| Then if so inclined read The Hobbit. If after that, you are entranced by Tolkien's works, then you could read The Silmarillion or more of The History of Middle-Earth series by Christopher Tolkien. Then you can judge for yourself
Eddings, like others before him (and others since) based a lot of characterizations on Tolkien's work. Tolkien himself was derivative of a lot of older works, like Beowulf and The Kalevale, particularly for dwarves and elves for names, places, and genealogy. At least Eddings has some creativity, unlike Terry Brooks whose Shannara series is so derivative it is plagaristic. |
