From: lchang@uoft02.utoledo.edu
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Eddings Backgrounding
Date: 22 Jul 92 19:35:48 EST
Organization: University of Toledo, Computer Services

> You seem to forget that Tolkein already had a substantial source
> in Norse mythology and Christian teaching upon which to build his
> work. While his ideas are his (and I *do* love his work) he could
> construct a world with a stable foundation. Eddings tried to
> make his own rules, and I thought he really did quite well. Being
> the kind who ranks the Silmarillion among my favorites, I esp.
> enjoyed the prologues from old histories that Eddings began each
> volume with. But I would have liked to have seen him expand upon it,
> such as giving info on Erastide, for example. And I have always
> had this yearning to read about Vo Wacune while Polgara lived there.
> That's why, IMHO, some of Eddings' work make me think (mildly), 
> "Oh, come on.." It doesn't have the solidity of Tolkien, true,
> but then TOlkein was a pedant anda damn good writer, too.
	I also enjoyed the historic prologues in his books... Esp.
the ones in the Belgariad; the Mallorean prologues were largely
dry and dull. For some strange reason, I thought the Book of Torak
was quite good. (Or at least, the excerpt in the Prologue). I think
it would be interesting if Eddings were to publish something along the
lines of _The Book of Alorn_, covering the first days of that world,
the creation of the orb, the day Torak split the earth, etc. And also
the battle of Vo Mimbre, and the stuff that followed. A kind of
backgrounding book.
 
> BTW, do people remember when Polgara tells Garion that she
> had always thought herself ugly until something happened. Well,
> I smell a story in that (intentional teaser by Eddings or not).
> And it sure sounds like a man was involved, which only
> makes sense. Come on, she's 3000 years old, and never been in
> love before??? Why else did she love Vo Wacune so much, if not
> for the implied romance of the place? That could make such a
> good story, short or otherwise. And I can imagine the scene
> between Polgara and Belgarath when he allowed the city to be
> destroyed. Hmm...
	Actually I think she just thought herself ugly when she
was about 16. Maybe she *was* ugly. Who knows? You know, the ugly
duckling? And I figure she loved Vo Wacune because she probably lived
there for a long time, and thought the people there were really nice.
You know how that goes.

	Anyway, why is it that Belgarath looks like an old man, but
Polgara looks like a young to middle aged woman? Hmm? I don't think that's
really fair. Why isn't Belgarath a young man if sorcerers are supposedly
immortal? Do they just turn old and then stop aging? I don't really think
that's very fair. Or, at very least, it's not very realistic. I *guess*
it could be that disciples of Aldur tend to resmble aldur, and I suppose
they couldn't let Polgara look like Aldur (now that would be something, eh?).

Gotta Go....
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