- Paperback: 1462 pages
- Publisher: Voyager (5 July 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006483844
- ISBN-13: 978-0006483847
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 6.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 198,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
David Eddings' fantasy career began with Pawn of Prophecy in 1982, opening his massive Belgariad sequence. This omnibus collects the 1992-4 Tamuli trilogy: Domes of Fire, The Shining Ones and The Hidden City, totting up to 1,429 pages of slick storytelling. Following from the Elenium trio (1989-91), this takes hardbitten knight Sparhawk, his feisty queen and wife and various companions--including a terminally cute Child Goddess--to the hard-pressed Tamul Empire. Here a revolutionary movement is reanimating ancient warriors and horrors, while treason runs riot in the civil service, and at least one of this world's many gods is secretly behind it all.
Sparhawk must recover that all-powerful talisman the Bhelliom, which at the end of the Elenium was hurled into the depths of the sea. Quirky political manoeuvres and plausible battles abound. Eddings is a fluent storyteller whose humour, banter and unfaltering narrative flow conjure entertainment from highly familiar plot devices. The sense of danger is muted, though: spear-carriers may perish in their thousands while villains are sentenced to burn eternally, but major goodies bounce back from fatal injuries (even a stab in the heart) thanks to epic mercy dashes and healing magic. This is cheerful comfort reading and is a long, and undemanding, enjoyable fantasy. --David Langford
Review
‘A graceful, fluid style of storytelling rare in fantasy writing’
Publishers Weekly
‘Others may vie for the top position… but Eddings reigns supreme’
Publishers Weekly
‘Sparhawk is the best-realized hero in current fantasy
‘ Daily Telegraph
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Contrary to the unjustified opinions of some reviews of this series of books, I believe this sequel to the Elenium is a strong example of Edding's powerful fantasy fiction.
Firstly - don't read this if you haven't read the Elenium! Of course you are going to find it difficult to engage with the characters if you enter the series after all the exposition has been accomplished. Also, as a sequel, you have to expect that the "bad guys" are going to be somewhat less straightforward than those of the first series, who were unsurprisingly defeated at the end of the Elenium.
Next - don't complain about it being similar (okay, very similar) to the Elenium/Belgariad/Mallorean. From the blurb you can tell that it's going to be about a quest (fairly standard for fantasy fiction) to rid the world of evil (sound familiar to anyone?). There are only a certain number of ways to accomplish this, namely by killing the evil involved. The real strength of Edding's writing is in the detail and dialogue of the story, not necessarily the unpredictable plotline.
One of the problems with The Tamuli is that when Eddings and his wife were creating the world, it was done so in a much shorter time than that of the Belgariad. This has led to a lack of depth in some areas, but by no means is it a superficial world. The cultures are all developed beyond those you will find in many books, there's no use of typical "monster" sterotypes, since the Trolls and Ogres of this world have been portrayed as more intelligent than most.
To those who find the characters to be "dull" or "unimaginative" I say that the range of different personalities is enough to keep most people interested. The presence of Aphrael throughout is somewhat irritating I'll admit - the Child-Goddess takes a lot of the threat elements in any fight situations.
The inclusion of political elements in this book pushes it above the more recent works of the Eddings, namely The Redemption of Althalus and the Dreamers, where the more adult themes are removed due to the more primitive societies in which the books are set. The Tamuli encourages the reader to see a conflict across all layers of the Daresian continent, and one that engulfs all citizens of the world of the Elenium and Tamuli.
The climax to the series is fulfilling, whilst perhaps lacking the emotional resonance of the Mallorean, which is to be expected as it is the culmination of only six books, rather than ten.
In conclusion, if you're new to Eddings, read the Belgariad first. It's still his best work. If you've read that, and the Mallorean, then read the Elenium! Again, that is a superior example of storytelling. Only then should you tackle this series of novels.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this work Eddings proved that he can continue developing characters in a new setting. For once things don't end with a wedding, but just continue, leading the reader to a nwe adventure far away from home. And finally we get to see that Kalten has a heart and just how much the little, impish childgodess really does depend upon the mortals. In this fascinating trilogy we meet old and new friends and a lot of previous mysteries are cleared. Of course with the right touch of humour in between. It was fun to read and impossible to put down. I wish there were more books like these. Thanks a lot for spoiling me!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read this title as its seperate paperbacks and have now bought the omnibus edition as a valued addition to my library. I have to say Eddings is NOT david gemmell, the plotlines are not devious or dark, twisting or suprising. that said, his characters are amusing, whitty, humorous, cute and involving. However the use of the Bhelliom, similarities with the Saphire rose, diamond throne and the earlier elenium titles does guide you along the plot a little before you read. Thats the downside and thats why i couldnt give 5 stars. The redeeming factors, and something Eddings manages better than most is the utilisation of familiarity in the characters. I really like the character Sparhawk, his wife the queen and Talen the thief. The goddess though i find tiresome, REALLY tiresome! All in all though i really like Eddings but will state simply that if you want a enjoyable read then hes the author for you, however if you want an intelligent read within the Genre then he's a weak second to David Gemmell.....Happy reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
a great read
it must be 4 or 5 years or more since I bought this, lol, All Eddings books are a great read
Published 21 months ago by Mr. K. W. Moseley
Unintentionally hilarious, forsooth
I really really loved the Belgariad - when I was thirteen. I read it three times back-to-back in the way that a thirteen-year-old will do. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2007 by P. R. Hughes
I waited a long time for this and was diasappointed
This was the first Eddings book I bought. When I read the synopsis for this book I thought that it sounded great. Zombies, ghouls, gods etc. made me want to buy it immediately. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2007 by M. Monk
Average
First Eddings book I have read and till the last book was VERY disappointed. The characters were too good to be true and general descriptions about characters built no good imagery... Read more
Published on 19 July 2004 by "matttaylor-simpson"
On a downward slide !
His first 2 book series are very good but that's all the praise I can give as after that it seems to fall apart. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2004 by "b4ammanas"
Very Average
Apart from the different map at the start of the book & new character names this book could almost be the Mallorean. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2002 by CJ
Plenty of room for imporvement
The Tamuli is a good read, but this no where near the standard of the The Belgariad and The Elenium. Read more
Published on 24 April 2001
A nice but familliar story.
If you have read Edding's Blegariad and Mallorean you will notice a patern when you read the Tamuli. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2000
850 Grams Of Waste Paper....
When recommended to read some Stephen Donaldson books by a friend I accidently bought this hunk of wood pulp. It is nothing more than 850 grams of soiled waste paper. Read more
Published on 23 April 2000
Unbelievable end to the series
This is a must read for any Sci-Fi reader. Sparwahack has at last fullfilled his true meaning for life, even though perhaps a bit late in. Read more
Published on 22 April 2000
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