The Belgariad
A five-book fantasy epic by David Eddings.
The Belgariad is a five-volume fantasy series by David Eddings. It follows the protagonist Garion and his group as they first seek a sacred stone and later wield it against the villain Torak. The first book was a bestseller, and critics have described the series both as the "last gasp" of traditional fantasy and as "one of the founding mega sagas" of modern fantasy.
Eddings, previously a writer of adventure and thriller novels, has said he conceived the fantasy series somewhat "cynically." He noticed how often J. R. R. Tolkien's *The Lord of the Rings* had been reprinted and realized the fantasy genre was "underserved" and potentially lucrative. He mapped out an imaginary world for the story. He also cited medieval epics and editor Lester del Rey's input as influences. Later, he acknowledged his wife, Leigh Eddings, as an "unindicted collaborator"; she was eventually credited as co-author and is generally recognized as a co-author of the earlier books as well.
The series consists of *Pawn of Prophecy* (1982), *Queen of Sorcery* (1982), *Magician's Gambit* (1983), *Castle of Wizardry* (1984), and *Enchanters' End Game* (1984). Each title pairs a chess term with a fantasy term, reflecting the story's motif of a "Game of Destiny." The series has been reprinted as a two-volume set: *The Belgariad Volume One* (first three books) and *The Belgariad Volume Two* (last two books). This edition includes only the original map by Shelly Shapiro, not the map by Chris Barbieri. A five-book sequel, *The Malloreon*, follows. Prequels *Belgarath the Sorcerer* (1995) and *Polgara the Sorceress* (1997) share the setting and most characters. *The Rivan Codex* (1998) contains annotated background material.
*Pawn of Prophecy* opens with a prologue: seven gods create the world. The eldest, Aldur, fashions a stone orb with a "living soul." Torak, the most beautiful god, tries to seize it and is mutilated on his left side. The Orb is later recovered by Belgarath the Sorcerer, King Cherek, and Cherek's sons. Cherek's youngest son, Riva, can hold it unharmed, and his descendants guard it from Torak. The main story follows Garion's childhood on a prosperous farm: his early memories in Aunt Pol's kitchen, his friend Durnik the blacksmith, and a romance with local girl Zubrette.
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Lore & Background
David Eddings, who had been writing in the adventure and thriller genres, has said he developed the idea for a fantasy series somewhat 'cynically' after noticing how many times J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings series had been reprinted. He had an epiphany, realizing the fantasy genre might be very lucrative and was currently 'underserved'. He mapped out an imaginary world to use in developing the story for the Belgariad. He has also said he was influenced by reading medieval epics and by Lester del Rey's editorial input. In later works he acknowledged his wife, Leigh Eddings, as an 'unindicted collaborator'; eventually later books credited her as co-author. She is generally acknowledged as a co-author of the earlier books as well.
The Belgariad is composed of five books, namely Pawn of Prophecy (1982), Queen of Sorcery (1982), Magician's Gambit (1983), Castle of Wizardry (1984), and Enchanters' End Game (1984). The title of each book combines a chess term with a fantasy term; whereas the concept of a 'Game of Destiny' is a significant motif in the story. The series has been reprinted as a two-volume set, titled The Belgariad Volume One, containing the first three books of the series, and The Belgariad Volume Two, which contains the last two books. This does not include the original map by Chris Barbieri, but only Shelly Shapiro's map.
The Malloreon is a five-book sequel to The Belgariad. Belgarath the Sorcerer (1995) and Polgara the Sorceress (1997) are prequels that share the setting and most characters. The Rivan Codex (1998) features annotated background material.
Reader's Guide
The Belgariad holds a notable place in fantasy literature as a series that achieved bestseller status from its first book. Its significance is marked by the conflicting labels it has received: 'last gasp' of traditional fantasy and 'one of the founding mega sagas' of modern fantasy. This tension reflects its position at a turning point in the genre. The series was born from David Eddings's observation of the commercial potential in fantasy after noting the reprint frequency of Tolkien's work, leading him to map out an imaginary world. The inclusion of his wife Leigh Eddings as an acknowledged collaborator, even in early books where she was not formally credited, adds a layer to its creation. The series' structure—five books with chess-themed titles and a 'Game of Destiny' motif—and its expansion through sequels and prequels contributed to its lasting presence. The Belgariad remains a reference point for discussions of epic fantasy's evolution and market dynamics.
Did You Know?
- The Belgariad was a bestseller from the first book in the series.
- David Eddings developed the idea for the series after noticing how many times The Lord of the Rings had been reprinted.
- The title of each book in The Belgariad combines a chess term with a fantasy term.
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