Bestselling authors David and Leigh Eddings welcome readers back to the time before The Belgariad and The Malloreon series. Join them as they chronicle that fateful conflict between two mortally opposed Destinies, in a monumental war of men and kings and Gods.When the world was young and Gods still walked among their mortal children, a headstrong orphan boy set out to explore the world. Thus began the extraordinary adventures that would mold that youthful vagabond into a man, and the man into the finely honed instrument of Prophecy known to all the world as Belgarath the Sorcerer.Then came the dark day when the Dark God Torak split the world asunder, and the God Aldur and his disciples began their monumental labor to set Destiny aright. Foremost among their number was Belgarath. His ceaseless devotion was foredoomed to cost him that which he held most dear--even as his loyal service would extend through echoing centuries of loss, of struggle, and of ultimate triumph.From Publishers WeeklyIn this epic fantasy, depicting thousands of years of sorcerous, noble and godly machinations, the Eddingses return to the world of their multivolume sagas, The Belgariad and The Malloreon. This prequel to the earlier books, presented as Belgarath's memoirs, offers an absorbing story line and some memorable characters as, once again, the authors touch all the right fantasy bases, with warring gods, political intrigues, supernatural creatures and appealingly human magicians involved in a titanic war over the course of seven millennia. Because of the vast scope, the sense of ages passing and of destiny unfolding is well conveyed; but that same scale confines the authors to handling some events and characters only briefly, and it mutes the story's emotional power. Nonetheless, Eddings fans will no doubt snatch this novel off the shelves, while readers new to the authors' world won't find a more appropriate place to beginning exploring it. 400,000 first printing; major ad/promo. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalWhile relating his event-filled life, the immortal sorcerer Belgarath weaves a compelling tale of two opposing Necessities that spans 7000 years and bears witness to the rise and fall of human hopes and destinies. The latest effort by the authors of The Belgariad (Ballantine, 1986) provides a new spin on material familiar to series followers. It illuminates the mysterious past of a world cracked apart in its infancy by the jealousy of its gods. The sometimes humorous, sometimes sharply rueful voice of the narrator provides a welcome anchor in this lavishly portrayed journey through time. A welcome addition to most fantasy collections, this title can be enjoyed apart from its predecessors.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The last and most amazing volume in the legendary Belgariad series: the story of the queen of truth, love, rage and destiny, Polgara the Sorceress. The queen of truth, love, rage and destiny reveals all. Polgara the Sorceress is the crowning achievement of the great fantasy epic which began with The Belgariad and continued with The Malloreon. Once again David and Leigh Eddings display the epic imagination, humour, and storytelling power which have made this series the most popular fantasy of modern times. In the story of Polgara, a beautiful woman whose constancy and inner power have been the foundation of all the luck and love that have saved the world, the full truth of The Belgariad is revealed.

The story begins in aunt Pol's kitchen at Faldor's farm where Garion is being raised. The main theme of the books is about how it is to grow up and to break up with one's old life. From his safe life at the farm, Garion is being thrown into a new life controlled by a thousand of years old prophecy—the prophecy of his and the world's destiny…

After two devastating defeats and the utter annihilation of two armies, the hideous Vlagh still vows to invade the land of Dhrall. A voracious insectile overmind, she can breed millions of soldiers in mere days and even evolve entire new species in just a week.At first, Dhrall's mortal defenders-a motley bunch of mercenaries, pirates, horse lords, and lone heroes like the archer Longbow-are certain they'll prevail again. Most are now battle-hardened veterans, and the natives of Dhrall are fierce bison hunters and bear slayers, ready to fight.But while the Vlagh's past servants were giant, venomous, and mindless bugs, it has now created perfect spies: new minions with a man's appearance and intelligence. Corrupted by the agents of the Vlagh, the human tribes are soon at one anothers' throats.Far, far worse for mortals is the fact that the Gods can no longer be trusted. For, nearing the end of their 25,000 year cycle, the Elder Gods are doddering toward senility and dementia. And t...