The Rivan Codex: Ancient Texts of the "Belgariad" and the "Malloreon" - Hardcover

Eddings, David; Eddings, Leigh

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002246775 ISBN 13: 9780002246774

Publisher: Voyager, 1998

Synopsis

Comprising the ancient texts of The Belgariad and The Malloreon, The Rivan Codex is a book which stands in the same relationship to the Belgariad and Malloreon as The Silmarillion does to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Before David Eddings started to write his first fantasy series, the BELGARIAD, in the late 1970s, he spent a year working on the design and mythology of the fantasy world in which it is set.

The Rivan Codex comprises the immensely readable background material to Eddings’ best-loved series, repeated information a lot of it, but it’s the books that repeat the information, and these seminal documents have about them an air of original inspiration, world-building in action. The rest of it is background which is taken for granted but not spelled out.

History, geography, myths and folktales, peoples, gods, customs, social organization, political hierarchy, laws, dress, modes of address, produce, culture, flora, fauna, all presented with so light a touch one can only yearn for Eddings to be taken up by academics so that his style might catch on in the real real world.

The 12-book long series grew out of these delightful preliminary sketches like a river growing from a spring of striking purity and constancy. Magically, the information reads fresh each time, minimal Eddings prose, beguilingly arcane, in which massive events attain an all-time perspective.

About this title

About the Author

David Eddings was born in Washington State in 1931 and grew up near Seattle. He graduated from the University of Washington and went on to serve in the US Army. Subsequently he worked as a buyer for the Boeing company and taught college-level English. His first novel was a contemporary adventure, but he soon began a spectacular career as a fantasy writer with his bestselling series The Belgariad.

From the Back Cover

IMAGINE WONDERS NO MAN OR GOD HAS YET BEHELD!

'The Rivan Codex' is a book full of wonders. In its pages can be found the origin and the birth of the greatest fantasy epic of modern times which began with The Belgariad and continued with The Malloreon. Here for the very first time David and Leigh Eddings present the seminal texts on which they built their worldwide bestselling masterpiece. Their millions of readers are entranced by the magic of the Eddings's writing, but it is the sheer scale of the world of the novels that inspires awe. Its undeniable air of authenticity was forged in the beautiful writings that make up 'The Rivan Codex.'

'The Holy Books' include the first account of the origin of the Orb, the forbidden Book of Torak (possession of a copy of this work is punishable by death in all the civilized world), the unbridled spirit of the God Mara, the pragmatic proverbs of beloved Nedra (Kill not. Dead men cannot buy from thee. Give full measure, and thy customer shall return), the dazzling Sermon of Aldur (Infinite is the power of the word, for the word is the breath and soul of the mind), and the Book of Ulgo, which provides the only clues we have to an understanding of the enigmatic Ulgos.

'The Histories', compiled by the Imperial Historical Society at the command of his Imperial Majesty Ran Borune XXIII, give a grand overview of 5000 years of history. There are several Notes to the Imperial Student by Master Jeebers, but the common or garden student will learn where Mandorallen and Lelldorin, Silk, Salmissra, Zith and Vella and all the main characters have their origins.

'The Battle of Vo Mimbre' is the original prose epic, The Latter Days of the House of Mimbre by the Arendish bard, Davoul the Lame. But it is edited by Master Jeebers who adds his own acid comments.

'The History of the Angarak Kingdoms' explains how Zakath, the previously open and gregarious young man, became 'the man of ice'.

'The Malloreon Gospels:' Behold also this truth; the rocks of the world and of all other worlds murmur continually of the two stones which lie at the centre of the division between good and evil.

'The Book of Ages, The Book of Fates, The Book of Tasks, The Book of Generations, The Book of Visions, A Summary of Events': find them here.

Eminently collectable, absolutely essential, 'The Rivan Codex' is the book no Eddings reader will want to miss.

"Eddings again delivers a feast for his fans. An absolute, unputdownable page-turner"
VECTOR on 'The Shining Ones'

"Eddings is totally in command: the numerous threads of war, intrigue and magic are skilfully drawn in at the satisfying denouement"
THE DARK SIDE on 'The Hidden City'

"What separates the grown-up authors from the boys is the quality of the writing, and David Eddings is one of the best"
WESTERN MAIL

"Fabulous… Eddings has a marvellous storyteller style… exceedingly well portrayed and complex people… More! More! More!
ANNE McCAFFREY

Praise for David and Leigh Eddings

"I wished 'Polgara the Sorceress' was longer… the characters are vivid and genuinely likeable, and there's an easy lilt to the prose which makes reading it pure pleasure. It's a wonderful book"
SFX

'Belgrath the Sorcerer' tells the full story of the legendary sorcerer Belgarath with all the verve and pace we've come to expect from these authors."
THE DARK SIDE

"Nobody writes modern fantasy like Eddings or as well… Eddings is at the top with the very best"
VECTOR

Edition details

• Publisher: Voyager
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0002246775
• ISBN 13: 9780002246774
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400