You are here: Home / Author / David Eddings

David Eddings biography

David Eddings is an American born author best know for his epic fantasy novels. The Belgariad and the Mallorean are his most loved works and two characters in particular; Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress have entered into fantasy folklore.

Childhood and education

David Eddings was born in Spokane, Washington on the 7th July 1931. The son of George Wayne and Theone Eddings spent his formative years in the Puget Sound area of Seattle, approximately 285 miles from Spokane.

David Eddings attended the Everett Junior College between the years of 1950 and 1952 before enrolling at Reed College in Portland where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. In 1961, Eddings received a Master of Arts from the University of Washington.

Life before writing

David Eddings served in the United States Army between 1954 and 1956 and also worked as a purchaser for the Boeing Company. Other jobs included grocery clerk and English teacher.

It is believed that Eddings always wanted to be an actor.

Marriage and co-authorship

David Eddings married Judith Leigh Schall on the 27th October 1962, he was 31 years old. David and Leigh Eddings were married for over 45 years until, sadly, Leigh Eddings died, aged 69, on the 28th February 2007 following a series of strokes.

Leigh Eddings first appeared as a co-author on the Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress publications. However, as David Eddings was always keen to point out, her influence and participation went back to the very beginnings of his work and it was Lester Del Rey who believed that multi-authorships were a problem and that it would be better if David Edding's name alone appeared on the books.

Leigh Eddings largest contribution was with the female characters within the books. If she felt that a woman would not behave or speak in a certain manner then the sections would be rewritten.

Question - what does Eddings feel that he and Leigh have brought to the fantasy genre?
Quite probably, our major contribution has been gritty reality. Our people get hungry; after a week of strenuous activity, they stink; they do argue with each other; the boy-people do notice the girl-people (and the girl-people notice them right back.) We tried our best to ignore Alfred Lord Tennyson and Tolkien and to return to Malory - which is where the good stuff is.
Voyager interview in 1999

Career

His first published novel was a contemporary adventure novel called High Hunt that was published in 1973. However it was with the fantasy series called The Belgariad that he achieved worldwide success. The Belgariad consisted of five novels, Pawn Of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician’s Gambit, Castle Of Wizardry and Enchanter’s End Game. These five books, written between 1982 and 1984, tell of the journey of an orphaned farm boy called Garion and his adventures, along with his Aunt Pol and a the mysterious Mister Wolf.

N.B. Clap on the back for anyone who deduced the chess theme running through the entire series.

The sequel to The Belgariad, entitled The Mallorean was set in the same world and once again focused on Garion, Aunt Pol and Mister Wolf. The Mallorean is also made up of five books, these being Guardian Of The West, King Of The Murgos, Demon Lord Of Karanda, Sorceress Of Darshiva and The Seeress Of Kell. The books were published between 1988 and 1992 and were also a great success for Eddings.

The three books that were mentioned earlier, Belgarath the Sorcerer, Polgara the Sorceress and The Rivan Codex, written by David and his wife Leigh all relate to the events that occur in The Belgariad and The Mallorean.

David Eddings went on to write another series of books, this time based on a Knight called Sparhawk and set in an entirely different word to that of The Belgariad. The first series, consisting of three books was called The Elenium. The Diamond Throne, The Ruby Knight and The Sapphire Rose comprised it. The follow up was The Tamuli, and once again was three books called Domes Of Fire, The Shining Ones and The Hidden City. All these books once again proved to be very popular and David Eddings became regarded as one of the most influential fantasy authors of his time.

After the release of The Tamuli, Eddings released a stand-alone book called The Redemption Of Athalus, which met with good reviews from critics and fans alike. At the moment David Eddings is currently writing another fantasy series with his wife Leigh. The Dreamers, made up so far of The Elder Gods, The Treasured One, Crystal Gorge and The Younger Gods. The story revolves around Dahlaine, Veltan, Zelena and Aracia, the four Elder Gods of the first books title.

David Eddings' love with the fantasy genre began whilst at graduate school when he discovered medieval romance by Geoffrey Chaucer. After graduation, Eddings taught English literature and it was at this time that he created his 10 point guide to a fantasy novel...

A theological arena
A quest
A magical element
A hero
A resident wizard
A heroine
A villain
A group of companions
A group of ladies attached to the companions
Kings, Queens and Emperors to rule

Although millions enjoy his books, Eddings comes in for more criticism than any other author in his field. The main reasons for the criticism are his formulaic approach to each book (sometimes described as Lego-style), and his stereotyping of real races within his novels. For example, the horse loving Algars could well just be Genghis Khans’ Mongolian tribe. Eddings himself doesn't seem too concerned about the critique and states that he doesn't take orders from readers.

But it isn't only younger readers who write to me. I'm getting the middle range, too, and some of them are naming their children after the characters in these books. I'm also getting people of advanced years. Even more advanced than mine, which is a little hard to accept. Some days I feel like I'm older than dirt.
David Eddings interview with Stan Nicholls

Towards the end of the 1990's David's wife Leigh began to be credited alongside him as an author on their joint works. Although Leigh Eddings had been collaborating on the works for many years, Lester Del Rey, their publisher, thought that multiple authors were a problem and only the name of David Eddings graced the cover of most of the Eddings' work.

David Eddings spent two decades with Del Rey before moving to Time Warner Books with The Dreamers series.

Writing style

Often described as formulaic, the writing in his books certainly does follow linear paths. This is to be expected when the author himself accepts that he follows a ten point guideline to his stories.

Eddings tries to make his characters as believable as possible and have them speak in a way that is realistic. Leigh Eddings has a large bearing on how the female characters speak and behave.

David Eddings books

The Belgariad

The Malloreon

The Elenium

The Tamuli

The Dreamers

Latest news: David Eddings

Trudi Canavan interview (August 2009)
By Joshua S Hill It has become quite apparent to me that Australia is producing more and more of fantasy’s best writers. Thankfully for me, they are also some of the nicest people around, and one of the best, Trudi Canavan, was happy enough to sit down with me a few weeks ago. Funnily enough, [...]

David Eddings passes away aged 77
Bestselling fantasy author David Eddings has passed away aged 77. Eddings was an American born author best know for his epic fantasy novels The Belgariad and The Malloreon are his most loved works and two characters in particular; Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress have entered into [...]

Dungeons & Dragons creator dies
On the 6th March 2008 a man called Gary Gygax died. It is a name that probably does not mean a great deal to many but he was one of the creators of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The fantasy genre is possibly the oldest form of story telling and the invention of Dungeons & Drag [...]

10 books / series that must be read before you are 18
Some books are best read when you are still young and your imagination is still at its strongest. The following 10 books are either a stand alone novel or series that is a must read for every fantasy genre reader. JRR Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings Ursula Le Guin - The Earthsea Quartet JK R [...]

David Eddings interviews

In 1997 David Eddings took part in an online AOL interview where he discussed his past and future works and also talks in length about the effect of his wife, Leigh, on his work. He displays a great interest in the world's languages and shows a side that may be of interest to those who label racial stereotyping as a fault that he possesses.
David Eddings - AOL online interview >>

An interview from 1999, with David J. Howe of the Australian wing of Voyager Books. With over 18 published novels at this point there is no shortage of subject matter.
David Eddings - interview with Voyager book in 1999 >>

David Eddings was interviewed by Stan Nicholls. He talks about initially planning to become an actor until he came upon Middle English and everything changed. He also describes his stormy relationship with his publisher Lester Del Rey. David Eddings interview with Stan Nicholls >>

Book of the Month

Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it’s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.

Previous winners of Book of the Month

Latest interviews

Interviews plus question and answer sessions with authors, narrators and publishers.

Must-reads

The following reviews are of books that begin the very best fantasy series available.

Competition: Win a signed copy of Graham Hancock's Entangled

Graham Hancock is the author of The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis, Heaven's Mirror, Supernatural and other bestselling investigations of historical mysteries. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. Written with the same page-turning appeal that has made his non-fiction so popular, Entangled is his first work of fiction. We have five signed copies of Entangled to give away as prizes. Email us the answer to the following question and the lucky winner, chosen at random, will receive a copy of the book, signed by the author.

Enter the competion now!

Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe

Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.

Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe

Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.

Lewis Carroll on Fantasy Book Review