Polgara the Sorceress
by David Eddings (Author), Leigh Eddings (Author)
Belgariad Universe (02 (Belgariad 00.2)), The Belgariad (Prequel 02), The Malloreon
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She soars above a world of warriors, kings, and priests. The daughter of Belgarath and the shape-shifter Poledra, she has fought wars, plotted palace coups, and worked her powerful magic for three thousand years. Now, Polgara looks back at her magnificent life, in this fitting crown jewel to the saga that is the Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean cycles. Her hair streaked white by her father's first touch, her mind guided by a mother she will not see again for centuries, Polgara begins life in show more her Uncle Beldin's tower, and in the prehistorical, magical Tree that stands in the middle of the Vale. There, she first learns the reaches of her powers. There she assumes the bird shapes that will serve her on her adventures. And there she starts on the path toward her destiny as Duchess of Erat, shepherdess of the cause of good, adversary of Torak the One-Eyed Dragon God, and guardian of the world's last, best hope: the heir to the Rivan throne. Here is the legendary life story of a woman of wit, passion, and complex emotions, a woman born of two majestic parents who could not have been more unlike one another. Ordained to make peace and make war, to gain love and lose love, Polgara lives out her family's rich prophecy in the ceaseless struggle between the Light and the Dark. Polgara is the epic culmination of a magnificent saga, and a fitting farewell to a world which, once experienced, will never be forgotten. show lessTags
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Oh, Polgara. Ten books of characterization completely undercut in this explosion of sexist twaddle. Depressingly, I think it's a better book in a lot of ways than Belgarath the Sorcerer - the material is largely new (and entertaining) and, with the exception of the almost word-for-word repeat of the Vo Mimbre section, is paced fairly well. But it's got two big problems that I can't overlook.
The sexism. This is the Eddings' chance to expound at appalling length their various opinions about the hard-wired differences between men and women, leading women to be conniving, emotional, good in the kitchen and with children, completely irrational in love, and made for making babies. Now, in their defense, this does not (in any of their books) show more prevent women from doing all sorts of interesting and significant things, but good god this pernicious 1960s thinking makes me flinch away from the page about every fourth paragraph.
The voice. This would have been the perfect opportunity to really develop Polgara's distinct voice - she's something of a restrained and mysterious figure throughout the books-with-plots, and her perspective should be unique. Instead, she sounds exactly like Belgarath throughout. Her audience-directed asides are even more irritating, if possible, but that's about the only distinguishing factor - except, of course, the frequent remarks about the differences between men and women.
Not a book I would recommend to anyone, really. The amusing Arendish political escapades do not make up for the serious commitment to eyerolling required. show less
The sexism. This is the Eddings' chance to expound at appalling length their various opinions about the hard-wired differences between men and women, leading women to be conniving, emotional, good in the kitchen and with children, completely irrational in love, and made for making babies. Now, in their defense, this does not (in any of their books) show more prevent women from doing all sorts of interesting and significant things, but good god this pernicious 1960s thinking makes me flinch away from the page about every fourth paragraph.
The voice. This would have been the perfect opportunity to really develop Polgara's distinct voice - she's something of a restrained and mysterious figure throughout the books-with-plots, and her perspective should be unique. Instead, she sounds exactly like Belgarath throughout. Her audience-directed asides are even more irritating, if possible, but that's about the only distinguishing factor - except, of course, the frequent remarks about the differences between men and women.
Not a book I would recommend to anyone, really. The amusing Arendish political escapades do not make up for the serious commitment to eyerolling required. show less
It's the story of her life up to Pawn of Prophecy by Polgara and mostly I liked the voice, except for the sexism and racism. You'd think that someone who had lived several lifetimes would have learned that there are a lot of things men and women have in common and that some women are different to others and not all women and not all [insert race here] are the same. Yes it's easy for someone who has lived a long time to become very ingrained in their thinking but she's done so much stuff and with wolves a lot of the time the female is the leader. It's lazy.
I did like Polgara's voice most of the time, but when she started generalising it made my hackles rise. I liked how her long life had made her cynical and that she regularly enjoyed show more herself, I don't remember reading Belgarath the Sorcerer, and I'm sure there's a lot there that is annoying too.
Still it was interesting to revisit my teenage years, I wonder how well the original series would live up to re-reading or would it really annoy me. I have reserved book one to see.
Honestly, David Eddings had one story in him and he kept re-writing it for a long time in various different clothes. show less
I did like Polgara's voice most of the time, but when she started generalising it made my hackles rise. I liked how her long life had made her cynical and that she regularly enjoyed show more herself, I don't remember reading Belgarath the Sorcerer, and I'm sure there's a lot there that is annoying too.
Still it was interesting to revisit my teenage years, I wonder how well the original series would live up to re-reading or would it really annoy me. I have reserved book one to see.
Honestly, David Eddings had one story in him and he kept re-writing it for a long time in various different clothes. show less
3.5 stars. Holy god, the Vo Mimbre section is slow. There's a shocking amount of bloat here compared to Belgarath the Sorcerer, and that book is like, 100% fan service. I mean it really takes 3500 years for Polgara to realize she loves her father? Nonsense. Given the two of them have legit reasons to sass each other - Belgarath abandoned her as an infant and has caused most of the most traumatic moments in her life thanks to The Prophecy -- having her let Beldaran go, having her let Ontrose go, that shockingly thoughtless comment when Chamdar tracks down Geran and Ildera -- but man, Polgara is vicious to him and spends 3500 years lying to him about Poledra not being even a little bit dead, even though Poledra's death is WHY he abandoned show more Polgara as a baby and has most of the shitty habits Polgara nags him about endlessly - but they're both aware enough to realize that's how they handle the eons of trauma the Prophecy has put on them means their family love is not a surprising revelation.
Also, there's a lot of retcon, most of which I don't hate, but the Duchess of Erat retcon is still a leetle intense. On the other hand, without it, it is like "what exactly did Polgara do until she had to hide the Rivan King again?" It's well-done retcon, compared to so many other series, it's just a lot of it.
Also, shocked I hadn't marked this as read before considering I bought this in hardcover 20 years ago and still own it. Isn't THAT interesting? (sorry, had to go for the easy Eddings joke there) show less
Also, there's a lot of retcon, most of which I don't hate, but the Duchess of Erat retcon is still a leetle intense. On the other hand, without it, it is like "what exactly did Polgara do until she had to hide the Rivan King again?" It's well-done retcon, compared to so many other series, it's just a lot of it.
Also, shocked I hadn't marked this as read before considering I bought this in hardcover 20 years ago and still own it. Isn't THAT interesting? (sorry, had to go for the easy Eddings joke there) show less
Ah-ha! The story that everyone really wants to hear. Pol is the ultimate fantasy female and the hints dropped in the Belgariad and Malloreon about her past leave the reader itching to know the whole story.
Eddings could be almost terse in his storytelling with Garion's two sagas, but Pol's book is where he allows for the lavish detail of the world and the rich character of the great lady herself to shine. All the stops are pulled and we are gifted with an even fuller account of 'what really happened' than Belgarath offered in his chronicle.
Pol's relationship with her father is a key element of the Belgariad and Malloreon, and it is founded on their love of Beldaran. The telling of that unique relationship leads to the revelation of Pol's show more character because she builds it entirely on the affection and grief that embodies her feelings for her twin sister. Beldaran's loss spurs the story on to round out Pol's personality so that she will be ready when the time comes for her to take up her role as Guardian of the line of Riva, and what a journey it is! From the Vale to Vo Wacune and Vo Mimbre, and finally to Faldor's Farm, Polgara blossoms into the powerful, charismatic and arresting sorceress who commands the worship of all Eddings' readers.
Had Eddings and his wife never composed this singularly sumptuous account of Polgara, the entire collection of the Belgarion novels would be less for it. This is a true achievement. show less
Eddings could be almost terse in his storytelling with Garion's two sagas, but Pol's book is where he allows for the lavish detail of the world and the rich character of the great lady herself to shine. All the stops are pulled and we are gifted with an even fuller account of 'what really happened' than Belgarath offered in his chronicle.
Pol's relationship with her father is a key element of the Belgariad and Malloreon, and it is founded on their love of Beldaran. The telling of that unique relationship leads to the revelation of Pol's show more character because she builds it entirely on the affection and grief that embodies her feelings for her twin sister. Beldaran's loss spurs the story on to round out Pol's personality so that she will be ready when the time comes for her to take up her role as Guardian of the line of Riva, and what a journey it is! From the Vale to Vo Wacune and Vo Mimbre, and finally to Faldor's Farm, Polgara blossoms into the powerful, charismatic and arresting sorceress who commands the worship of all Eddings' readers.
Had Eddings and his wife never composed this singularly sumptuous account of Polgara, the entire collection of the Belgarion novels would be less for it. This is a true achievement. show less
Che dire...se "Belgarath il mago" non mi aveva convinto, questo è stato sicuramente meglio!!
Sicuramente colma alcune lacune della trama ed è piacevole da leggere.
Non sono sicuro di voler continuare oltre con "Il codice rivano", sia perchè ormai sembra una storia trita e ritrita, sia perchè dubito che sarà meglio di questo o dei precedenti romanzi...
Forse questa saga poteva fare a meno di questi ultimi tre libri e si potevano integrare alcune informazioni ne "I Belgariad" o ne "i Mallorean".
Comunque un buon libro, consigliato agli appassionati!!
Sicuramente colma alcune lacune della trama ed è piacevole da leggere.
Non sono sicuro di voler continuare oltre con "Il codice rivano", sia perchè ormai sembra una storia trita e ritrita, sia perchè dubito che sarà meglio di questo o dei precedenti romanzi...
Forse questa saga poteva fare a meno di questi ultimi tre libri e si potevano integrare alcune informazioni ne "I Belgariad" o ne "i Mallorean".
Comunque un buon libro, consigliato agli appassionati!!
If you'd thought that Belgarath's autobiography had covered all the Events of Necessity, then think again. In this story, Polgara, one of the twin daughters of Belgarath tells the tale of her long millennia looking after the various blood lines that were necessary to the completion of Prophecy. This could have been even more of a rehash of previously covered materials but, although there is obviously some of that, the story is actually deepened more in this than in the Belgarath book. I also enjoyed Polgara's acidic asides as she snipes at her father.
After reading all Eddings' Belgariad series (to date, i.e. 1997), this sequel was very enjoyable. It wasn't all that repetitive and would be fine as a stand-alone. I haven't re-read it since it was given to me (1998) so I am not sure how well the work stands up to the test of time and changing tastes. The characterisations and adventures remain in my mind as well-done. Dare I re-read it and lose a great memory?
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Author Information
David Eddings was born on July 7, 1931 in Spokane, Washington. He received a B.A. in English from Reed College in Portland in 1954 and a M.A. in Middle English from the University of Washington in 1961. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he worked as a grocery clerk, as a sales clerk for the Boeing Company, and as an English teacher in show more a business college and a teachers' college. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 25 books, many of them with his wife Leigh Eddings. His first novel, High Hunt, was published in 1973. His other works include the Belgariad series, the Mallorean series, the Elenium series, and the Dreamers series. He died on June 2, 2009 at the age of 77. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Series
Belgariad Universe
12 works (02 (Belgariad 00.2))
The Belgariad
7 works (Prequel 02)
The Malloreon
8 works
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Polgara the Sorceress
- Original title
- Polgara the Sorceress
- Original publication date
- 1997-11
- People/Characters
- Algar Fleet-foot; Alleran; Altor; Anrak; Arell (a midwife); Asrana (Baroness of Vo Mandor) (show all 43); Balten the Surgeon; Beldaran; Beldin; Belgarath (the Eternal Man, Mister Wolf, Old Wolf); Belkira; Beltira; Bormik (the Darine prophet); Cellan (daughter of Altor); Cherek Bear-shoulders; Corrolin of Mimbre (Duke of Mimbre); Darion (son of Riva Iron-grip); Dras Bull-neck; Elisera (Duchess of Wacune); Elthek (the Rivan Deacon); Faldor; Garhein; Haldon (Krachack, a Dagashi); Hatturk (Clan-Chief and Bear-cultist); Baron Kamion (Lord Brand); Karak (son of Garhein); Kathandrion of Wacune (Duke of Wacune); Killane; Lammer (an archer); Luana (daughter of Bormik); Mandorin (Baron of Vo Mandor); Lord Mangaran; Oldoran of Asturia (Duke of Asturia); Ontrose; Poledra (the Woman Who Watches); Polgara (Aunt Pol, the Duchess of Erat); Ran Vordue XVII (Emperor of Tolnedra); Riva Iron-grip; Salheim the Bonesetter; Baron Torandin; Torak (the Dragon God); Zedar (Belzedar); Aldur
- Important places
- Vale of Aldur; Isle of the Winds; Darine, Drasnia; Vo Wacune, Arendia; Faldor's farm, Sendaria; Asturia, Arendia (show all 9); Algaria; Arendia; Ashaba, Mallorea
- Dedication
- And finally, after fifteen years, this book is dedicated to our readers. It's been a long journey, hasn't it? It's been quite a project for us, and you patience and enthusiasm have helped us more than you can imagine.
Than... (show all)k you for your fortitude, and we hope that we've done pleases you.
Warmly,
David & Leigh Eddings - First words
- Kail, the Rivan Warder, objected strenuously when King Belgarion told him that he and his queen planned to make the journey to the northern end of the Vale of Aldur unattended, but Garion uncharacteristically put his foot dow... (show all)n. (prologue)
This was not my idea. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Nothing, father," I replied. "Nothing at all."
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Everything seemed to be as it was supposed to be, so Wolf sighed contentedly, stretched his muzzle out on his front paws, and went back to sleep. - Original language
- English
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