David Eddings has passed

[trystinn]

SciFi/Fantasy literature has lost a master of the genre in the passing of David Eddings. I've read practically every one of his novels and never been disappointed (can't say that for many authors) and have considered him the role model of a writer - humble, character-based and writing quality instead of quantity.

This makes me even more determined to write. I hope his wife continues the wonderful work they've shared over the decades.

Mr. Eddings, you will be missed. May Ul guide your steps.

Comments

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Well, that sucks. :-/

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Great icon. :)

I knew his health wasn't good, but I was still surprised. I truly adored his Belgraid/Mallorean series and grieved for the passing of King Fulrach and Sadi (what great characters!)

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

And Rhodar. Mustn't forget Rhodar.

The only flaw those books had was that the ending, in both series, was so utterly predictable as to be pointless. S/he has to choose. Okay. Um, I wonder which one s/he'll pick? *snort* :-/

But the characterizations were so scintillating that, frankly, the plot didn't matter a whit. I can read that dialog over and over, and never get tired of it.

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Oops, I meant Rhodar. :)

The plot was completely subservient to the characters, absolutely. But there's so many wonderful observations - i.e. Eriond's remark that dark/evil "is only an illusion", etc. that it's hard to mind. The characters, as you recall, never worried about which choice would be made, either. They just knew they had to do what they had to do or the Choice couldn't take place.

[preachan-sidhe.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I'm so sad about this...We love David Eddings in this house. Our shelves hold lots of his work. He's going to be missed.

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

It's never entirely clear in Eddings' books whether David or Leigh bears the greater responsibility for a given line, but there is some wonderful use of language to be found therein. Witness this bit from The Hidden City:

"Bhelliom had called him the equal of a God, but Sparhawk fought as a man -- superbly trained, a little out of condition, and really too old for this kind of thing -- but with an absolute confidence that if the fate of the world rested in his hands, he was good for at least one more fight."

Or this bit of Mandorallen's dialog, from The Seeress of Kell:

"Prithee, my lord, modulate thy shrieks of anguish, lest thou alarm the ladies. Groan quietly, an it please thee, and keep this unseemly writhing to a minimum.

"And, should any other here share this rash youth's prejudices, let him speak now, ere I sheathe my sword, for truly, it is fatiguing to draw it again and again. No? Let us proceed then, my Lords, for this foolishness doth weary me, and presently I shall grow irritable..."

I will miss his writing.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Or Polgara's inventive threats? >:-)

"If anything's happened to the boy, Jarvik, men will tremble at the memory of your fate for a thousand years."

>>>:-)

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

OMG - Polgara's threats were nothing compared to her uncle's, to which she replied "It's one of Beldin's favorites. I'm not even sure you can do that to a man and have him survive."

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

I've always attributed the clever lines to Leah, for no other decent reason than the simple fact that women love romantic language.

Bad of me, I know.