Pawn Of Prophecy

This is not a new book, but it's worthy of mention - as would be the rest of the books in the multiseries story that David and his wife, Leigh have created.

The first book in the first series of five, called the Belgariad, begins introducing Garion, who lives on Flador's farm with his Aunt Pol. He's your typical boy who likes to get into trouble, but is constantly under Pol's watchful eye and when not under hers, he is watched and mentored by Durnik, the smith, whose simple, honest approach to life teaches Garion much in those formative years.

Every now and then, an old man turns up whose boots are mis-matched, his tunic stained and looks nothing more than a lowly vagabond. Aunt Pol refers to him as 'Old Wolf' apparently having nothing but contempt for him, but, the old man tells stories and has an almost magical way about him, making the entire farm listen enraptured by his tales.

The old man tells of the Gods and the falling of one in particular - Torak. He tells of the sorceror, Belgareth - known as the Eternal Man and reputed to be three thousand years old, his daughter, Polgara, who is sorceress and only marginally younger than Belgareth, the Gods and a stone, known as the Orb of Aldur. His tales tell of prophecy, of magic and asks, "Who knows where a king might be hiding?"

Garion calls him 'Mister Wolf' and believes that his stories are just that - stories; legends. Nevertheless, he enjoys them just the same, just as he enjoys his company, fetching or rather, stealing from the kitchens and ensuring the old man always has wine and other tid-bits.

Although he is growing fast, Garion has no idea that the stories he has been told, may actually have a grain of truth about them and when the Orb of Aldur is stolen, he, his Aunt, Mister Wolf and a number of others go on a quest to find and retrieve it. On this quest, he learns that things may not always be as they appear.

Eddings creates characters that one can almost touch, smell, hear and dare I say it - love. Through this book and more so though the rest of the series, the reader is introduced to people like Durnik, Silk, Barak and many of the kings and queens of the various lands they travel across.

He paints pictures in the text of multi-faceted people, wildly differing landscapes, mystery and intrigue and within the first page, one is hooked. I for one had trouble putting this book down and read it faster than any other I had previously read, hungry by the end to read the second in the series and then more and more.

Since reading them the first time and the subsequent series', I have read them again and again, never failing to become almost transfixed by the story that starts on a quiet farm and grows beyond measure to... well, I think I should leave you to discover that for yourself.

Nick B