Maleficarum
02-06-2011, 10:21 AM
by David and Leigh Eddings.
I've read their stuff since the 80's when they bought out the series 'The Belgariad' followed by 'The Mallorean'.
The story revolves around Althalus, a professional thief with a gift for storytelling and a reputation for uncanny luck. One year he decides to go try his luck in the civilized lands. He first tries the city of Deika, but he is unlucky when the rich man he is robbing (Kweso) turns out to be heavily guarded with vicious dogs. Confused over this loss of fortune, he tries to rob another house in Kanthon, only to find that the owner is secretly living in poverty. He leaves in disgust, only to find that every rich person in Kanthon lives the same way. One night, he breaks into yet another rich merchants house, and upon opening his strongbox, finds it filled with nothing but paper, and leaves in disgust. He eventually finds out to his horror that the paper can be traded for silver coins, and that he had unintentionally thrown away more money than he would ever find again. After all these numerous disasters, Althalus decides to return to the more savage lands of the north, where he grew up. After hearing some local gossip at a tavern, he learns of Gosti "Big-belly", who is said to be the richest man in the world. Althalus decides to pay Gosti a visit and "transfer some ownership". After arriving at Gosti's fort and amusing everyone with his stories, he checks out Gosti's storeroom lock. After spending a month in the fort Althalus breaks into Gosti's storeroom during the night only to find that all the talk about gold were lies, and that Gosti only has bags of worthless copper coins and a handful of brass coins. Furious, Althalus steals all the brass and leaves only to become wanted by Gosti's cousin, Galbak, and with every man in their fort looking for him. He escapes to Hule, where he finds refuge in the camp of Nabjor, who is an old friend of Althalus. A man named Ghend arrives in the camp a short time later and presents Althalus with a proposition.
Ghend hires Althalus to travel to the House at the End of the World to steal a Book. Although he suspects something is amiss, Althalus accepts the job and heads there. On the way he meets a senile old man who believes he is conversing with God and manages to get proper directions from him. Soon after, he falls asleep and has a strange dream where he is visited by a "perfect" Autumn-haired women who offers to care for him forever. He, however, declines. After several more days of travel he finds the house and manages to find the book, only to find that the House is occupied by a talking cat who has trapped him in the house. After several days of being trapped he finally decides to listen to the cat and he finds out several astonishing things. The Book is the Book of Deiwos, the God who created the world, and the cat (named Emerald by Althalus, and frequently called 'Emmy' to her chagrin) teaches Althalus to read it. After some two and a half thousand years, Emmy teaches Althalus that some words in the Book, which is written in the original language of the Gods, can be used to accomplish feats of magic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Redemption_of_Althalus
In 'The Belgariad' and 'The Mallorean' we also see introduced 'Belgarath the sorcerer and his daughter 'Polgara' the sorceress, two of the greatest characters I have ever stumbled across in any book!
Most of Eddings books are done in the Tolkien style where they create an entire world along with its history and like LOTR it is easy to totally immerse yourself in this world and completely believe in it.
If you like fantasy, Eddings work is strongly recommended.
I've read their stuff since the 80's when they bought out the series 'The Belgariad' followed by 'The Mallorean'.
The story revolves around Althalus, a professional thief with a gift for storytelling and a reputation for uncanny luck. One year he decides to go try his luck in the civilized lands. He first tries the city of Deika, but he is unlucky when the rich man he is robbing (Kweso) turns out to be heavily guarded with vicious dogs. Confused over this loss of fortune, he tries to rob another house in Kanthon, only to find that the owner is secretly living in poverty. He leaves in disgust, only to find that every rich person in Kanthon lives the same way. One night, he breaks into yet another rich merchants house, and upon opening his strongbox, finds it filled with nothing but paper, and leaves in disgust. He eventually finds out to his horror that the paper can be traded for silver coins, and that he had unintentionally thrown away more money than he would ever find again. After all these numerous disasters, Althalus decides to return to the more savage lands of the north, where he grew up. After hearing some local gossip at a tavern, he learns of Gosti "Big-belly", who is said to be the richest man in the world. Althalus decides to pay Gosti a visit and "transfer some ownership". After arriving at Gosti's fort and amusing everyone with his stories, he checks out Gosti's storeroom lock. After spending a month in the fort Althalus breaks into Gosti's storeroom during the night only to find that all the talk about gold were lies, and that Gosti only has bags of worthless copper coins and a handful of brass coins. Furious, Althalus steals all the brass and leaves only to become wanted by Gosti's cousin, Galbak, and with every man in their fort looking for him. He escapes to Hule, where he finds refuge in the camp of Nabjor, who is an old friend of Althalus. A man named Ghend arrives in the camp a short time later and presents Althalus with a proposition.
Ghend hires Althalus to travel to the House at the End of the World to steal a Book. Although he suspects something is amiss, Althalus accepts the job and heads there. On the way he meets a senile old man who believes he is conversing with God and manages to get proper directions from him. Soon after, he falls asleep and has a strange dream where he is visited by a "perfect" Autumn-haired women who offers to care for him forever. He, however, declines. After several more days of travel he finds the house and manages to find the book, only to find that the House is occupied by a talking cat who has trapped him in the house. After several days of being trapped he finally decides to listen to the cat and he finds out several astonishing things. The Book is the Book of Deiwos, the God who created the world, and the cat (named Emerald by Althalus, and frequently called 'Emmy' to her chagrin) teaches Althalus to read it. After some two and a half thousand years, Emmy teaches Althalus that some words in the Book, which is written in the original language of the Gods, can be used to accomplish feats of magic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Redemption_of_Althalus
In 'The Belgariad' and 'The Mallorean' we also see introduced 'Belgarath the sorcerer and his daughter 'Polgara' the sorceress, two of the greatest characters I have ever stumbled across in any book!
Most of Eddings books are done in the Tolkien style where they create an entire world along with its history and like LOTR it is easy to totally immerse yourself in this world and completely believe in it.
If you like fantasy, Eddings work is strongly recommended.