Path: riva.ucam.org!pegasus.csx.cam.ac.uk!server1.netnews.ja.net!fu-berlin.de!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.gtei.net!portc01.blue.aol.com!portc.blue.aol.com!audrey04.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: vanan@aol.com (Vanan) Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings Subject: alt.fan.eddings Frequently Asked Questions Part 1 Lines: 586 NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder07.news.aol.com X-Admin: news@aol.com Date: 29 Mar 2000 19:35:55 GMT Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Message-ID: <20000329143555.01301.00002373@ng-md1.aol.com> Xref: riva.ucam.org alt.fan.eddings:9031 Changes: Updated Section 1.4 to include a link to Castellan's additional information on tRoA. Archive-name: sf/david-eddings-faq Posting-Frequency: bi-monthly Last modified: 2000/03/29 Version: 3.46 The alt.fan.eddings David Eddings Frequently Asked Questions List CONTENTS 1) About David Eddings 1.1) Biographical Information 1.2) Bibliography (includes U.S. and U.K. ISBNs, and U.S. Publishers) 1.3) Miscellaneous Publishing Information 1.4) What are D&LE working on currently? 1.5) Since David and Leigh Eddings live in the U.S. why is tRoA being released in the U.K. before the U.S.? 1.6) Are there any interviews with David Eddings on the Internet? 1.7) Where to write to David Eddings 2) Frequently Asked Questions GENERAL QUESTIONS 2.1) The systems of magic and worlds that David Eddings have created don't always seem very logical. Why? 2.2) I've got this great idea about who should be in a movie. 2.3) Will there be a movie/CD-ROM game based on the Belgariad/Elenium? 2.4) Gee, has anyone noticed that the plots of Eddings' fantasies are all kind of similar? 2.5) Will the Eddings' be writing any more novels set in either the Belgariad or Elenium worlds? BELGARIAD/MALLOREON 2.6) Inconsistencies 2.6.1) Editing errors 2.6.1.1) The infamous Chaldan/Chamdar misprint 2.6.1.2) The wandering L's 2.6.2) Boneheaded errors 2.6.2.1) The name of Brand's oldest son 2.6.2.2) Gared/Geran 2.6.3) Illogical/inconsistent actions 2.6.3.1) Durnik vs. Brill 2.6.3.2) Asharak/Chamdar 2.7) Dryads (a.k.a. The Thread That Will Not Die) 2.8) Immortality (a.k.a. The Other Thread That Will Not Die) 2.9) What, precisely, does the mark on Garion's hand signify? 2.10) So, what exactly *is* on Garion's amulet? 2.11) The meaning of 'Bel' and 'Pol'. 2.12) Why isn't 'Durnik' called 'Beldurnik'? 2.13) Has anyone noticed the chess analogy in the titles of the Belgariad? 2.14) What was Beldin's first act of sorcery? 2.15) Why can't Zedar get out of that hole Belgarath put him in? 2.16) Speaking of Zedar, don't you think his punishment was a bit too harsh? 2.17) What is the sex of Polgara's twins? 2.18) Who is the Wolf? 2.19) How did Polgara and Poledra merging help them remain unseen by Torak? 2.20) Why are there so many differences between BtS and PtS? 2.21) What order should I read the books in? ELENIUM/TAMULI 2.22) Inconsistencies 2.22.1) Terms that can be confused 2.22.1.1) Elene/Elenian 2.22.1.2) Patriarch/primate 2.22.2) Illogical gaps in the story 2.22.2.1) Who exactly has touched the Bhelliom? 2.22.2.2) Sephrenia and Aphrael's flying 2.22.2.3) Kalten's swimming ability 2.23) Do the Elenium or Tamuli titles have any connections to the stories? 2.24) What God is supporting Zalasta's spells when he crashes Sephrenia and Vanion's wedding? 2.25) Where do the renegade Styrics get their power? 2.26) Why couldn't Sparhawk let King Wargun know that he was looking for Bhelliom? 2.27) Immortality (The Elenium Derivative) THE ALT.FAN.EDDINGS NEWSGROUP 2.28) alt.fan.eddings newsgroup; what is it, who created it, and when? 2.29) Why does everyone have an Eddings alias, and how can I get one? 2.30) What are the Silver Suggestions? 2.31) Who runs the Trivia quiz, and when is it posted to the newsgroup? 2.32) What exactly is Klæls Army? 2.33) Where can a new user find information about this newsgroup? 2.34) Are there any rules on this newsgroup? 2.35) What are the letters that I see before some thread names? 2.36) What is afec? 2.37) Where in the books are the worlds called Eriondia and Sparhawkia? 3) Eddings Resources 3.1) IRC #eddings 3.2) Web pages 3.3) Other sites of interest 4) Credits and Thanks ------------------------------------ 1) ABOUT DAVID EDDINGS 1.1) Biographical Information From _Contemporary Authors: New Revision Series_, Volume 35. PERSONAL: Born July 7, 1931, in Spokane, Washington; son of George Wayne and Theone (Berge) Eddings; married Judith Leigh Schall, October 27, 1962. Education: Attended Everett Junior College, 1950-52; Reed College, B.A., 1954; University of Washington, Seattle, M.A., 1961. Politics: "Unaffiliated." Religion: "Unaffiliated." CAREER: Writer. Has worked as a buyer for Boeing Co., as a grocery clerk, and as a college English teacher. Military Service: U.S. Army, 1954-56. From the back dust jacket flap of _Belgarath the Sorcerer_ (published 1995). David Eddings was born in Spokane, Washington in 1931 and was raised in the Puget Sound area north of Seattle. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, in 1954 and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1961. He has served in the United State Army, has worked as a buyer for the Boeing Company, has been a grocery clerk, and has taught college English. He has lived in many parts of the United States. His first novel, _High Hunt_ (published by Putnam in 1973), was a contemporary adventure story. The field of fantasy has always been of interest to him, however, and he turned to The Belgariad in an effort to develop certain technical and philosophical ideas concerning the genre. Eddings and his wife Leigh currently reside in the Southwest, where they work together on their best-selling fantasy epics. 1.2) Bibliography: Titles (includes U.S. and U.K. ISBNs and publishers) "hc" = hardcover, "pb" = paperback. "The Belgariad" Pawn of Prophecy (1982) U.S. ISBN 0-345-30997-9 (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-593-02616-0 (hc) 0-552-12284-X (pb) Corgi Queen of Sorcery (1982) U.S. ISBN 0-345-30079-3 (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-593-02629-2 (hc) 0-552-12348-X (pb) Corgi Magician's Gambit (1983) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33545-7 (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-593-02632-2 (hc) 0-552-12382-X (pb) Corgi Castle of Wizardry (1984) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33570-8 (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-593-02635-7 (hc) 0-552-12435-4 (pb) Corgi Enchanters' End Game (1984) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33871-5 (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-593-02638-1 (hc) 0-552-12447-8 (pb) Corgi Eddings' first fantasy series. Chronicles the adventures of a young boy, Garion, as he grows to realize his amazing destiny. With his Aunt Pol and Grandfather, he must travel through the Kingdoms of the Alorns and Angaraks, making new friends and overcome deadly enemies. The Belgariad: Part 1 (c)1982, 83 - published 1995, Del Rey U.S. ISBN 0-345-40004-6 (hc) The Belgariad: Part 2 (c)1984 - Published by Nelson Doubleday Inc., by an arrangement with Del Rey. U.S. ISBN 1-56865-038-8 (hc) Two-volume hardcover omnibus reprint of the five volumes of the Belgariad. Part One contains the first three books, Part Two contains the final two. "The Malloreon" Guardians of the West (1987) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33000-5 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-35266-1 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-593-01195-3 (hc) Corgi 0-593-01561-4 (pb) King of the Murgos (1988) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33002-1 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-35880-5 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-593-01562-2 (hc) Corgi 0-552-13018-4 (pb) Demon Lord of Karanda (1988) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33004-8 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-36331-0 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-593-01210-1 (hc) Corgi 0-593-01563-0 (pb) The Sorceress of Darshiva (1989) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33005-6 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-36935-1 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-593-01204-6 (hc) Corgi 0-552-13020-6 (pb) The Seeress of Kell (1991) U.S. ISBN 0-345-33006-4 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-37759-1 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-593-01207-0 (hc) Corgi 0-552-13021-4 (pb) Sequel to the Belgariad. Takes place ten years after the events of the Belgariad, King Belgarion's son is abducted by dark forces. Belgarion and his companions must recover the child before disaster occurs. Belgarath the Sorcerer (1995) U.S. ISBN 0-345-37324-3 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-40395-9 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13845-9 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-21315-5 (pb) Polgara the Sorceress (1997) U.S. ISBN 0-345-41662-7 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-42255-4 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13844-0 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-21314-7 (pb) 0-002-24321-0 (trade pb) A pair of prequels to the Belgariad and Malloreon series. The books are presented as narratives by the title characters. As a side note of interest, the trade paperback version of PtS was given a new illustration, probably in response to the dislike expressed by so many fans when the book was first released. The Rivan Codex (1998) U.S. ISBN 0-345-42402-6 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-43586-9 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-002-24677-5 (hc) HarperCollins 0-00-648349-6 (pb) 0-00-224696-1 (trade pb) De Luxe Edition 0-00-224702-X (hc) A compilation of the notes written by David and Leigh Eddings before they began work on "The Belgariad". The De Luxe edition was limited to 250 copies and signed by D&LE and Geoff Taylor, among other notable features. A number of readers of afe own a copy, thanks to Castellan. If you want more details regarding the book, visit his website at . "The Elenium" The Diamond Throne (1989) Del Rey U.S. ISBN 0-345-35691-8 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-36769-3 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13345-7 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-20372-9 (pb) The Ruby Knight (1990) Del Rey U.S. ISBN 0-345-37043-0 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-37352-9 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13731-2 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-20373-7 (pb) 0-586-21503-4 (trade pb) The Sapphire Rose (1991) Del Rey U.S. ISBN 0-345-37474-6 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-37472-X (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13347-3 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-20374-5 (pb) Fantasy series set in a new world. The church knight, Sparhawk, returns to his home to find his Queen dying, and sets out to save her life, and overcome the evil plots of a corrupt and powerful church Primate. The Elenium (1993) Grafton (division of HarperCollins) U.K. ISBN 0-586-21867-X (pb) Omnibus edition of the three book Elenium series. "The Tamuli" Domes of Fire (1992) U.S. ISBN 0-345-38327-3 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-37321-9 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-586-21313-9 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-21858-0 (pb) The Shining Ones (1993) U.S. ISBN 0-345-37322-7 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-38866-6 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13846-7 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-21316-3 (pb) The Hidden City (1994) U.S. ISBN 0-345-37323-5 (hc) Del Rey 0-345-39040-7 (pb) U.K. ISBN 0-246-13847-5 (hc) HarperCollins 0-586-21317-1 (pb) Sequel series to the Elenium. Prince Sparhawk answers a plea from the Tamul Empire to help them oppose dark magic and learns more about his unique connection to the Bhelliom. The Tamuli (1999) U.K. ISBN 0-006-48384-4 (pb) Omnibus edition of the three book Tamuli series. The Redemption of Althalus (2000) (3rd July 2000 - U.K.) (Nov. 2000 - U.S.) U.S. ISBN _-___-_____-_ (hc) _-___-_____-_ (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-002-24754-2 (hc) Voyager/HarperCollins 0-006-51483-9 (pb) (5th Oct. 2001) 0-002-26184-7 (trade pb) (5th March 2001) A standalone novel. It will probably be 704 pages long with 6 black and white pictures included. The novel will probably be set in the Bronze Age. Novels (non-fantasy) High Hunt (1973) Putnam The original hardcover is long out of print. In 1992, Del Rey reprinted it in paperback - U.S. ISBN 0-345-32887-6 In 1994, HarperCollins reprinted also reprinted it in paper back - U.K. ISBN 0-00-647593-0 (pb) A sort of middle-aged rite of passage novel. GI returns from Germany and goes on a mountain hunting trip with his older brother and a group of mismatched guys. Tensions arise. The Losers (1992) Fawcett Columbine U.S. ISBN 0-449-90719-8 (hc) 0-345-38520-9 (pb) Del Rey U.K. ISBN 0-002-24138-2 (hc) 0-586-21759-2 (pb) HarperCollins Dark tale of Raphael, the college football star who, after a tragic accident takes up residence in 'Welfare City' in Spokane. He observes the activities of his 'loser' neighbors and fights off predatory social workers, until the arrival of his college roommate puts a match to the powder keg. 1.3) Miscellaneous Publishing Information "The Belgariad" was published in the U.S. as a set of original paperbacks - the only hardcover edition available prior to 1995 was a two-volume omnibus from the Science Fiction Book Club. In 1995, _The Belgariad Part One_, was published by Del Rey in hardcover. _The Belgariad Part Two_, though difficult to find, has also been belatedly released and can be found through the Science Fiction Book Club. All of the U.K. editions of Eddings' work have come out in both hardcover and paperback versions. Eddings' two non-fantasy novels, _High Hunt_ and _The Losers_, came out in a hardcover omnibus edition titled _Two Complete Novels_ from Wings Publishing in 1993 (ISBN 0-517-11908-0). Despite the 1992 copyright date, _The Losers_ is actually David Eddings' second book; it was written right after _High Hunt_ in the mid-1970's. He wasn't able to get it published until he became a best- selling author of fantasies. 1.4) What are D&LE working on currently? They may have finished writing _The Redemption of Althalus_. If not, then they are currently polishing it off, so to speak. Once that is complete, their next project is not especially clear. When Polgara was first published in 1997, a quote from Del Rey's Polgara scrapbook page indicated that they were working on a new series, to be set at the end of the Ice Age, or possibly during it. In a letter replying to Castellan, Eddings verified that he is indeed working on a novel set in this time period. It appears that he wants to work with a world less technologically advanced. In June '97, DE was also quoted in the Polgara Scrapbook saying "Right now, I'm working on a darkly comic political novel about the President's mistress, who goes missing one day in possession of quite a few state secrets. Though I may wait to publish it posthumously, because it offends everyone - which was of course my intention." Whether this work is complete or not is unknown as nothing more has been heard about it since. The most recent project that was floated is the aforementioned Redemption of Althalus. As such, it is possible that the previous two projects were abandoned; though it is equally possible that they were simply put on hold. The political novel may well have been abandoned, for now it would be seen in a slightly different light than it would have been in June of '97. This is, of course, pure speculation. Another idea that has been floated has the Redemption of Althalus and the "Ice Age series" being one and the same. That particular theory has the "series" bit either added in later by the newsgroup or dropped later by the Eddings', while the Ice Age bit could have been changed to a Bronze Age setting or the novel could conceivably incorporate the two together. Castellan recently posted a small blurb from "Publishing News" that gives one an idea of what the new book will entail (though if this is anything like the blurb on the last WoT book, it's completely useless) "A fabulous brand-new Eddings standalone fantasy. A bronze-age burglar, armed robber and sometimes murderer, Althalus is commissioned to steal a book by a mysterious cloaked stranger named Ghent. Will Althalus succeed?" He also scanned in a small picture of the cover which can be found at More recently, he attended a book fair and picked up a larger explanation of the plot of the new novel. His post can be found at 1.5) Since David and Leigh Eddings live in the U.S. why is tRoA being released in the U.K. before the U.S.? Once different publishers have bought the rights to a book and received a manuscript, it is up to them when they want to publish them. The decision when to publish a book is a marketing as well as editorial one, and they like to have space in the schedules, plus hit the right time (e.g. techno-thrillers do well in January), so it is just the way the cookie crumbles. 1.6) Are there any interviews with David Eddings on the Internet? Del Rey's Polgara Scrapbook is an excellent source of information about David Eddings, and each month leading up to the US publication of Polgara the Sorceress, David sent a "letter" to the web page. It is well worth a read. In addition, the main Del Rey page at may contain future information about his new series. On Wednesday 29th October 1997, David conducted an online interview on AOL. It can be found on the Del Rey site, and can also be found on Kamion's web page. David also did an interview with Stan Nicholls for Interzone and Starlog magazines, which can be found in various places on the Internet. It is from some time ago, but contains lots of useful information. A copy can be found at A more recent interview, where Eddings discusses his new work can be found at 1.7) Contacting David Eddings David Eddings does not have an e-mail address and, according to everyone who has asked, has no intention of getting one. If you want to contact him, you need to write a genuine, pen-and-paper letter, and send it care of his publisher, Del Rey Books. Address is as follows: David Eddings c/o Del Rey Books 201 E. 50th St. New York, NY 10022 U.S.A. It is recommended one use the two-envelope method: Write your letter, seal it into a stamped envelope with "David Eddings" written on the front, BUT NO ADDRESS. Then insert that into another envelope and mail it off to Del Rey Books. They'll forward it. If you want a reply, you'll be a lot more likely to get one if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 2) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS GENERAL QUESTIONS 2.1) The systems of magic and the worlds that David Eddings created don't always seem very sensible. In fact, sometimes they're kind of silly, and it's hard to think up logical explanations for how they work. Why? Following is a quote from David Eddings, found in _Contemporary Authors: New Revision Series_, volume 35. "My current excursion into fantasy has given me an opportunity to test my technical theories [of writing]. I made a world that never was, with an unlikely theology splattered against an improbable geology. My magic is at best a kind of pragmatic cop-out. Many of my explanations of how magic is supposed to work are absurdities - _but_ my characters all accept these explanations as if there was no possibility of quibbling about them, and if the characters believe, then the readers seem also to believe." In other words, creating a logical, internally consistent fantasy world was not part of David Eddings' agenda. 2.2) I've got this great idea about who should be in a movie... Every newsgroup that covers any literary character or characters inevitably gives birth to Casting threads, and alt.fan.eddings is no exception. There are some things you should know before you suggest that Sean Connery should play Belgarath. First, there are no plans to film ANY of Eddings' works. Second, anyone that you can think of to cast in an imaginary film of Eddings' works has already been suggested by someone else. Third, that knowledge hasn't stopped anyone else from posting THEIR casting suggestions, so why should it stop you? Just don't be surprised at the moans of dismay from the old-timers. It's also been suggested by one or two old-timers that it's a good idea if you do want to restart the casting thread to give it a subject header that is easily identified, such as "The Belgariad: the movie!" That way those who have seen it 958 times before can spot it quickly and avoid it. 2.3) Will there be a movie/CD-ROM game based on the Belgariad/Elenium? On the Polgara Scrapbook, David quite clearly states his position. There will be no spin-offs of any sort, as he will not allow anyone to touch something he spent twenty years writing. 2.4) Gee, has anyone noticed that the plots of Eddings' fantasies are all kind of similar? [sarcasm alert] Gosh, you're kidding! Wow, what an insight! We'd have never noticed if you hadn't mentioned it! David Eddings has obviously developed what he considers to be a very serviceable plot, well suited to the type of fantasies that he writes. And since his many fans (i.e., us) continue to buy his books, he doesn't feel any pressing need to develop a new plot. That Eddings is capable of coming up with _different_ plots is evident from his two non-fantasy novels, neither of which involves a quest for a blue stone. In addition, while the plots of Eddings' two fantasy series are similar on the surface, there are many differences to be found in terms of themes, character development, etc. There has been much discussion of this on the newsgroup, and most people seem to agree that the Elenium is darker than the Bel/Mal, in terms of theme, issues dealt with and the general mood of the story. And as Rumor often pointed out there is more adventure in the Bel/Mal and more political intrigue in the Elen/Tam. The difference is, in fact, radical enough that a number of people have admitted to being initially put off by the Elenium because it was different from the Bel/Mal. For this reason, some have advised a 1-2 month waiting period after finishing one series before starting the other. 2.5) Will the Eddings' be writing any more novels set in either the Belgariad or Elenium worlds? Absolutely not. BELGARIAD/MALLOREON 2.6) Inconsistencies Inconsistencies come in three flavors: 1) Editing mistakes, 2) Sheer boneheaded errors, and 3) Illogical actions. Editing mistakes are those errors that crept in during the printing process. These generally consist of misspellings or incorrect character identifications. Boneheaded errors are those where the writer simply forgot that he has already named (or described) something, and later gives it a completely different name (or description). Illogical actions are things that happen that, based on other information in the story, seem REALLY stupid. 2.6.1) Editing Mistakes 2.6.1.1) Chaldan/Chamdar At more than one point in _The Seeress of Kell_, the "bull- god of the Arends" is identified as "Chamdar" rather than "Chaldan." 2.6.1.2) The Wandering L's Gethell/Gethel (the King of the Thulls) and Xbel/Xbell (a dryad) appear at various times with their names spelled either with one 'L' or two 'L's. In the case of Gethell, the two 'L' version is used most frequently, and appears to be the proper spelling. Xbel appears an equal number of times spelled both ways, but since no other dryads have double letters in their names, I'm willing to assume that Xbel is the correct spelling. 2.6.2) Boneheaded Errors 2.6.2.1) The name of Brand's oldest son Brand's oldest son is identified twice during the course of the Belgariad as "Bralon." He reappears in the Malloreon as "Verdan." 2.6.2.2) The name of the young prince who survived the slaughter of the rest of the Rivan line by Salmissra. In the Belgariad, when Polgara tells Garion the story of the young prince's escape, she gives his name as "Gared." When Belgarath tells an expanded version of the story in _Belgarath the Sorcerer_, the prince's name is "Geran." 2.6.3) Illogical Actions 2.6.3.1) In _Pawn of Prophecy_, Durnik easily dispatches Brill when he finds him spying on the others. Later, we find that Brill is actually an incredibly skilled fighter and assassin, and there really shouldn't have been any way that a simple blacksmith (even one with two lives) could have caught him off guard. Of course, the fun part about illogical action inconsistencies is that the True Fan can come up with explanations for them. Two possibilities that have been discussed in a.f.e. are: 1) Brill didn't want to blow his cover, so he allowed Durnik to catch him. 2) The Prophecy of Light interfered. 2.6.3.2) In the Belgariad, it comes as a complete surprise to everyone that Asharak, the Murgo merchant, is actually Chamdar, the Grolim almost-disciple of Torak. In _Belgarath the Sorcerer_, both Silk and Belgarath are aware that Chamdar uses the name Asharak.