Author: David Eddings
First time published: July 1988, Ballantine Del Rey
THE MALLOREON #3
Synopsis
Captives of His Imperial Majesty
Zandramas had stolen King Garion's infant son and fled far to the east, there to use the child in some ritual that would make the Dark Destiny supreme. Garion and his friends had followed, but now they were captives of Zakath, Emperor of Mallorea, taken to his capital city of Mal Zeth.
There they were treated almost as friends and surrounded in luxury. But Zakath stubbornly refused to let them leave.
Meanwhile, a man called Mengha was leading a horde of demons to ravage and conquer the cities through which they must travel. Zandramas was escaping further toward her goal. And the Seeress of Kell revealed that they must be at the ancient palace of Ashaba with a matter of days or Zandramas would win by default.
Then a horrible, fatal plague struck the city of Mal Zeth, closing it against all traffic in or out.
Here David Eddings continues his bestselling The Malloreon, taking the quest across a strange continent and among stranger peoples struggling over the religion of a dead God. A story of ancient, opposing Destinies battling for control of all men.
Reviews of this book
By Sean Gustafson
from Munich, Germany
Date: 25.01.2007
While this book could be termed overly simplistic, it does reval truths about the characters and the course they may follow. It is not "filler" book, you know, written just to take up space in the middle of the series. It deals with certain aspects of the prophecy, namely Urgit, King of the Murgos, and Zakath, Emperor of the Malloreans.
True, the storyline is simplified, holes in the plot neatly covered with magic, and character flaws upheld. But if your ready to take an action-filled fantasy fiction joyride, and not concern yourself with the moral implications of such a novel or the meaning of life according to David Eddings, then this is the book for you.
By Anon
from
Date: 03.09.2004
this book sucks
By Rune Tønnessen
from Tau, Stavanger
Date: 13.04.2003
The third volume of the Malloreon series is in my opinion a disappointment. There’s nothing really new here; Eddings mostly keeps harping on elements and storylines we’ve been through before. I find this repetition tiring, so because of my frustration concerning this, I grab the chance to put the emphasis on some repetitive elements in Eddings’ authorship in general, and leave the book a little to itself.
Well, the fellowship sits stuck in Mal Zeth, anxious to be on their way. And of course; the guys and gals would never dream of sitting idle for a whole book, so after some delay resulting from the enforced hospitality of the emperor Zakath, they all sneak away and resume the pursuit of Zandramas. A fair amount of action follows, but there is a feeling that we’ve been through this before, more or less. For example; there’s a transportation sequence that is quite similar to one in Enchanter’s End Game.
The story is at this point still entertaining at a certain level, but it can’t be labeled “creative” or accused of introducing splendid new elements. There’s a definite feeling of replay from The Belgariad. (Actually; earlier in the story Eddings himself – through the musings of Belgarath and Belgarion – admits to the similarity between The Belgariad and The Malloreon concerning the course of events. (Not bad; even the characters themselves are aware of it!))
The Malloreon is getting more and more similar to Eddings’ series The Tamuli as well, concerning both plot and ambience. I feel quite strongly that The Malloreon stands in a similar position to The Belgariad as The Tamuli does to The Elenium. (Those last two being the two series about the knight Sparhawk). There are also similarities concerning the geographies in the two double-series. The question that comes to mind is: Is Eddings – with the possible exception of “The Redemption of Althalus”, which I haven’t read – just telling the same story over and over?
And the list goes on: In both the Belgarion and Sparhawk double-series, Eddings reveals a great (and mostly unknown or un-described) eastern landmass in the sequel series, and lets the action largely take place there. It’s like – in a “real world” story – series # 1 would take part in medieval Europe, while series # 2 mainly would be situated in ancient Russia, India and China. OK, it’s not like this new landmass has been kept secret, but the reader have had almost no information about the area, no map has shown it, no part of the early story is directly connected to it… The result being that the reader could never shape a full picture of the world of the series at an early stage.
Another thing: Eddings deals heavily in stereotypes. Or do I mix that up with the Jungian archetypes Eddings talks about in the author presentation? Anyway; the use of these “–types” makes the story entertaining (and sometimes quite irritating), but hardly intriguing. Eddings’ observations seem to be perceptive, but are maybe so because of the simplicity of the situations. I’m not sure.
Enough about plot and geography: Let’s look a little at the characters: Many of them are quite often a little clownish, and most are prone to weaknesses, distress or eccentricities. Are these elements there to make it easier for the reader to identify with the guys and gals in the story? There seem to be a melody ringing in the background; the verse going “everybody can do stupid things” and the chorus shouting “we’re only human after all”. (The exception being the religious bad guys, who tend to be notoriously and inexcusably bad all the time). The main theme seems to be that underneath the outward appearance and actions of a man (or a woman), there’s always a heart of gold beating – or at least a heart of brass.
My opinion: Eddings is describing people so acceptingly that he almost elevates human failings to virtues. (If not the failings themselves, at least the tendency to have them). And exercises like penance and repentance are profoundly absent in Eddings’ works.
And else? Eddings seems to have a partiality to fishing, and a dislike for bosuns. (See especially the Sparhawk series). The bosuns are either REAL BAD people (Sparhawk series), or they die (Belgarion series).
But: I’m a little tired of this now. Can we get on with the action, please? I hope the next book is a little less devoid of new elements. I want to get to the end of the story, but I’m not sure whether I like that the road is still long… (And presumably winding). I hope for a change for the better, though. Faith doesn’t die that easily.
