For fans of Eddings' Belgariad and Malloreon, this book offers very little. This is the retelling of those two series from Belgarath's point of view, with a little of his history fleshed out. Since most of Belgarath's past was covered in at least a little detail in those series, there's very little new here. The story doesn't change and we know the ending. Belgarath is a great character, but this book started the very unfortunate trend of Eddings' retelling a story we've read before from a slightly different perspective. Really not worth it unless you're a big, big Belgarath fan. ( )

David Eddings is my favorite fantasy author and his Belgariad series is at the top of my list. ( )

It's a rehash of the Belgariad & Mallorean with a bit extra from Belgarath's point of view. I read it once, just to see if there were any startling revelations. None. Not worth buying or reading unless you are just crazy about this series. I thought the Belgariad was very good & read it several times. The Mallorean was OK & I've read it maybe twice. This book, along with Polgara & the Mrin Codex are only for the fanatics, though. ( )

I was very excited to read Belgarath's story because I wanted to know all the jokes and punch lines that created the undercurrents and relationships between the characters in the Belgariad and Malloreon who had been involved in the universe's great design from the beginning. His relationship with Pol made a lot more sense and it was hilarious to read about Belgarath's early experiences with 'gentle' Beldin.

"Belgarath the Sorcerer" is lengthy and can be confusing, but if the reader is patient and keeps in mind that Eddings is telling the story through the mind of Belgarath, who thinks of time and the world from a whole different angle than mere mortals, the book is a true winner.

Even if the book becomes nothing more than a confusing mass of pages, it is worth reading to get a feel for the immensity of the world that Eddings and his wife constructed. ( )

Belgarath the Sorcerer was my first, and at the time of my writing this, only experience of the writing of the Eddings'.

If you've read my other reviews, you'd know that I am one of those people who hold the writings of Tolkien to be sacrosanct, and any imitation of his work, flattering as it may be, is about as genuine as a Rolex purchased in Central Park.

Eddings is one of those authors I like to refer to as "tolkienoid," a term I believe was coined by Moorcock. Tolkienoid is to Tolkien as humanoid is to human. That is: Similar, though not necessarily exact, to Tolkien.

After reading BtS, I must agree that this is most definitely the case. We have a wise old man, who could clearly fall under the Gandalf category, who helps the armies of man prevent some fallen god, who could represent Sauron, from using a stone of power, which could represent the One Ring, to destroy mankind. Essentially.

If you've read the Belgariad, a sort of diluted simulacrum of the Legendarium, you'll already know the plot of BtS, well, most of it, I'm speculating. It's just a several-thousand year span of time as narrated by the guy who was there to see it.

Sure, it has its interesting parts, but I must say that I am quick to judgment when I read stuff that's too close to Tolkien, and I'm too busy thinking, "is that the best you could do?" instead of enjoying the prose like I would imagine most people would. I guess the appeal is that it's like Tolkien, only easier to read.

You may enjoy this book if you like tolkienoid authors like Brooks, or other fantasy authors that use tried and true fantasy motifs. No guarantees if you like Donaldson. And the warranty on this one is voided if you've even mentioned liking Tolkien. ( )