Pawn of Prophecy

The Belgariad, Book 1

By: David Eddings

Narrated by: Brian Wiggins

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A magnificent epic set against a history of seven thousand years of the struggles of Gods and Kings and men—of strange lands and events—of fate and a prophecy that must be fulfilled!

THE BELGARIAD

Long ago, so the Storyteller claimed, the evil God Torak sought dominion and drove men and Gods to war. But Belgarath the Sorcerer led men to reclaim the Orb that protected men of the West. So long as it lay at Riva, the prophecy went, men would be safe.

But that was only a story, and Garion did not believe in magic dooms, even though the dark man without a shadow had haunted him for years.

Brought up on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, how could he know that the Apostate planned to wake dread Torak, or that he would be led on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger by those he loved—but did not know?

For a while his dreams of innocence were safe, untroubled by knowledge of his strange heritage. For a little while . . .

©1982 David Eddings (P)2024 Tantor

So happy to listen

I'm super happy to get to listen to this story during work after so many year of not being able to reread due to wear and tear on some of the original publications

Great Story and Series

The story is great, and for first-time listeners, you will love it. However, if you have listened to the Cameron Beierle narrations, the mispronounced names and locations will drive you crazy. It's very distracting.

Great characters great story

I loved everything about this book including the voices. The narrator did an amazing job matching voices with all the characters. The story was great to mysteries suspense. There was just one thing that made listening to this book a real pain sometimes. If I turned the volume high enough to hear the softer regular talking, the louder parts rattled the windows. Audible seriously needs to make volume leveling an easy on off option. Because have to turn the volume up or down 40 or 50 times in one chapter is a serious pain. As much as I loved the book I may have to try to return it. I don’t think I can ever go through this bs with the volume again:(

A GREAT New Narrator!

Brian Wiggins does an amazing job bringing one of the All-Time GOATS of the Fantasy genre to life!

I loved these books when I read them in the 90's, and when I discovered audiobooks a few years ago the Belgariad series was one of my very first purchases. Unfortunately, I just could not get into the narration, and had to return them all. I've been waiting patiently for a new narrator, and now I can finally enjoy these books again on audiobook!

If you've never read this series, you are in for a fun, light hearted adventure that is a traditional Fantasy experience. Not a sub-genre, not YA, not Grim Dark, not Cozy, not Romantasy (though there is a very sweet romantic sub-plot) - this is just a good old-fashioned High-Fantasy Good-versus-Evil romp. Plenty of swords, sorcery, Gods, mortals, and a healthy pinch of snarky humor.

I very much look forward to the rest of the series, and hopefully the Malloreon, being released with the new narration. Now if we can just get them to reprint the original hardcovers, I'd be one happy nerd!

Not as good as the original.

The story is a classic, but the narration feels like it was a rushed production. Some of the characters sound like obvious stereotypes or out of place in a fantasy world (i.e. Boston accent). Also, the pronunciations of some of the names are not what the author preferred. And to be honest, some of the voices mixed together so you didn't know who was speaking. They should've just rehired Cameron Bierle to do the narration.

Can't tell the difference

The narrator didn't change his voice enought to know which character was talking. Cameron Beierle did a much better job.

New narrator just doesn’t work

While it’s probably not entirely fair since I listened to Cameron Beierle’s version every other year for sometime, but this new narrator just doesn’t work for me. Maybe for someone who never listened to Cameron it’s enjoyable, but I can’t get through the book. The story is still fun and enjoyable, but I will not buy the rest of the re-recorded series.