David Eddings

David Eddings – Life, Career, and Famous Lines

Discover the life and work of American fantasy author David Eddings — from early years and controversy to his best-selling epic sagas like The Belgariad, his distinctive style, memorable quotes, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Introduction: Who Is David Eddings?

David Carroll Eddings (July 7, 1931 – June 2, 2009) was a prolific American author best known for his epic fantasy series, including The Belgariad, The Malloreon, The Elenium, The Tamuli, and The Dreamers.

He and his wife, Leigh Eddings, co-authored many of his works (officially credited in later books), creating richly detailed fantasy worlds that appealed to a wide audience.

Eddings’ stories are often praised for their accessible narrative voice, strong characterization, humor, and classic fantasy structure. Yet his biography also includes darker and controversial elements, which complicate his legacy.

In what follows, we’ll explore David Eddings’s life, career, literary philosophy, quotations, controversies, and what readers can take away from his journey.

Early Life and Family

David Eddings was born in Spokane, Washington, on July 7, 1931, to George Wayne Eddings and Theone (née Berge) Eddings.

He spent much of his childhood near Puget Sound, particularly in the area of Snohomish, Washington.

As a youth, he showed early interest in drama and literature. He participated in high school oratorical contests and theatrical productions.

He graduated from Snohomish High School in 1949, then worked for a year before attending junior college.

Education & Early Career

Eddings enrolled in Reed College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1954. His senior thesis was a novel titled How Lonely Are the Dead.

After Reed, he served in the U.S. Army (1954–1956) and also spent time in the National Guard.

Following his military service, Eddings pursued graduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, earning a Master of Arts in 1961.

Before devoting himself fully to writing, Eddings held a variety of jobs:

• He worked as a purchaser (buyer) at Boeing.

• He also worked as a grocery clerk or in a grocery store to support his writing ambitions.

• In academia, he served as an assistant professor (or similar teaching roles) in the 1960s.

During the 1960s, he also adopted two children with his wife Leigh (then Judith Leigh Schall).

Personal Life & Controversies

In October 1962, David married Judith Leigh Schall, who became known as Leigh Eddings.

Later in their careers, Leigh Eddings was formally credited as co-author of David’s works; the couple claimed that she had in fact contributed all along (particularly to female characters and narrative polishing).

One major and troubling aspect of his life is a child abuse conviction. In 1970, David and Leigh Eddings pled guilty to multiple counts of physical abuse against their adopted children, lost custody, and served prison sentences.

This fact was not widely known during much of his later public life, but is part of the historical record.

In 2007, tragedy struck: Leigh suffered strokes and passed away on February 28, 2007.

Shortly afterward, David experienced an accident: he unintentionally burned a portion of his office, his Excalibur sports car, and some manuscript material, due to a mishap involving fuel and a spark.

In his later years, Eddings suffered from dementia. He continued to write (or at least plan) new work until his health declined.

David Eddings died of natural causes in his home in Carson City, Nevada on June 2, 2009.

In his will, he bequeathed significant sums: $18 million to Reed College (for languages and literature), and $10 million to a medical and pediatric research center (in Denver).

Literary Career & Major Works

Early non-fantasy & first novel

His earliest works were not in fantasy. Eddings’s first published novel was High Hunt (1973), a contemporary adventure story about a hunting trip and personal conflicts.

High Hunt was written during a period when he was serving his sentence (around the time of his child abuse case), and he later described it as one of only two mainstream (non-fantasy) novels in his oeuvre.

During the 1970s, he experimented with various unpublished works (adventure, tragedy, etc.), some of which he later destroyed or shelved.

Transition to fantasy & breakthrough

Eddings has stated that his move into fantasy was partly pragmatic: after seeing The Lord of the Rings’ enduring popularity (many printings over the years), he realized fantasy had strong market potential.

He began by doodling maps and world-building, eventually evolving that into The Belgariad.

The Belgariad is a five-book epic published between 1982 and 1984. Its volumes are:

• Pawn of Prophecy

• Queen of Sorcery

• Magician’s Gambit

• Castle of Wizardry

• Enchanter’s End Game

The success of The Belgariad established Eddings as a major voice in fantasy.

He followed this with The Malloreon (1987–1991), a sequel series continuing the story of The Belgariad.

Later, he wrote The Elenium trilogy and The Tamuli trilogy, which explore another set of characters and settings in a distinct but similarly epic fantasy mode.

His final major series was The Dreamers (2003–2006), published in four volumes.

Over time, beginning in the mid-1990s, Leigh Eddings was credited on many of the later works as co-author. Eddings and many fans recognize that her influence was present even in earlier books.

The Rivan Codex, published in 1998, serves as an in-world companion document, providing background, annotations, mythology, and insight into the creation of the Belgariad/Malloreon universe.

Style, themes, and appeal

Eddings is often characterized as a storyteller, rather than a literary stylist. He prioritized engaging plots, accessible language, clear moral lines, humor, and character-driven narratives.

Common themes in his work include:

• The hero’s journey: characters growing from humble origins to pivotal roles

• The balance of power, prophecy, destiny, and free will

• The role of faith, gods, magic systems, and moral responsibility

• Strong interpersonal relationships, loyalty, and sacrifice

• Humor and banter even amid serious stakes

Some critics note that his works lean into familiar (even traditional) fantasy tropes: good vs evil, clear moral dichotomies, and archetypal roles. Others appreciate his clarity, pacing, and ability to hook readers.

Although his works were not always lauded for literary innovation, they found a vast and devoted reading base, especially among fans of “classic” high fantasy.

Memorable Quotes & Lines

Here are a few notable quotes attributed to David Eddings or from his characters:

• “God save us from religion.”

• “I’ve looked at the world for quite a few years now and I’ve found that if I don’t laugh, I’ll probably end up crying.” — attributed to Prince Kheldar in Demon Lord of Karanda

• “Humans are very, very good at shifting blame and avoiding guilt.” — The Shining Ones

• From Magician’s Gambit (dialogue):

  “‘What was that?’ Belgarath asked ... ‘Brill,’ Silk replied blandly, pulling his Murgo robe back on. … ‘He wasn’t doing it very well,’ Silk added.”

These lines reflect Eddings’s mixture of humor, moral reflection, and conversational dialogue style.

Legacy & Influence

David Eddings left a mixed but significant legacy in the world of fantasy. Some of the key aspects:

• Mass appeal & accessibility: His books introduced many readers to epic fantasy, providing a more approachable alternative to denser works.

• Prolific output: Across multiple series and settings, Eddings demonstrated consistent productivity and world-building.

• Co-authorship and collaboration: The story of Leigh’s evolving recognition in his works has contributed to discussions about attribution, gender influence in authorship, and the hidden labor behind many successful works.

• Controversy & ethical reappraisal: The child abuse conviction is a deeply troubling part of his biography and forces readers to consider how to engage with celebrated works whose authors have problematic histories.

• Enduring readership: Many of his novels remain in print, continue to be read by fantasy fans, and serve as entry points for new generations into epic fantasy worlds.

• Legacy gifts: His substantial bequests to educational and medical institutions reflect a desire to give back and influence future scholarship.

In academic and fan circles, Eddings is sometimes seen as more of a “classic” or traditional fantasy writer—less experimental than some modern authors, but effective in delivering sweeping tales of adventure, magic, and personal growth.

Lessons & Reflections

1. Storytelling as craft and vocation
   Eddings exemplifies how a writer can build a career through compelling plots, consistent output, and strong engagement with reader expectations.

2. Collaboration behind the scenes matters
   His partnership with Leigh Eddings reminds us that many creative works have layers of input and revision that may not always be publicly acknowledged.

3. The moral complexity of authorship
   The dissonance between Eddings’s creative achievements and his abusive past offers a caution: art and artist can involve tragic contradictions. Readers may grapple with separating (or not) the person from the work.

4. Genre choices and market awareness
   Eddings’s pivot to fantasy in part for economic potential shows that market dynamics often influence artistic direction—but success still depends on genuine imaginative vision.

5. Legacy beyond the page
   His philanthropic bequests, continued readership, and enduring influence underscore that an author’s impact can extend well beyond mere book sales.

Conclusion

David Eddings remains a dominant name in 20th-century fantasy literature—not because of avant-garde prose or literary experimentation, but because of his enduring capacity to tell spirited, human stories in expansive worlds. His works welcome readers into familiar quests of destiny, friendship, sacrifice, and magic.

Yet the darker contours of his life—particularly his conviction for child abuse—complicate his legacy. His story invites readers to approach artistic admiration with nuance, to weigh moral accountability, and to acknowledge that even beloved creators may have grievous failings.