Belgarath the Sorcerer (The Belgariad & The Malloreon)

There are many who recommend reading Belgarath the Sorcerer only after you have read the Belgariad and the Mallorean series. However, David Eddings isn't one of them. In a foreword to the 2005 publication of Malloreon, Eddings tells us that "the reader can go directly from the end of Polgara to the beginning of Pawn." And before Polgara there was, of course Belgarath. He is, after all, her father.

In any event, that is exactly the order in which I am reading the series and, truth be told, it has not spoiled it for me one bit. For Belgarath's story is the story of a man who has lived for seven thousand years for a very specific purpose. That sort of thing is bound to give you a rather different perspective than (say) someone who has less than 100 years before them. Not only that, but Belgarath tells his story in the first person. As a result, what matters most to Belgarath (his family, his friends, his Master, and his peculiar quest) are painted in vivid detail; the rest however is given rather short shrift. The stories of whole peoples are told in a few paragraphs--paragraphs moreover colored by the youthful Belgarath's (he was called Garath then) perception of them.

Thus Tolnedrans are greedy and practical, Alorns love fighting, Arends (oh, don't get me started) and so on. And it just so happens that the Tolnedrans kicked the young Gareth out of town for stealing. (For example.) I guess what really troubled me about that was how quickly Balgarath glossed over the (almost complete) extermination of the Marags. I mean, here you have a whole people butchered senselessly because they happen to have some shiny stuff in their streams that is useless to them and the whole gets a paragraph or two with the explanation but we got a so-and-so out of it. So fulfilling a prophecy made it OK then?

Have I mentioned that Belgarath's perspective is sometimes not a mortal one? But it is, in many respects, a deeply human one. As when he goes mad when he thinks he lost his wife; when he falls in love with his youngest daughter and grudgingly admits that he loves his oldest daughter, Polgara the Sorceress, as when he abashedly apologizes for his mis-spent youth. And of course the nicest thing about this book is that it feels like Belgarath is personally telling it to his family and friends. And, as he tells his story, he tries to explain the history of his world--and theirs. He wants to teach his family how (and why) it all came to pass the way it has.

And in that, it succeeds brilliantly. Not only could I not stop turning the pages but I literally could not wait to begin the next book in the series: Polgara. All in all, I recommend this book.

Belgarath the Sorcerer is best read after both the Belgariad and the Mallorean. Although it is a standalone novel, the prologue is built upon events that happen at the end of the Mallorean.

How to describe the novel? Calling it a history book is a grave injustice, on the scale of calling a Lamborghini a car (which it is, of course, but surely you can come up with far more dazzling ways to describe a Lamborghini.) "Belgarath the Sorcerer" is the story of one man's love--for his god, for his wife, for his "brothers", for his daughters, and for people. It is the story of duty and responsibility (and a sense of humor) that persists in spite of decade-long diversions, centuries-long sidetracks, and millennia-long grief.

Eddings manages pace very well--speeding through centuries in a paragraph, and then spending whole chapters on the events of a few weeks--without leaving the reader dizzy from wondering what just happened. The flow of the story seamlessly carries the reader along through detailed scenes. Characters are both vivid and memorable, and readers will enjoy seeing how all those insider jokes from the Belgariad started.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. When you're done with this, pick up his next book, Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon)

This is the first prequel to the Belgariad and Malloreon (before Polgara the Sorceress).

In this prequel, Belgarath tells us about his youth and how he became Aldur's pupil and then disciple, along with his brothers Zedar, the twins Belkira and Beltira, Belmakor, Belsambar and the dwarf Beldin.

For a while they all live happily in the Vale, quietly studying, until Aldur's evil brother Torak steals the Orb and cracks the World.

Then follows a history of the events that led to the birth of Garion the Godslayer: Belgarath's meeting the remarkable she-wolf who'll become his wife Poledra, the division of Aloria between Cherek and his sons Dras, Algar and Riva, the birth of his daughters Polgara and Beldaran, the start of the Rivan line and Torak's disciples' efforts to obliterate it, the Battle of Vo Mimbre...

All the while, Belgarath and his brothers are taking care that everything clicks together, deciphering madmen's prophecies, and accordingly arranging meetings and marriages to ensure that Garion will be surrounded by the right companions when the time comes.

All in all, I enjoyed re-reading this prequel more than the ten main volumes, even though Belgarath's flaunty remarks to the reader tended to rile me. Eddings's style and plot crafting has definitely improved during the years between the writing of The Seeress of Kell and this present volume. I hope I will now enjoy Polgara the Sorceress as much as I did when I first read it, it's always been my favourite among the lot!

For anyone who has fallen as deeply in love with the Belgariad and the Mallorean as I have will truly cherish and enjoy this book. Told from the straight from the heart of the centuries-old, wise, witty, overdramatic and altogether lovable sorcerer Belgarath, the Old Wolf, this novel is a captivating and entertaining novel that expands on the beginnings of Eddings' world. Throughout the book we are introduced to the first people, and the first gods that roamed at the beginning of time, and the marvelous events and prophecy that lead up to the stories of the Belgariad and Mallorean. We finally are given a history of Belgarath's remarkable beginnings, from the small vilage of Gara, to his first encounter with Aldur and the other disciples, to the Breaking of the World, and onwards, following his footsteps in all the adventures and exploits that he experienced even before Garion was born. We finally are able to appreciate and realize the depth and intellect of the often shabby Old Wolf through his experiences and dialogues, and are able to hop right into his shoes and personally get to know the other characters whose presence is pivotal in directing the flow of time. Eddings ties together many loose ends and allows us to understand the many facets of Belgarath's life, from being the shabby old story teller to being the most powerful sorcerer in the world, able to instil awe and fear in so many ('Grat is not nice!). This book lacks nothing and is rich in depth, articulate and descriptive writing, and is peppered with the classic dry humour and penetrating wit that Eddings has mastered, and will keep you enthralled and laughing for ages.

Written in the first person, the book chronicles the life of Belgarath from his days prior to becoming a disciple of Aldur up to the time that the Belgariad starts, i.e. when Polgara is working on Faldor's Farm.
The story unfolds in the form of Belgarath writing his memoirs. The reader is reminded of the memoir format throughout the story through "in-jokes" and references which only those who have read the Belgariad and Mallorean will understand. These jokes do not detract from the story. As Belgarath tells his life story, we learn in more depth just how and why Riva Iron Grip's line became the guardians of the orb, the history of the Alorn and Angarak nations, Belgarath and Polgara's love-hate relationship, the necessity (a/k/a "the dry voice" in Garion's head), and personal backgrounds of the disciples of Aldur (Beldin, the twins, et al.), and why the Chereks are a sea faring people. We also learn interesting things about Poledra, Torak, Eriond! ! , and Zedar. Furthermore we see just how Belgarath and Polgara have had a major and minor hand in shaping the world in preparation for the Belgariad.
Written in the same breezy style and humor as the rest of the series, I found the book to be quick reading. Overall I really enjoyed the book and found myself laughing out loud in several parts. It's a definate must read for anyone who wants to further understand the 7,000 year war of the gods as well as the life of (in my opinion) a beloved and enduring character in fantasy/science fiction literature.

I read all 13 of David eddings books that are about Aldurs deciples, torack, belgerath, Polgara, and such. I also read the Diamond throne, but did not enjoy it as much as the Belgeraid, Mallorian, and THIS book. David Eddings is an author that writes GREAT books, and better still, writes lots of them that are in the same series. I consider the belgeraid and Mallorian the same series, which totals up to 10 books on the same topic!!! David Eddings makes detailed characters who you share your feelings with. I am a tough customer, but Eddings makes me give 5 stars!
This book is good if you enjoyed the character Belgerath, which I certainly did. The book tells about a ancient old man who is mischevious, charasmatic and always in trouble despite his worshipful reputation (not from his family members who REALLY know him of course). About the review that says this must come straight from a movie script. I say that person was high on something, because I hate most movies, but enjoyed this book (and others made by eddings) more than any other. Only Eddings (and Leigh eddings for this book), could make they're characters so well. That they could make an Autobiography on an imagenary character, and win many awards from reviewers, and leisure readers like you and me. Flawless book.
P.S. I also reccomend you read books from Raymond Feist.

This book is the story of Belgarath the Sorcerer who is over seven thousand years old. It takes place from his childhood all the way to well past his seven thousandth birthday. I wouldn't suggest reading this book unless you have first read the two series the Belgariad and the Mallorean. This story tells most of what is not told in those series.

The book is written like Belgarath is telling it. The author does a great job of writing the entire book in first person. And seeing as Belgarath is using magic to have his thoughts or words written down, it is complete with the little interruptions that would no doubt happen, and that we have no clue what they are about.

This is an extremely well written fantasy book. But then again, what else would you expect from David Eddings. Belgarath is the main character. However the supporting cast of his friends really adds to the book. People like Prince "Silk" Kheldar and Lady Polgara (his daughter) are just unforgettable.

I feel that the book was extremely well written. With unforgettable characters and a story that happens over thousands of years and a whole world. A main character who dismisses decades and centuries as we would months and years. If you read this book you won't be disappointed.

I enjoyed this book, as it brought back a lot of the memories of the Belgariad and Mallorean which I'd read 10+ years ago and enjoyed tremendously.
There were a few inconsistancies between this book and the original series, especially with the character of Belgarath himself. I'm currently reading "Polgara the Sorceress" and find the same true there. In the original series, Belgarath is THE legend, the eternal man, almost holy in many cultures. In this book, you finally see that despite being 7000 years old, he's still a little slow and requires almost constant input from "the Necessity" or Aldur to be able to do anything. Seldom does he do anything clever on his own, and he frequently depends on the stupidity of his enemies (Torak, Urvon, Zedar etc...) to succeed.
This destroyed some of my image of the character and it's just due to lazy writing. I get the distinct impression that most of this material was written before the first series of books (in proto form anyway) just to give background to this one character. This is fine, but it takes a lot of work to make a character intelligent, and you just don't see this here. A 7000 year old man should have unique perspective, be enormously clever and outwit practically everyone. That would have been too hard to do however, so you have to see the 7000 year old man who's pretty much just like everyone else. It succeeds in the first book because Belgarath is rarely the main character and the story isn't told directly by him (i.e. first person).
Still, if you liked the Belgariad, you really can't fail with this book, most of the history is at least somewhat entertaining, especially the initial calling of the diciples of Aldur to the Vale. I found that most interesting.

Belgarath The Sorcerer is more or less Belgarath's view and explanation of events which led up to the start of The Belgariad, which began with the book Pawn of Prophecy. The reader will find most of this story quite familiar in that Eddings has rehashed much of the information which was presented in the previously mentioned series. Granted, there are new twists and new detailed information, but the story is the same. Many of the characters in this new book are the very same characters we find with our original reading of the series. Now some have found this to be a bad thing. I personally rather enjoyed it. I make no bones about it, nor do I apologize for being a big fan of Eddings (and as we now know, Leigh Eddings, his wife). As I have mentioned in my previous reviews, these are comfort books for me. I read them for relaxation. The author has even used many of the tired old jokes, which are actually sort of funny, in this work as well as most of the settings and situations we have come to expect.

As mentioned before, with the first ten books I have been able to identify 233 errors the author made (hey, I even have my books cross referenced). With this work, I am able to add even more errors! While this may seem a bit compulsive/obsessive (which indeed, it probably is, well too bad...I enjoy it and plan to continue the hobby). We are not talking typos, punctuation and such; we are talking major errors in plot and facts. This is a wonderful game and I love it. For me it does not distract from the story one bit, and in fact makes it sort of charming.

This work, like the previous works from which it was taken, moves right along, and while quite predictable, for the most part, is still a very interesting read and great fun to just enjoy. The author can tell a good story and he does hold my interest. Again, this is not for every one. If you did not enjoy the first ten books of the series, then you will probably not enjoy this one. Actually, I cannot for the life of me figure out why someone who hated the previous books, forked out good money for more of the same...go figure.

If you are a fan of Belgarath and crew, then you will quite likely enjoy this read, if you are not...

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

I loved the Belgariad and Mallorean so naturally this book is one worth reading. This lays the groundwork for everything set in motion during the two noted series. There are some cyclical ideas in the story telling, but I find this to enjoyable since most of life is cyclical. Since this book is essentially a historical account in the series, it makes sense that it has some repetitions, after all human history is repetitive. The best thing about this book was the foundation Eddings orchestrated for the premise of the Belgariad. It was very exciting and pleasurable to read about the beginning of the spiritual mythos that Eddings created in this realm. Learning about the gods involvements with human prior to the cracking of the world was very fun and worth reading. Also, the development of the Belgarath and Polgara characters lends itself to further enjoyment of the Belgariad and Malloeran series'.

Eddings has been one of my favorite authors for quick, clear fantasy since I read Pawn of Prophecy when I was about 12. I'll give you the positive and negative...

Positive

Eddings's excellent, funny characters are back. Belgarath has always been one of my favorites. The fantasy world itself is large, with each nation displaying a distinct culture. The first person perspective gives us a new insight into Belgarath's thoughts. The magical happenings and personalities of gods give a sense of wonder to the books.

Negative

Characters sometimes seem to go through little development throughout the chronological sequels. Also, the total plot has never been earth-shattering except within the story. However, the details are given very well, with a few surprises. In conclusion, Eddings fans should DEFINITELY buy this. Fantasy fans should read _Pawn of Prophecy_ and see if they wish to continue the series. I think they will. Non-fantasy fans should also read _Pawn of Prophecy_; it's a good introduction

Belgarath the Sorcerer is a prequel to the Belgariad and the
Mallorean which it deals with the events up until Pawn of Prophecy:
Book One of The Belgariad. Belgarath the Sorcerer picks up
after the end of The Mallorean and fills in details to the
two previous series. It also gives explanations to the
animosities between certain characters in the series that
were not given before, only hinted at. A reader who has not
read The Belgariad and The Mallorean may miss some of the
significance of this book, but for those who have read the two
series, this book is the perfect companion and should be
read.

Belgarath the Sorcerer is perhaps David Eddings best work to date
and should be read in order of release, due to the fact that
the book picks up where The Mallorean leaves off. Fans
of Eddings work will truly enjoy reading this for its humor
as well as for its detail, it remains true to the storylines
and is truly worth the reader's while.

The Belgeriad and Mallorean series are my favorite pieces of fantasy literature - I've read them a couple times, and they are always super enjoyable, and always force me to stay up late reading them because I can't stop, even though I know what's going to happen.
This book (and Polgara) is a wonderful cap to the whole series, going all way back in time. Although much of it is a repeat of what was in the other books, this is wonderful reading since it is all from the perspective of Belgarath, alive these last 7,000 years, and he offers many, many new insights to the events of the books. It's fascinating: construct a whole series with the omniscient narrator, and then write two more books going over the whole thing again, but from the point of views of two characters in the series. Surprisingly, it not only works, it works well, and it's quite compelling reading. And Eddings writes convincingly enough to make one think it really *is* Belgarath who has written this.
Absolutely excellent reading, but of course, you really do have to read the first ten books first. And I can't recommend this series enough. Certainly the best multi-volume fantasy series that has come out (and yes, I am apostate by regarding this higher than Lord of the Rings, but so be it).

This was the first Eddings book I had ever read. It got a little confusing here and there as I hadn't read the Belgariad yet. However, the gaps didn't become apparent until the end of the book and even then, they were passable....if barely.

Eddings gives life to Belgarath who is now firmly my favourite character. In this book, you get to see how Belgarath's mind works and what he feels of other people while listening to his witty comments about this and that.

I've read this book at least three times in the past six months as it is quite a good reference to check up with the Belgariad. It may sometimes get a little boring but there is usually some humour in the form of the narration, or one of the other characters.

There's still a couple of gaps for Eddings to use for his next book Polgara the Sorceress and if it's anything like this, I'm definitely getting out there to buy it as soon as possible....well at least as soon as I can scrape up the money to anyway...

I had begun to read David Eddings books, Belgariad while I was studying in London during the late '80's and l was hooked ever since. Belgarath the Sorcerer explained a lot of things that had left unanswered in Belgariads and Malloreans..Like all other David's books this one have all the ingredients to make you just wanna read the whole book at one time.. It was definitely worth waiting for and l would strongly recommend to those guys who want to read science fiction book to go out and purchase Belgarath The Sorcerer right now...Go on guys you will never regret it.. David Eddings books were the only science fiction books that l had a passion for although l'd tried to read others... Hopefully there'll be another one on Polgara ...I'm looking forward to read about her... keep up the good work David!!! you got one loyal fan here in Malaysia..Is there any way l can be informed if the story on Polgara is published..I would like to get it the soonest possible..

Sarcastic, profane,slovenly, sometimes drunk, doesnt have perfect grooming habits and dress's badly, these are some of the descriptions that fit Belgarath. This book details the events that made him "The Eternal Man". Possibly the best conceived sorcerer in literature, Belgarath will certainly take a seat in history next to Gandorf, Obe-one, and Maadi. Some have complained that the book has "slow" spots. Well thats kinda like life, years of boredom, sixty seconds of terror. If every second of every day was heart stopping, even Belgarath would eventually give up. What I really liked was the fact that this book could stand alone. Even if I had never read the Belgarid/Mallorean series, I would have still enjoyed and understood this book. It has found a permanent place in my collection of "Keepers". I highly reccommend this book to everyone.

What a different view of the whole picture (Belgarath's the one telling the story, and so you get his hilarious point of view the whole way through)! This book takes you back before the Belgariad even takes place, starting with Belgarath's childhood, and the earlier parts of his 7,000 year life. This book has all of the things in the Belgariad and the Mallorean that you only briefly read about, such as the cracking of the world, Belgarath's story of becoming a desciple of Aldur, Zedar's treason, The meeting of Poledra and Belgarath, as well as many other stories that are finally revealed in all of their glory in this book. This book is a definate buy for someone who has completed both the Mallorean and the Belgariad. It also clears up a lot of confusion that you might have encountered throughout both the series.
WONDERFUL BOOK!

I read this book when it was first released. I love all of Eddings books of the 2 series this book relates to. Back in 2013 I bought this audio when it had a different narrator. It was ok, did not like some of his pronunciations but put up with it anyway. I just found out that this audiobook has been re-released with Cameron Beierle narrating and I HAD to buy it!! He is the best.

This book is really only for those that have already read the Belgariad and Mallorian series. It tells the tale of the Great Belgarath from thief to "holy man". It really isn't an exiting read but it's well writen and the plot (if you can call it that) is well laid out, but lacks any punch. It has the thinks that always bothers me in all of Eddings work and that is repetativnes, same jokes and characters tend to say the same thing (if somebody says a word that doesn't exist then the others always say something like "Gee I wish I could make upp word like that" and so on). I wish that he could think of new dialogs. Theres nothing new or original in this book but some times it's good to read a tried and tested formula specialy when it involves some of ones favorite fictional charachters.
If you have already read Eddings other works then this is a must, if not the give it a miss..

The book chronicles the life of Belgarath the sorcerer and is a fun addition to the Belgariad universe. The book is a prequel of sorts as it recounts all that has happened in his 7000 years of existence that lead up to the events of The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit and Mallorean The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda from his POV.

The protagonist Belgarath was the first disciple of the god Aldur great great .... grandfather of Belgarion.

The book is very simplistically written and whereas there are conflicts and plot twists in Belgariad and Mallorean, this book is quite predictable. Still it is a good read if you liked the other books.

This is a great book. Not only for story, but in its characters. Eddings creates characters that are believable, and likeable. Their conversation gets to the point that you feel like your listening to friends talk, and sometimes you even know how they are going to react to one another. One thing i enjoyed about this book was the fact that it was written in the style of Belgarath, not in Eddings own style. His asides and apologies to the readers (most notably C'Nedra) cracked me up. Anyhow, do yourself a favor and read The Belgariad and the Mallorean if you already haven't, then make sure to read this. It is definitely worth your time.

If you loved the Belgariad series, followed by the Mallorean series and wished you could spend more time with these characters in this special world, this is a fabulous read.

As others will say, Eddings isn't the most gifted writer, however this makes his books readable for all ages from teens on up and he has such a great sense of charm, most find themselves hopelessly caught up in the story and characters. Eddings spent a great deal of thought and time creating this world he's taken us on an extended tour of, and it shows.

I was sad at the end of The Mallorean, figuring I'd come to the end of the story and had to say farewell to Belgarath and his extended family. After a few years, I decided to give this book a try and was very pleased.

The book probably only 'deserves' 4 stars based on its literary merits but I just couldn't help myself. >;^)

I have to admit that I read the whole series in less than one month and that includes the belgariad and the mallorean but not polgara, so of course I was addicted and will obviously give it a good review. This book, like all the others written by Eddings, will cause the reader to go into withdrawl with it closed. I'll be the first to admit that Eddings didn't do anything monumental with his series but did acomplish what I believe was his purpose- a novel that will suck you into it and let you escape reality for a while. This book wasn't quite as good as the other series but it was definately worth a try. Do yourself a favor and don't leave this on the shelf.

This is probably one of the best books I've read. Surpassed maybe by Polgara the Sorceress. This book introduced me to the world invented by David and Leigh Eddings, and I've read every other book by them since. Belgarath is so incredibly well written that at times I found myself cracking up, usually while at school. Other times I wanted to cry, the characters are described so well that I find myself feeling what they feel, and hoping what they hope. Even though the paperback version has around 800 pages, I can read it in a weekend if I really get into it.

I enjoyed this book. It had a certain sass and humour. Whilst Belgariad and Mallorean were a wee bit different, this book had a magical twist (pardon the pun). This book reveals some aspects that kept the readers of Bel and Mal in perpetual curiosity. Of course, there were bits that were left untold, which further accentuates your irritation (I suppose that's what makes the books interesting to read) but I expect they will be revealed in the other book, Polgara the Sorceress, but oh well. TO make it short, read this book...full of humour, action, and fun.

If you enjoy David Eddings work, this book is for you. It's an excellent retelling of the only briefly covered history of Eternal Belgarath. If you've never sampled Eddings' work before, this a great start. The insight into the lives of his characters from before, during and after the Belgariad/Mallorian series is a treat to any die hard or future Eddings fan. If you didn't like the characters, setting or plot of the other books, you should probably skip this one. But I, for one, loved it and highly reccommend you read this book.

I thought this thick book would be at worst repeating things already mentioned in the saga, as the style of Eddings is similar to fairytales rather than an attempt for a realistic feeling world, and the stereotypes (particularly describing the various peoples and cultures) he already created in books 1 to 5 were repeated enough as it is. I was right about that, he repeats some things but generally speaking 90 percent of this book is all new material, as the history from Belgarath's point of view.
I had a great deal of good laughs; the book has a slower pace and allows for greater detail at points, but Eddings spares us a lot of boredom and still manages to capture not only great events but also everyday life. Robert Jordan could learn a thing or two from Eddings even though he might have greater talent.

This book fills in the gaps that are left by the narrative of the
Belgariad. Anyone who has ever read the saga should get a
copy of this and not put it down until they've finished it.
The story starts a little slowly, for about 3 pages, and then
returns the reader to the realm of Belgarath with a thump.
Through this book, the rough edges of the Belgariad are rounded
off. This is a must for any serious reader of fantasy books,
even if they've never read an Eddings book before.

I loved it! I also loved the Mallorean and Belgariad set that preceded this book. I haven't read Polgara yet... I want to though. I think that David and Leigh should write books about Silk and Barak, Relg and Taiba and all the rest of them. Especially Beldin and Poledra. I liked them the best. Oh and I liked Ce'Nedra too but I don't think they should write her life story. It would be kind of short.
Written by an aspiring author with VERY GOOD TASTE IN BOOKS. ( I like them all.)
:)

Well old Dave finally went and did it! For years, his loyal readers, myself included, have been clammoring for a little more in depth idea of the history of Belgarath the Ancient Sorcerer. Now that history is brought forth in a book of excellent caliber. This book brings together all the loose ends that were left lying around from the Belgariad and the Mallorean. Two thumbs up in my book. Now I am eagerly awaiting the history of Ancient Belgarath's daughter, Polgara. Well done! Keep them coming!

Belgarion bullied his grandfather into writing the missing tale of what happened before the Belgariad and Malloreon series, and like Garion himself, I was very curious about Belgarath's life. The book therefore did not dissapoint me! David and Leigh Eddings are now at a true literary level with their writing, for besides even their great style of writing, they can capture readers and make them part of the lives of their characters.
Every fase from Belgarath's life was different and intriguing and like the sorcerer himself, you're sorry when they are over. But new times bring new thrills and even as Belgarath experiences for himself, one time will replace the next. His peaceful time in the Vale was replaced by his friendship with Cherek and his sons; the loss of his wife was compensated by his daughter Polgara, whom he had to educate.
Belgarath is a wonderful, complex character and when you read this book, it's like hearing him tell the story to you in person!

You should only read this AFTER the Belgariad and Malloreon series.
This is a good book - it has great writing, good characters, humor and enjoyable world building, but it contains spoilers for those who did not read the previous books.

Let me start off simple. I liked this book. While it will not satisfy that demon in you that wants realism and balltes and betrayal that is believable, it is a rather humorous account that spans an incredible amount of time, which is interesting, being read by us humans who have so little of it in the scheme of things. Eddings manages to contain well-placed humor and seriousness within this book that draws you in. While Belgarath the Sorceror will not go down in history as one of the best fantasy books, neither will it's author, who is normally only meager at best. But this is quite realistically one of his greatest works and worth a look.

Well, this book takes off immediately (I MEAN the same second) after "THE SEERESS OF KELL" and than it goes WAY back. I had the luck to start this right after I finished SEERESS and I must say that it is a nice broadening of the Belgariad/Malloreon series. No, I didn't want to know everything that happend before Garion and his friends left Faldors Farm, I just enjoyed this book because it is a pretty good read and on par with the other works of Eddings (or, as we know now: the both Eddings). People who liked the aforementioned series should definitely read this: It has the same tone and the same style as the other books, only the structure is a little bit different. Well, as you can guess now, I loved it. NOW, some warnings: People who read the BEL/MAL series and want something new, should skip this. The next point: Although this book was conceived as a stand-alone-novel, it isn't. Or it doesn't succeed. I would not recommend this book to readers who haven't read the BELGARIAD / MALLOREON series. Unless "you know your way around" this particular world, you will be confused by this wide array of characters, countries, kings, queens and gods - this book does not work as a guide - it expects you to know already at least something about this world. Furthermore: You'll not understand the numerous side-remarks to the characters from the other novels which Belgarath, the fictional author of this novel, inserted between the tale. You can ignore them, but then you'll miss most of the fun. Finally, a warning to all readers, Eddings-Fans and new ones alike: This book starts REALLY slow. Don't let the first 100-200 pages discourage you, this book GETS BETTER and is a lot of fun. Polgara, I'm waiting for your tale now..

Look, you don't read David Eddings for classic literature, you read him for the cool sorcery, the sharply drawn characters and a sense of humor.
Belgarath the Sorcerer delivers, but it's definitely of the meat and potatoes variety. It's a trip down memory lane for those who have waded through the Belgariad and the Mallorean (which both became progressively more ponderous and lacking in new ideas).
The fact that this book even exists suggests that Mr. Eddings is running either a bit low on new ideas, or his bank account, or both.

Alright, let's be honest folks. Eddings has once again delivered us a story revolving around the same characters (ie Belgerath, Polgara, Garion) However, these are characters that I for one cherish reading about. It is because of this fact that I do not particularly mind the repitition within the work. I want to hear more about the characters. I like knowing just what is a 6000-plus year old hero doing all that time. Maybe Eddings isn't breaking new ground, but he at least has solid footing. I highly reccommend this novel to any Eddings' fan, but suggest that you wait until reading both the Belgariad and the Mallorean before starting it. Belgarath the Sorceror is an entertaining follow up to these two 5 book series, and answers a lot of questions which were remaining along the way. Also, it makes a nice bridge into Polgara the Sorceress which I am currently reading (which is very similar to the rest of the series as well) To sum up, Eddings' fans who are looking to continue their Belgariad enjoyment should read this work, just don't expect anything new.

It's been years since I read the original books in this series, but I enjoyed them a lot. So I was excited to find two new books in the series, this one and "Polgara." It was fun to revisit characters and events that I had read before. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book that covered Belgarath's origins up through the cracking of the world.
The rest of it is OK, but there was very little suspense present. (Note: This was NOT because I already knew many of the events. I read the original series too long ago to remember most of the details.) Part of it has to do with the whole "predestination" aspect of the series. After a while, it makes you wonder if many of the choices that these characters make really make any difference in the grand scheme of things.
The first person narrative is a mixed bag as well. At times I enjoyed the more personal observations by Belgarath, but it grew old in a book this long.
My favorite parts were in some of the more "trivial" events such as Belgarath's gold mining adventure or his fishing trips with his Grandson. I wish that there had been more of these "human" stories. Too much of the book read like, "This happened, then THIS happened, followed by THIS," and there wasn't much that made me really care about the characters.
So, it's worth reading after you read the original books, but it could have been much more entertaining.

I can not believe that people who have read the Belgariad can say that this book is "brilliant", "magnificent" or that this is the "best work of Eddings yet". They must have read a different edition than I. To me, this book was an unexiting recount of happenings that we already knew took place. There is absolutely zero character development in the story (except for Polgara's sudden change of appearence) for any of the other players, in fact Eddings makes a great effort to show that characters stay the same over the centuries in the families. The humour of the book is very repetitive and is tiring after the first 100 pages. In the Belgariad, Belgarath goes into great pains not to reveal to others (especially Garion) what forces are at work. In this book, he distributes this information freely to everyone, making people do his bidding by saying that an "EVENT" is taking place. I agree with the opinion of one of the previous readers, all over the story it feels as if this book has been written by someone else. WARNING: Do not read this book before reading the Belgariad and the Malloreon. (all other books are far-far better anyway)

I've been reading Eddings now for nearly 10 years and his "Garion" books are by far the best. Truthfully, though, I wouldn't have been as big a fan if I had actually started with the first book. I read Belgarath the Sorcerer first and fell in love with it.

Eddings' fantasy world, in my opinion, far outstrips any other series I've read simply because of the development he put into it. Cultures, a complex history, a medieval society with a bit of modernism thrown in... I get tired of barbaric worlds with "dangerous," unsettled lands. Eddings gives us actual countries with political complexities.

My sister first introduced me to the Belgariad when I was 7. I had often laughed at her for sitting for weeks on end, burried in those books... I finaly found out why. Finding myself instantainiously gripped by the story, and all the wonderful characters, such as; (Bel)Garion, Polgara, Belgarath... and so on and so on... I ended up not beeing able to go anywhere without my precious books... which is the main reason why I have had to replace them each about 4 times...I simply read them to pieces...
One day, shopping with my parents, I suddently saw this book. I spent the rest of the day hopping around it, hoping my parents would buy it...and at last they did.
Now, I have made it my life goal to buy the whole series, as I havent read the Malloreon yet. I am looking forward to once again be gripped by the tale... to once again let the thoughts flow... to immagine beeing that little boy in Sendaria...suddently dragged off to the end of the world and back...in search of a stone...
I can't wait.
A word of warning though, Once you have read one book, YOU HAVE TO READ THEM ALL! RESISTENCE IS FUTILE! Kind regards Yago

Well, this book takes off immediately (I MEAN the same second) after "THE SEERESS OF KELL" and than it goes WAY back. I had the luck to start this right after I finished SEERESS and I must say that it is a nice broadening of the Belgariad/Malloreon series. No, I didn't want to know everything that happend before Garion and his friends left Faldors Farm, I just enjoyed this book because it is a pretty good read and on par with the other works of Eddings (or, as we know now: the both Eddings). People who liked the aforementioned series should definitely read this: It has the same tone and the same style as the other books, only the structure is a little bit different. Well, as you can guess now, I loved it. NOW, some warnings: People who read the BEL/MAL series and want something new, should skip this. The next point: Although this book was conceived as a stand-alone-novel, it isn't. Or it doesn't succeed. I would not recommend this book to readers who haven't read the BELGARIAD / MALLOREON series. Unless "you know your way around" this particular world, you will be confused by this wide array of characters, countries, kings, queens and gods - this book does not work as a guide - it expects you to know already at least something about this world. Furthermore: You'll not understand the numerous side-remarks to the characters from the other novels which Belgarath, the fictional author of this novel, inserted between the tale. You can ignore them, but then you'll miss most of the fun. Finally, a warning to all readers, Eddings-Fans and new ones alike: This book starts REALLY slow. Don't let the first 100-200 pages discourage you, this book GETS BETTER and is a lot of fun. Polgara, I'm waiting for your tale now..

It's been years since I read the original books in this series, but I enjoyed them a lot. So I was excited to find two new books in the series, this one and "Polgara." It was fun to revisit characters and events that I had read before. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book that covered Belgarath's origins up through the cracking of the world.
The rest of it is OK, but there was very little suspense present. (Note: This was NOT because I already knew many of the events. I read the original series too long ago to remember most of the details.) Part of it has to do with the whole "predestination" aspect of the series. After a while, it makes you wonder if many of the choices that these characters make really make any difference in the grand scheme of things.
The first person narrative is a mixed bag as well. At times I enjoyed the more personal observations by Belgarath, but it grew old in a book this long.
My favorite parts were in some of the more "trivial" events such as Belgarath's gold mining adventure or his fishing trips with his Grandson. I wish that there had been more of these "human" stories. Too much of the book read like, "This happened, then THIS happened, followed by THIS," and there wasn't much that made me really care about the characters.
So, it's worth reading after you read the original books, but it could have been much more entertaining.

I can not believe that people who have read the Belgariad can say that this book is "brilliant", "magnificent" or that this is the "best work of Eddings yet". They must have read a different edition than I. To me, this book was an unexiting recount of happenings that we already knew took place. There is absolutely zero character development in the story (except for Polgara's sudden change of appearence) for any of the other players, in fact Eddings makes a great effort to show that characters stay the same over the centuries in the families. The humour of the book is very repetitive and is tiring after the first 100 pages. In the Belgariad, Belgarath goes into great pains not to reveal to others (especially Garion) what forces are at work. In this book, he distributes this information freely to everyone, making people do his bidding by saying that an "EVENT" is taking place. I agree with the opinion of one of the previous readers, all over the story it feels as if this book has been written by someone else. WARNING: Do not read this book before reading the Belgariad and the Malloreon. (all other books are far-far better anyway)

I've been reading Eddings now for nearly 10 years and his "Garion" books are by far the best. Truthfully, though, I wouldn't have been as big a fan if I had actually started with the first book. I read Belgarath the Sorcerer first and fell in love with it.

Eddings' fantasy world, in my opinion, far outstrips any other series I've read simply because of the development he put into it. Cultures, a complex history, a medieval society with a bit of modernism thrown in... I get tired of barbaric worlds with "dangerous," unsettled lands. Eddings gives us actual countries with political complexities.

My sister first introduced me to the Belgariad when I was 7. I had often laughed at her for sitting for weeks on end, burried in those books... I finaly found out why. Finding myself instantainiously gripped by the story, and all the wonderful characters, such as; (Bel)Garion, Polgara, Belgarath... and so on and so on... I ended up not beeing able to go anywhere without my precious books... which is the main reason why I have had to replace them each about 4 times...I simply read them to pieces...
One day, shopping with my parents, I suddently saw this book. I spent the rest of the day hopping around it, hoping my parents would buy it...and at last they did.
Now, I have made it my life goal to buy the whole series, as I havent read the Malloreon yet. I am looking forward to once again be gripped by the tale... to once again let the thoughts flow... to immagine beeing that little boy in Sendaria...suddently dragged off to the end of the world and back...in search of a stone...
I can't wait.
A word of warning though, Once you have read one book, YOU HAVE TO READ THEM ALL! RESISTENCE IS FUTILE! Kind regards Yago

I always like Belegarath from his sense of dry humor to his ability to tell great stories. Well this book was his greatest of all his stories and helped fill in alot of gaps which where left out previous to Pawn of Prophecy. I hope Eddings writes Beldin the Hunchbacked or something like that I think that would be the best individual personal history story ever. I would like to see from other people who write reviews after me name a Sorcerer they would like to have a book written after.

Belgarath. One simple word. A word that means so much. To an ordinary man, Belgarath is nothing. To an Eddings fan, Belgarath is everything. From the start of the Belgariad, through to the end of the Malloreon, he was there, as were you...the reader. This book is an "answer all questions" type of read. It's basically the tale of how he became the figure that he currently is. It begins early in life and progresses through many, many years of EVENTS. Encounters with Aldur, Beldin, Polgara, Chamdar and of course Torak are all chronicled. The significance of many of the EVENTS are explained. The style in which the book is written captivates you from the start. It is indeed a page-turner filled with sadness, anger, joy, and even humour. The autobiographical feel was also something appealing. Belgarath even hints at who really runs the world, and his opinion gets you thinking. Mr. Eddings has done it again and I look forward to any future works of his, as all his past are masterpieces. If you've even wondered "why?" acquire this book. If you've ever wondered "who?" acquire this book. Or, if you just want a good read, acquire this book and you'll see why the Eddings duo are the true sorcerers of the literary world.

For all of you who haven't read anything of David Eddings, start with "The Belgariad." My first Eddings book was "Belgarath the Sorcerer." Althrough I liked the book, it isn't good for starters. It gives away alot of things, and makes his books less exciting. For those who have read "The Belgariad" and "The Malloreon," read this book now. It is a must.......

The Belgariad began with a wonderful, original and insightful story, with unique characters who had a vast potential for personality growth. By the time Eddings reaches Belgarath the Sorcerer, however, the quality has plummeted into nothing more than trite, overused words filling the pages. The story itself had so much potential, but the writing and characters were written so poorly that the book was difficult to read without becoming frustrated. The author attempts to make the narrative amusing with smart comments and the like, but what this actually achieves is making Belgarath the sorcerer, the powerful, insightful, complex man, into a peevish, cranky, one-dimensional character. What's more, the characters have all become flat and dull - the dialogue that springs from the mouth of any character could just as easily come from any other, with its weak attempts at sharp tongued witticisms and hopeless characterization. All females are portrayed as manipulative; all males are portrayed as hot tempered lunkheads. Do yourself a favour: If you enjoyed the belgariad, don't bother with this book as it will ruin the entire experience for you.

I found the personal viewpoint and pointed asides extremely interesting. I refuse to call it the best book I've ever read, but it ranks very high up there. It fills in most of the gaps in the Belgeriad and Mallorean series, and the few remaing gaps are explained in Polgara the Sorceress. I seriously recommend this book as a valuable addition to anyone's David Eddings collection.

It was amazing...You have to read both the Belgariad and the Mallorian first or you wont understand some of it. The story fills in the blanks that were left after Eddings finished the two previous series. We all know that Belgarath is probably the funniest character in the whole story, and this is the story of his life. Some of it was a little slow going, but the rest of the story made up for that little tidbit of slowness. I loved this story, and highly recommend it to you iff(if and only if) you absolutely loved the Belgariad and the Mallorian. READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! I DON'T CARE HOW, BUT READ IT!!!!!

This book gives a History of the world as given by Belgarath, First Disciple of the God Aldur. Arch Enemy of the Evil god Torak, The eternel Man, Old Wolf and a hundred other titels. From when He was born as a pesent in the town of Gara until he was feared by all the world over. Brilliant Another Eddings classic.` If you have read he Beligaid and the Malloreon read this next!

The book said nothing new and the characters tend to irritate after a while, but what I really want to comment on is some of the other reviews from British readers. If your going to share your views all well and good but please spell things correctly or you make us all look stupid in front of the Americans. Im currently in America and learning firsthand how incredibly dim this race is.

The crowning achievement of both the Belgariad and the Mallorean. I was waiting for this book since I was quite young and picked up "Pawn of Prophecy" at the store. I waited until I thought I was going to explode for each new book in the series to come out, and after waiting soooo long, all I can say is it was worth every moment! This series of twelve books is my most precious collection in my stacks of books, they make me laugh, shout for joy, weep tears of sadness and brings me into a world as real as the one you ar I live in. I love them all, Durnik, Barak, Silk, Garion, Ce'Nedra and all the rest....yes you too Yarblek. If I could do but one thing in this life it would be to seek out Mr. Eddings and thank him for writing such a series of books that has made my life better by reading them over and over again. Thank you!!!!!!!

Being a fan of Edding's work I was disappointed in Belgarath. It was such a long work and I felt needlessly so. While I agree with earlier reviewers that one doesn't read Edding's for literary genius, I do expect the books to be well thought out and entertaining. Going into this book you know the outcome if you read the Belgariad. That makes it hard to inject any suspense into the work, which meant that it needed to be overcome with skillful writing and plot twists. I didn't feel that there was any of this in this work. When a situation headed towards a difficult problem the "necessity" or "Garion's friend" bailed everyone out conveniently. I just didn't find this work to be very imaginative and below Edding's standard in the first five books of the Belgariad.

This book is like the movie sequel that didn't need to be made. Does Smoky and the Bandit III ring a bell with anyone?

I love this book. Even when I reread it I loved it.And I don't think anythings going to change that.
Its partly the magic in it. Also, I like Polgara (the person) besides just liking Belgarath . I was surprised and glad to find out that she had her own whole section.
Anyway, someone who has read The Belgariad should read Belgarath The Sorcerer.

I read this book first before buying the Mallorean and Belgariad series. I'm glad I did. This book makes you wonder and think of the characters. Infact, at the end the end of this book, i was so shocked of how it ended! THAT'S what made me get the series and also the Polagra book! I just HAD to know how it began and ended. I love an author that can do that to his readers!
This book is a great overview of the 2 series! His portrayal of Belgarath is very comical and heartwarming. Whenever i need a good book, i'm sure to pick up and reread this book or start the series all over again.
This book is made to delight the reader. If you are inclined to dissect a book and its author, then you need to relax and let yourself go with this book. This book will let you wonder and feel that you are with Belgarath.

David Eddings and his wife have done Justice as it should be done. The way the books tells the story of the Sorcerer Belgarath and his life is awsome. If you have read the series that go along with the book, it would mean even more than you think. This book is the one of the best books that has ever been written. If you haven't read it, read it

I really liked this book. It had some good humor in it. I haven't read the all of the Belgariad and the Malloreon yet, but I Will! I recommend this book very highly. I like how we find out the origins of Zedar, Mandorallen, Lelldorin, Riva, and Company. I was quite surprised to discover Belsambar and Belmakor. READ THIS BOOK!!! :) The Sphynx

If you are looking for fantasy that is fun, pure escapism and easy to read, over and over again, then Eddings is it. Predictable - yes, unbelievable - yes, but fun. Enjoyable and a light way to lose yourself into something that is not quite real to take you away into another world - which is exactly what fantasy fiction is supposed to do.

I never even heard of David Eddings before I found this book. It was long, but I finished it all the way to the end. After reading the book, I became interested on the other books written by David. First I read all of the Mallareon and then the Belgariad. Thanks for providing me a book that could spark my interest, David!!

Belgarath the Sorcer was a great book. I liked how it showed things from belgaraths point of view. The bad thing about the book was that it went through a long period of time. I know it told you it was going to do this but i still don't agree with his methed's. If i spelled anything wrong do not blame me i'm only 12

I have read every single book of Eddings' fantasy serieses(except Polgara's story) and I have liked some of them but this book is merely a long overview. There is nothing very amazing and new in this book and it isn't deep story. It was quite boring to read it and it took long time to finish, which is quite unusual for me.

J. P. Linton's dramatized narration is either overdone or underdone to the point that it sounds forced. Listening to it was laaborously cumbersome; thus I could not finish listening past chapter three.

The talented and usually infuriating Belgarath the Sorcerer tells of his fantastic lifetime in this wonderfully written book by David and Leigh Eddings. It had all the qualities a fantasy book calls for- suspense, adventure, humor, and the occasional teary moment. An absolutely fabulous work of art

This book gives a great insight into the REAL Belgarath, the person who has as wonderful a sense of humour as Silk, only less evident in the Belgariad. I'm glad that the Eddingses have cleared up the mystery behind Belgarath's antecedents. It should be on every bookshelf-- truly a merry read!

This book was really cool. I love fantasy books and this is my all time favorite except for Polgara the Sorceress. I think it's great that he wrote the story from Belgarath's point of view. I hope he writes many more books that are as good as this one! READ THIS BOOK IT'S EXCELLENT!!!

The book said nothing new and the characters tend to irritate after a while, but what I really want to comment on is some of the other reviews from British readers. If your going to share your views all well and good but please spell things correctly or you make us all look stupid.

This book is a prequel to the Belgariad. While the book keeps the classic humor of Belgarath, it does diminish the mystique of Belgarath with self depreciating comments. Woe to the beginning reader who unwittingly reads this book first before reading the Belgariad

This book is by far Eddings' greatest endeavour. The complete story of Belgarath the sorcerer fills in the gaps left in The Belgariad and The Mallorean and shows the reader where Belgarath's attitude and fairly strong opinions come from. I couldn't put it down.

Belgarath. One simple word. A word that means so much. To an ordinary man, Belgarath is nothing. To an Eddings fan, Belgarath is everything. From the start of the Belgariad, through to the end of the Malloreon, he was there, as were you...the reader. This book is an "answer all questions" type of read. It's basically the tale of how he became the figure that he currently is. It begins early in life and progresses through many, many years of EVENTS. Encounters with Aldur, Beldin, Polgara, Chamdar and of course Torak are all chronicled. The significance of many of the EVENTS are explained. The style in which the book is written captivates you from the start. It is indeed a page-turner filled with sadness, anger, joy, and even humour. The autobiographical feel was also something appealing. Belgarath even hints at who really runs the world, and his opinion gets you thinking. Mr. Eddings has done it again and I look forward to any future works of his, as all his past are masterpieces. If you've even wondered "why?" acquire this book. If you've ever wondered "who?" acquire this book. Or, if you just want a good read, acquire this book and you'll see why the Eddings duo are the true sorcerers of the literary world.

This book filled in a lot of the gaps and elaborated on many of the things implied but never fully explained in "THE BELGARIAD" and "THE MALLOREAN" series. I thought it was an excellent book and a fitting conclusion for the earlier books.

The book Belgarath the Sorceror is a very enchanting book. If you like a book that has adventure, lore, theivery and magic then you would like any book written by David Eddings. I have read many of his books but this one is by far the greatest. It talks of the universe's destiny and how this one man and his family( Polgara, the twins and Polara) can keep an entire world in order. This book talks of magic, sailing, fighting and my favorite, thievery. There are many fun characters and many gruesome battles. There are also some sad parts but overall it's still magnificient.

Reading this particular novel made me think of how creative Mr. Eddings must be to be able to grab my imagination and hold onto it. He's taken Terry Brooks and Tolkien and merged them into one hell of a roaring adventure, MORE Mr. Eddings, MORE!!

Very broing and truly disappointing......other then the maybe four humorous parts, this book went absoutely nowhere. I dont think I will ever look at Belgarth the same way.....I would rather scrape my eye out with a dull rusty spoon than read this again

Worse than I expected, and my expectations were pretty low to begin with. There is very little new here, and what is new doesn't jibe very well with what we already know about this world. This is the first Eddings book I absolutely will not read again.

As an avid reader of Eddings works, including High Hunt, I found Belgarath the Sorcerer, and Polgara for that matter, a real disappointment. There are a number of inconsistencies between them and the Belgariad. For example, all of Garions ancestors call Belgarath "Grandfather", but in the original series, when Garion first calls Belgarath "Grandfather", it comes as a surprise to him (Belgarath). Polgara's engagement also conflicts with what Aunt Pol tells Garion when he suggests she marry Durnik in the Belgariad also. I have read both the Belgariad and the Malloreans, and the Elenium and Tamuli series for that matter, numerous times, I doubt that I will revisit Belgarath or Polgara.

Wonderfuly written fiction. This book not only entertains by taking you to a far away and magical place, but unlike some sci fi/fantasy fiction the bases and explanations are believable. The charecter Belgareth is one anyone can relate to. Full of wisdom and wry wit. Eddings masterfully draws you into his world with this book and the others in the series. A must read. I have read it more then a dozen times and am currently reading it to my husband. I strongly encorage any fiction lovers to read this book. [email protected]

I have the belgariad and mallorean series as well as the companion volumes and the rivan codex. I just finished this book for the third time and it's still funny. This book is the past 7000 years as seen through belgarath's eyes it offers a great deal of fleshing out characters such as Aldur, Cherek, Torak, Beldin, The twins, Polgara, Poledra, Belar, the salmirrissas, and a whole host of characters. If you liked this book you should trying reading Polgara the sorceress.

This is really no good... The whole book (and all the others in the series) coul be directly used as manuscripts for bad Hollywood movies... Nothing special, really... This CAN'T be compared with classics as "Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan or "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien...

AFTER READING BELGARETH, IT MADE ME WANT TO RE-READ 'THE BELGARIAD' AND 'THE MALLOREON' I AM AT PRESENT RE-READING 'THE TAMULI' TO BE FOLLOWED BY 'THE ELENIUM'. WHEN 'POLGARA' IS PUBLISHED THIS IS ANOTHER MUST FOR FANTASY FANS

Belgarath was a wonderful addition to Edding's series. I enjoyed reading about the reasoning behind so many of the actions taken by this character over the course of the centuries. Getting an explanation of the behavoir between Belgarath and Polgara from first his point of view and then hers (in Polgara) was a scream. The thing that I think I enjoyed most of all was Belgarath's wonderful sarcasm. He is a wonderfully warm and funny character. I read everything I can find by this author. Enjoy!

Eddings is without doubt the best fantasy auther. This book is a must for everyone who has entered the world of the Belgariad. Here is the full story of Belgarath - funny, wellwritten and lovely (as always). Go read it - NOW!

I recently discovered David Eddings, and before I finished the first book, I was at the library looking for others. This book wasn't the best he wrote but very close. It answers all these questions about events that happened thousands of years before Belgarion. It is rich in feeling and I could hardly put it down. It is a wildly hilarious, witty story of Belgarath who is one of my favorite characters. It also gives you a real insight to who Belgarath is, and how he sacrificed himself for the Prophecy.

Backstory the elder.

In a similar fashion to the Polgara the Sorceress volume, here we get the backstory of ubersorcerer Belgarath, and learn why he is so.

It all has to do with good gods and bad goods and the disciples of such, along with whacky sorcerer-name prefixes.

Old is certainly the word for this bloke, and it gives you more of an overview of what is going on. Again, basically better than the main series.

2.5 out of 5

After reading the Belgariad and while waiting for the Mallorean to publish in two volumes, I read this book. I'm not much of a fan or reader of fanatasy, but I've enjoyed this series greatly. Outstanding character development and good action make this series very readable and tough to put down. Belgarath The Sorcerer provides details that support the overall series. I'm working on the Mallorean now. I'm not looking forward to seeing this series completed after spending so much time reading all the books.

Eddings is one of my favorite fantasy authors. His books are interesting and don't contain some of the obscure and boring sections that plague many fantasy novels. I expected this to be fairly long-winded, considering its length compared to his other novels, but it was surprisingly interesting. Anyone interested should read the Belgariad and Mallorean first, because the book is filled with comments that first time readers won't understand. If you've read the series and liked it, you've probably picked up this book already.

For those of you who have read the Belgariad and the Mallorean, this book is a must. It clears the cobwebs away from the dim past of one of modern fantasy's most intriguing characters. As Eddings eleborates each characters history, we see how they came to have the quirks we find in his series'. This book brings Belegarath into a more understandable and somewhat more human light.
Eddings continues to lace his books with his characteristically dry and witty humor. A Must Read for all Eddings fans!

I have started to read the reviews of some of the books I've read. It's amazing how many countries who are represented in the reviews of Belgarath the Sorcerer. It really has gotten around to people! I liked it, of course though I admit I don't think it was one of Eddings' greatest works. That title I think I give to the Mallorean which I thought was witty, humerous and exciting. I do long to read Polgaras story. There is a book that has potential...

This was my first Eddings book and I honestly enjoyed it. If you are new to Eddings work don't be thrown off by the way this book starts off. After the first 100 pages or so you will find it hard to put down. It pulls you in and leaves you wanting for more which is now Polgara The Sorceress. Also this book is long 700+ pages in paperback. It turned me in to a bonified Eddings fan and I cannot recomend it enough. BRILLIANT!

This is the first book I have read by Eddings, and I find it absolutely difficult to put down. Of course I had to read the other books by Eddings after coursing through this book, and I found the rest just as great. Anyway, the plot and everything are highly imaginative, though it doesn't ruin it for people who haven't read the other. I highly recommend this book because it is fascinating, imaginative, and definitely addictive.

You liked the Belgariad and the Malloreon? Keep it this way. Belgarath the Sorcerer will reveal nothing new despite going a way back into the future. At least nothing you wouldn't expect. I also don't recommend this book as a starter to fiction reading. I believe only desperate readers continue with Belgarath, Polgara or the Rivan Codex.

This book is, unfortunately, mostly just a rehash
of plot elements previously mentioned in Eddings'
previous books. While there are a few new events
here and there, the fact that the overall plot
is already somewhat obvious makes it tedious to
read. This books was hugely disappointing after
all the other excellent and captivating books
by Eddings. It is almost as if it was written by
someone else.

I am really surprised at how well rated this book is on the store. I read it and think it may well be my last Eddings book. I did like the Belgariad and Silk may be one of my favorite literary characters. BUT, I did get tired of the humor and over all tone of the books. The humor isn't very original (jokes about wives that you've heard a million times) and is repeated again and again. Seriously, how many times can some talk about turning someone in to a turnip? Having said that, I would recommend the Belgariad series as a good read but would stop there. This book feels like a rehash of the Belgariad series and I just don't think it is dark enough. Don't get me wrong, I don't want a horror story, but it seems more like a TV show where there are lots of explosions and people are thrown in the air, but they then land on bushes or bails of hay. There just needs to be some grit in the stories and after the first series, I just can't take the "cuteness" anymore. I would read something else........

In my opinion this book was more or less unbeatable, but as i said thats my opinion. If you dont like heavy reading, i suggest you read the Belgariad and Mallorian first. in Belgarath the sorceror there are a lot of names to remember,and the belgariad introduces these at a lesser extent so you can actually remember what its telling you!

Eddings has attempted and succeded to bring to view a history of the events leading up to the Belgariad and the Mallorean. Eddings's control of the english language is incredible. If you enjoyed the Belgariad, Belgareth is a must read.-J.C.Allen

It seem to me that "Belgarath the Sorcerer" is the most mature work from David & Leigh Eddings. Some of the long-standing humor and plot techniques they have developed over the years are missing from this work, and in their place, one finds depth in the storytelling.

now the reason that i gave this book only one star is because it like all of the other books by david and leigh eddings in the belgariad and mallorean series' are only available as audio books. now don't get me wrong i love my kindle but i didn't buy it to listen to books i bought it to READ books.

This book is quite excellent. This is a perfect introdution to the Belgariad and Mallorean series. It gives history to some events in the two series that were only hinted it. It starts off slow but it is worth it. It also gives some background to some characters only mentioned in the two series.

Belgarath was a great book. I truly explained the story behind Belgarion, Polgara, and Belgarath. It explained where things came from and it also gave you a better perspective of Belgarath. David Eddings is an excellent author who should add to this grand adventure!!!

the belgariad started out real well, the sequel was a ill written repetition tragically followed up this book and an even more horrible one about Polgara. The question still remains... boy! why did u read them all? -hmm... -no idea, I guess I hoped they would improve, well they didn't, and I don't think Mr and Mrs Eddings will ever put any reall effort in writing again... they don't need to... we are stupid enough to buy it anyway!

Read this only after you've read the Belgariad/Mallorean series and don't mind getting a different view of the character of Belgarath.
BtS begins where "Seeress of Kell" left off: in the Vale of Aldur, where the family has gathered to witness the births of Polgara's and Durnik's twins. Soon after, the topic of Belgarath's true past comes up, and Belgarion, Durnik, Ce'Nedra and Polgara begin to bully Belgarath about writing his memoirs. Belgarath remains obstinate until his wife Poledra suggests that memoirs would be a fine idea indeed. Having no choice anymore, Belgarath unhappily hunkers down to tell the story of his life.
In the days when the gods walked the earth, he was born in the ancient pastoral village of Gara and orphaned young, gaining himself the name of Garath, "of the town of Gara." Here he learned to steal, lie, and cheat in order to survive. In his own words, "Larceny seethed in my grubby little soul." The boy Garath runs away, stays awhile with the cursed people of Ulgos, and eventually finds his way to the Vale of Aldur. Lost, cold, starving, angry with the harshness of life and ready to die, he is taken in by a kind stranger: the god Aldur.
Garath the boy-thief grows into Belgarath the Disciple. Here, the other disciples appear, some of them through hilarious situations that only Eddings can pen. Zedar ("he looked like a Tolnedran, or possibly an Arend" - an insult), Kira and Tira the Alorns, Makor the Melcene, Sambar the Angarak, and Din the Dwarf. Each of these sorcerers is well-made and unique and for the most part, fit with the later/previous stories.
Unfortunately, Belgarath's character takes a turn here from the colorful character we learned to love in Belgariad/Mallorean. It seems he isn't really quite as bright as we thought him to be. One would think that someone his age would have learned a thing or two in his lifetime. You may say "Well, he's Belgarath, he's taking liberties with his story." Still, his tales aren't what one would expect from someone as accomplished as Mister Wolf the traveling storyteller. There are far too many discrepancies between this book and the previous ten. There are times even his cunning seems more accidental than planned. The old Belgarath was more fun: the rootless vagabond who drank too much, gambled, chased women ("wenching" - only Eddings could use the term with such aplomb), pocketed things that interested him. The old Belgarath sat in smoky taverns drinking himself into high spirits while he winked at passing barmaids. Since BtS was obviously written after the local Temperance League got their hands on Eddings, we learn that Belgarath wasn't really drinking... he was just making it LOOK like he was. He was only pretending to be drunk so the scary Murgos wouldn't notice him. He wasn't really winking at the pretty barmaids, he was just blinking from all the soot in the air. He wasn't really snoozing in the saddle, he was actually calculating the number of blankets he would need to keep the army warm. His stained, worn, mismatched clothing wasn't accumulated through travels and travails but was carefully designed by the best tailors on the continent. While this new true Belgarath may be politically correct, the old one was more entertaining. The idea of the most powerful sorcerer in the world having numerous flaws and vices made him more believable. Remember, Polgara feared that Belgarath would be a bad influence on the young ones. He wasn't perfect. Well he is now, except for having fewer working brain cells. As strange as this may sound, I felt betrayed.
Eddings strains with some of the other major characters in the book. Just because Fulrach and Anheg, Silk and Barak behaved in certain ways shouldn't mean all of their ancestors behaved the same way. Some were indistinguishable from their descendants. On the other hand, the various Salmissras were almost caricaturish in their differences.
The Eddings Duo kept their smooth writing style present in the previous ten, and the humor is as sharp as always. When I finished BtS I went back and reread the entire Ten, and alas, Belgarath wasn't the same exciting character I had loved for years.

Bravo on this excellent piece of work! If you have read
both the Mallorean and Belgariad, this book provides more
information and backround on the famous (yet mysterious)
Belgarath, Polgara, and many others. Once I picked up this
book, it never left my hands. I could not put it down nor
stop reading until I reached the end of the book. And when
that ending came, I grew dissapointed that there was
no more left to be read. Oh well.......I picked it back up
again and read it from cover to cover. Truly a wonderful
story that is a concoction of romance, adventure, and swirling mystery. "Belgarath the Sorcerer" will hook you
and make you fall in love with the artworks of
David and Leigh Eddings! :-)

Husband & wife team finally reveal that they have both been authors of all the books! In Belgarath they provide fans with insight into the Eternal Man and how he came to be. Humorous, insightful, entertaining and above all, comfortable - like a visit with old friends. Readers get to see aspects of the distinguished, regal Polgara when she was a child with dirty knees climbing trees. I strongly recommend this book to readers of the Eddings' other two series, but not to first time readers - Check out the Belgariad first. One big disappointment was that the sex of Polgara's twins has not yet been revealed!! I guess we'll just have to wait for the next book...Polgara the Sorceress

After reading the Belgariad, and the Mallorean the only possible follow-up was Belgarath. David Eddings knows how to capture a reader and keep them hooked. Any other book to follow these are "gravy on the readers table".

The Belgariad and the Malloreon would have to be one of my favourite book series of all time . I reread the series every year and never get bored with it.If you haven't read the series start with The Pawn of Prophercy first. 10/10