The Rivan Codex
by David and Leigh Eddings
ISBN: 978-0-345-43586-6
If you liked the authors’ Belgariad and Malloreon — and share my love for background information — you’ll love this book. It covers geography, history, excerpts from the Holy Books, and all sorts of other fascinating details that don’t appear in the books, but are really nice to have available.
And it’s written with a good sense of humor. In describing the Arends, for instance (remember Sir Mandorallen?): “Arends are formal to the point of being socially incapacitated.”
It also includes some goodies on how the two series came to be written, and how the Codex came about — the world-building that, if a new universe is going to work, has to be done before the stories can even be properly started. I’d like to have seen things like the Mrin and Darine Codices. but “They aren’t here because they don’t exist.” Partly, it seems, because Lester del Rey wouldn’t agree to publish the Mrin Codex on a scroll, darn it! Though I can certainly understand why not.
Strongly recommended for Eddings fans!
Couldn’t agree more! Great first choice for the restart. Love the background information stories on the long saga’s that I’ve read.
Comment by CynicalConservative — 9 August 2009 @ 8:32 pm
On a side note, I am no longer a member of the forum where we met. I was removed recently, don’t really know why but will respect the wishes of the blog owner. I won’t bring it up here again as I would rather spend my time here taking Sci/Fi/Fantasy.
CC
Comment by CynicalConservative — 9 August 2009 @ 8:35 pm
CC — glad you thought it appropriate to start with — I love them too, and think there aren’t enough of the background books.
Sorry to hear you got kicked out over there. Agree on your desire not to go into it further, since I don’t care for inter-blog spats, and like you, would much rather discuss SF and fantasy.
As I mentioned, if you care to do any guest reviews, you’re most welcome to put them up or send them to me to put on the front page.
Comment by Empire1 — 9 August 2009 @ 9:00 pm