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Loading... Magician's gambit (edition 1983)by David Eddings
Work InformationMagician's Gambit by David Eddings
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This series is the fantasy I recommend for people who don't like fantasy. I particularly like that the characters change over time, something which happens too rarely in most high fantasy. ( ) This will be the same review for all the books in ‘The Belgariad’ and ‘The Mallorean’. These books changed me. I started reading them as an 11 year old who was kind of floating around in this thing called life. I had friends at school, but no meaningful connections. This I didn’t understand until I was older. By reading these books I was drawn into an incredible world filled with characters that I knew and loved, and in some cases wanted to be (come on people, I can’t be the only kid that put a streak of white paint in their hair). The story is Garion’s ‘hero’s journey’ but I felt that the adventure belonged to me too. It was my ‘Neverending story’ if you will and it gave me the confidence to be more present in my own life. I own all the copies of both series set in this marvellous world and most of the extras too. They are a pretty tired looking collection of books because I bought them as a university student from second book shops all over Christchurch and Auckland. I love that they have been released again relatively recently with a fresh new look so that they can appeal to the younger generation. I thoroughly recommend these books for lovers of high fantasy, action, and relatable characters. It is the quintessential hero’s journey. {Third of 5 in the Belgariad; fantasy, quest, adventure, epic fantasy, high fantasy}(1984) I'm really enjoying this re-read. This was one of the first fantasy series I read and I'm having a lot of fun revisiting it. Fair warning, this is the third book of an ongoing quest and there may be spoilers for the first two books ahead (although I'll try and avoid them). Garion, an ordinary farm boy from Sendaria, is travelling on a quest with his aunt Pol, Mister Wolf - an old disreputable-looking peddler (also known as the sorcerer Belgarath), and their friends Durnik - a smith from the same farm, Silk - a Drasnian merchant, and Barak - a huge Cherek warrior. They are tracking an object that has been stolen by a disciple of Torak, the maimed god of the Murgos; an object which has until now assured the safety of the countries of the west and discouraged invasion by Torak's hordes. And, as they travel, they pick up more companions from different countries so that Belgarath can feel that he's covered the eventualities mentioned in an obscure version of the Prophecy which they happen to be fulfilling. However, their foes are following an opposing Prophecy, which they are equally determined to fulfil. Belgarath's group continue to cross the continent in their race to prevent the object reaching the east and being used to wake the slumbering Torak in this third book of the quest. Their journey takes some unexpected twists as they travel into more regions and countries of the west and they gain (and lose) more companions on the way, all necessary to the prophecy they are following. This one feels like things are getting a bit more serious as Garion comes into his powers and the stakes climb, though the banter still continues. The teenagers of the group start to grow up and act a bit more responsibly (well, a bit): Over the months since she had joined them, he had seen her attitude toward him change until they had shared a rather specialised kind of friendship. He liked her: she liked him. Everything had been fine up to that point. Why couldn't she just leave it alone? Garion surmised that it probably had something to do with the inner workings of the female mind. As soon as a friendship passed a certain point - some obscure and secret boundary - a woman quite automatically became overwhelmed by a raging compulsion to complicate things. although Garion still struggles with what he can do with his unexpected (and unwanted) sorcery. Despite the summery image on the original (Corgi UK) cover, it is winter and the group spends a lot of time being cold. The wind tore at them as they rode, and the driving sleet half-blinded them. Garion moved confidently, however. For some reason every rock about them seemed absolutely familiar, though he could not have said why. He rode just fast enough to stay in front of the others. He knew they would ask questions, and he didn’t have any answers. They rounded a shoulder of the peak and rode out onto a broad rock ledge. The ledge curved along the mountainside, disappearing in the swirling sleet ahead. The characterisation is very clear; each person has their own quirks and you never confuse any of the ensemble cast. The addition of new members and the introduction in person of some of the gods of this universe show us that, though Belgarath and co. are intent on fulfilling their prophecy to make it come out in favour of Good, there are other important events happening in this world. The chess and magic theme of the book titles carries on. ‘I thought Ctuchik was a sorcerer,' Garion said, puzzled. ‘Why do you keep calling him a magician?' (Ctuchik being the magician in question attempting the gambit.) This book does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger (almost literally); the group have a major breakthrough but we leave them in the midst of danger. I'm enjoying re-reading this series, which was one of the first books to introduce me to a life-long love of fantasy. I initially borrowed them from the library to re-read in the hopes that I would still be able to find and buy books with the original Corgi UK covers by Geoff Taylor, which I love, but they've been reissued with new covers. (March 2022) 4.5 stars Magician’s Gambit is the third of five books in David Eddings’ Belgariad series. I enjoyed this at the same level as the previous book. This is the first book that adds another POV character, So there are still a lot of little annoyances here and there, but I also continue to enjoy the story, the characters, and the banter between them. This one had an abrupt ending. There was a major accomplishment at the end, but it ended almost immediately after that with the party still in danger. I think I actually jumped a little when I turned to the next page and was unexpectedly faced with the author’s photo. I had known I was near the end, but I was expecting a little more, and I was startled to see a face on the page when I’d turned the page eagerly expecting more words. Fortunately I have the next book ready to go on my Kindle! no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesThe Belgariad (3) Belongs to Publisher SeriesBastei Lübbe Taschenbuch (20203) Fantacollana [Nord] (76) Narrativa [Nord] (14) Pocket (5419) Is contained inAwards
Fantasy.
Fiction.
HTML: The Belgariad is an epic fantasy of immense scope, telling the tale of struggles between ancient Gods and mighty Kings, and of men in strange lands facing fated events, all bound by a prophecy that must be fulfilled. Ce'Nedra, Imperial Princess of Tolnedra, was confused. Everyone knows the tales of the Orb protecting the West from the evil God Torak are just silly legends. But here she is, forced to join a dangerous quest to recover that stolen Orb. No one believes in sorcery, but Garion's aunt & grandfather seem to be the fabled sorcerers Polgara & Belgarath, who would have to be thousands of years old. Even young Garion is learning to do sorcery. Garion, is just a farm boy, totally unsuitable for an Imperial Princess. Yet, for some reason she has the urge to teach him, brush back his tangled hair, & comfort him. Now he is going to a strange tower in the center of all he believes evil, to face some horrible, powerful magician, & she can't be there to watch over him. She may neve .No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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