Belgarath the Sorcerer

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My wife and I have read and re-read this series of books so many times that we wore out the originals! Although Belgarath explains that the historical texts used previously had inaccuracies, the real inconsistencies are to do with things that contemporary characters who lived through those times had said but have changed in Belgarath the Sorcerer. Indeed, it surprised me given how many countries in the real world have been turbulently formed from warring smaller kingdoms or splitting up of larger ones, how comparatively easily everyone except the Angarak’s actually got along, indeed most of the political conflicts in the book usually get resolved by Belgarath bullying the monarchs into doing what is best for the prophecy. This is the first of a few companion novels set in the world of The Belgariad and The Malloreon, which recounts the life of Belgarath the Sorcerer. This indeed is another respect in which the book succeeds well at being a prequel, putting a human face on such epic figures as Riva Irongrip, Queen Salmisra and several of the gods.

Once they leave the region occupied by the worshipers of their own God, though, that ability goes out the window. The core of the book is in the form of Belgarath's memoirs starting with his becoming an outcast from his village and becoming first disciple of the god Aldur and ending with the birth of Belgarion—a span of about seven thousand years. In short, Belgarath the Sorcerer provides a solid background on not just Belgarath's past, but some of the other characters' as well (most notably, of course, his fellow disciples of Aldur, including Polgara).I know it is fantasy but the characters feel very much alive and real in the stories this couple wrote over the years.

Indeed, according to Belgarath the Sorcerer quite literally the whole world gets set up the way it does (largely by Belgarath and Polgara), because “the prophecy needed it this way”. Once you have enjoyed all the other books, this gives you another chance to relive all the story, from beginning to end, with some extra details that just makes it enjoyable from beginning to end. Only Belgarath can tell of those near forgotten times when Gods still walked the land: he is the Ancient One, the Old Wolf, his God Aldur’s first and most favoured disciple.Although getting a closer look at certain events was interesting, it is a very long story that tended to get dreary every now and then. For it's unique insights, for it's fascinating and novel character, and for the smoothness of the writing, this book remains an old friend that I find myself coming back to over and over again.