David Eddings' Belgariad series in relation to Sorceror's Stone

[Vicki]

No: HPFGUIDX 32633

Warning - there is much snippage below! :)

-----Original Message-----
From: grey_wolf_c
--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "acci0firebolt" <irene at z...> wrote:
>> A friend gave me the first book in David Eddings' Belgariad series
>> for Christmas (by the way, the first 70 pages are very good), and I
>> was struck by a certain quote in the Prologue because it reminded me
>> so much of the Sorceror's Stone.

>Well, since D&L Eddings are my favourite authors (please don't flame
>me over this, JK-holics), I'd better answer.

No flaming from me - they are among my favorite authors and have been for
many years, so I figured I'd throw in my $0.02 too.

>However, I don't quite recall similarities between the Belgariad and
>HP.

Other than the fact that they both heavily involve magic (nooo, not the M
word! Sorcery! *grin*) and are fantasy-genre, they don't have a lot in
common, IMHO.  Well, we see a number of the characters grow to adulthood, so
I suppose that's another similarity...and Garion loses his parents as a baby
and is raised by his aunt as well.  The orphan thing is a rather popular
twist; volumes could be written on why that is, I'm sure.

>The differences between HP and Eddings, are more or less the sames as
>the ones between HP and LotR: Belgariad is a travel adventure, with
>one purpose in mind (which I won't tell, since Garion doesn't yet know >in
the part where you are), whilst HP is the life of HP at school
>(with interesting background things going on-such as V return), but he
>isn't working to achieve any other goal that's not finishing school
>(alive).

I imagine we could argue that Harry is working to achieve a goal, even if it
isn't fully formed as of yet...defeating Voldy, reclaiming his birthright
and place in the wizard world...just to start with. :)  The difference is
that Garion is handed his purpose (not at spoiler since you've already
mentioned it); Harry, like most people, has to muddle around and figure his
out.

>Anyway, hope that helped, and I hope you like Eddings as much as I do.
>However, this board is probably not the place for Eddings discussion,
>so I better cut it here.

I will also desist, but I think I made it fairly on-topic.  I also hope that
you enjoy the books, and keep reading!  They only get better in the
Mallorean, IMO...and even the 13 books of this universe weren't enough for
me...I was quite sad when they declared all the stories were told.  So
naturally I'm worried that JKR WILL stop at 7!  Noooooo.... heh.

>Grey Wolf
>(He who has given enough clues here for others to guess why he calls
>himself that)

Haha...a girl who once wanted to name her rock band "Polgara and the
Belgariad" would have NO idea what you're referring to... ;)

Vicki, who is currently HP-obsessing but still loves Eddings