddened to hear it. I read Tolkien in early middle school, and liked the fantasy genre, but never really went out to look for more until a couple years later. I picked up Pawn of Prophecy and was hooked right back in. I very well may have never discovered WOT if it wasn't for The Belgariad. He made me laugh more than anyone I had ever read. The stories were fun, simple, and entertaining. Not earth-shattering, change the genre books, but I don't think that was what he was aiming at anyway and that's fine. They were solid and easy to read, and you need those kinds of books. And as an adolescent boy, who didn't enjoy reading about Garion and Ce'nedra? Thank you Mr. Eddings, you will be missed.

[MashinShin al Mashiara]

Oh no  :'(  David Eddings was one of the first sci-fi fantasy authors I ever read.  He was the door through which I discovered Terry Goodkind, Terry Brooks, and Robert Jordan.