Eddings Cliches - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Foxtale · 30th January 2006, 11:26 PM

Okay then, here's the game. Point out Eddings cliches from all his books.

1. "I'm shocked at you. Shocked!"
Both in Redemption of Al, and Elder Gods (multiple times)

2. "without a hint of a smile."
Throughout the Elder Gods series and once in Redemption of Al. Sparhawk says something "without a hint of a smile" once as well.

3. The Stuck up Ruler
Aracia in the Elder Gods and <_< (I can't remember her name) from Redemption of Al. She was going to eat Eliar.

4. The little person who thinks ahead
Rabbit and Gher. That's fairly straight forwards.

5. A war of some kind.
The war in Redemption, a war in Elder Gods, a war in Tamuli and Elenium, in the Belgariad.

There must be more. I know it!

Winters_Sorrow · 31st January 2006, 10:57 AM

"Be Nice"

Must have been said about 20+ times in the Malloreon, Belgariad - made me want to reach through the page and throttle the dogooder towards the end..

ladyflorange · 31st January 2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

"Be Nice"

Must have been said about 20+ times in the Malloreon, Belgariad - made me want to reach through the page and throttle the dogooder towards the end..

Also in the Elder Gods and Redemption of Al I think. Reeeeally annoying!!

nixie · 31st January 2006, 06:46 PM

Don't forget "he's such a nice boy"

Paradox 99 · 31st January 2006, 10:35 PM

He sort of says sort of quite a bit too. At least I sort of think he sort of does that.

nixie · 31st January 2006, 10:50 PM

Then theres *kiss..Kiss*

Foxtale · 1st February 2006, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixie

Then theres *kiss..Kiss*

Oh gods that was annoying! Is it only in the Elder Gods or is it elsewhere?

Kynsilaukka · 5th February 2006, 12:54 PM

I don´t mind of having multiple repeats inside one storyline, such as Belgarion-stories, as there the characters stay the same and in real life people adopt and keep to specific sayings too. But when the same sayings are cultivated through many storylines, well, that irritates me. I don´t remember a lot of it in Althalus, as I last read it years ago, but whilst reading Elder Gods -saga (Dreamers?) I just pretended the saying´s weren´t there and tried to avoid reading them.

It takes the edge of witty conversation! A joke that is funny from Silk´s mouth might be boring from Longbow´s...

Foxtale · 9th February 2006, 11:57 AM

But if you had heard the joke from Longbow before it came from Silk, would it still be Silk who is funnier?

There was another one I was reading today (paraphrased):

"How did you do that?" _____ said.

"Do you really want to know?" (OR "Trust me, you don't want to know.")

_____ gulped, "on second thoughts, I don't want to know."

Happens quite a lot surprisingly.

Winters_Sorrow · 9th February 2006, 12:05 PM

The truly cynical & disillusioned Eddings fan could say these repeats of sayings are a sign that his recent novels have just been "replace the names & hope no-one notices" efforts.... *whistles innocently*

direghost · 9th February 2006, 12:20 PM

"I'm sure there's something else every Eddings' character does," he said with sardonic wit.

Kynsilaukka · 9th February 2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxtale

But if you had heard the joke from Longbow before it came from Silk, would it still be Silk who is funnier?

That´s quite a good question actually! In this case, anyway, it would be Silk who is funnier, as a joke that could fit Silk´s mouth would sound horrible from Longbow´s - and I dislike the hunter. Kheldar goes sometimes over the top, but in my opinion he is a hundred times better character. Perhaps it shows how paperback Eddings´ new characters have become: I can´t remember their names or personas or anything... Is it just me?

But in some other case, I would probably prefer the one I read first. A lot of the Eddings´ clichés are actually pretty witty, but as said before they get irritating while being repeated over and over and over and over...

Out of interest, what is the working 'schedule' for Eddings´ in English countries? I mean, how swiftly do their books follow each other?

the_faery_queen · 11th February 2006, 07:25 PM

using sentences again and again aren't really a cliche. but it is kinda odd if different characters in different books are speaking the same way.

tho i agree with the others for being cliches.

Foxtale · 20th February 2006, 03:15 AM

Using the same recycled characters over and over is kinda irritating. And the characters all use the same things. Oh, I remembered the girl in Althalus. It's Andine who's the pompous princess.

And then reading the Belgariad, OH MY GOD! CY'NEDRA IS ANDINE AND ARACIA!

Winters_Sorrow · 20th February 2006, 07:50 AM

Ironically, if it's done well (like Moorcock's "Eternal Champion") then it's ok.

Like everything else, you'll be forgiven for recycling characters if you don't tale the mickey.
Eddings, unfortunately, comes across as a man of few new ideas, rather than tweaking and reinvigorating old characters.

30th January 2006, 11:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Foxtale Send in the foxes! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 70	Eddings Cliches Okay then, here's the game. Point out Eddings cliches from all his books. 1. "I'm shocked at you. Shocked!" Both in Redemption of Al, and Elder Gods (multiple times) 2. "without a hint of a smile." Throughout the Elder Gods series and once in Redemption of Al. Sparhawk says something "without a hint of a smile" once as well. 3. The Stuck up Ruler Aracia in the Elder Gods and <_< (I can't remember her name) from Redemption of Al. She was going to eat Eliar. 4. The little person who thinks ahead Rabbit and Gher. That's fairly straight forwards. 5. A war of some kind. The war in Redemption, a war in Elder Gods, a war in Tamuli and Elenium, in the Belgariad. There must be more. I know it!

31st January 2006, 10:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Winters_Sorrow Unreg. Mutant Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tyne and Wear Posts: 2,689	Re: Eddings Cliches "Be Nice" Must have been said about 20+ times in the Malloreon, Belgariad - made me want to reach through the page and throttle the dogooder towards the end..

31st January 2006, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
nixie pixie druid Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,612	Re: Eddings Cliches Don't forget "he's such a nice boy"

31st January 2006, 10:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paradox 99 KenDodd'sDad'sDog'sDead Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 794	Re: Eddings Cliches He sort of says sort of quite a bit too. At least I sort of think he sort of does that.

31st January 2006, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
nixie pixie druid Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,612	Re: Eddings Cliches Then theres kiss..Kiss

5th February 2006, 12:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kynsilaukka Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14	Re: Eddings Cliches I don´t mind of having multiple repeats inside one storyline, such as Belgarion-stories, as there the characters stay the same and in real life people adopt and keep to specific sayings too. But when the same sayings are cultivated through many storylines, well, that irritates me. I don´t remember a lot of it in Althalus, as I last read it years ago, but whilst reading Elder Gods -saga (Dreamers?) I just pretended the saying´s weren´t there and tried to avoid reading them. It takes the edge of witty conversation! A joke that is funny from Silk´s mouth might be boring from Longbow´s...

9th February 2006, 11:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
Foxtale Send in the foxes! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 70	Re: Eddings Cliches But if you had heard the joke from Longbow before it came from Silk, would it still be Silk who is funnier? There was another one I was reading today (paraphrased): "How did you do that?" _____ said. "Do you really want to know?" (OR "Trust me, you don't want to know.") _____ gulped, "on second thoughts, I don't want to know." Happens quite a lot surprisingly.

9th February 2006, 12:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Winters_Sorrow Unreg. Mutant Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tyne and Wear Posts: 2,689	Re: Eddings Cliches The truly cynical & disillusioned Eddings fan could say these repeats of sayings are a sign that his recent novels have just been "replace the names & hope no-one notices" efforts.... whistles innocently

9th February 2006, 12:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
direghost Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 108	Re: Eddings Cliches "I'm sure there's something else every Eddings' character does," he said with sardonic wit.

11th February 2006, 07:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
the_faery_queen Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 1,066	Re: Eddings Cliches using sentences again and again aren't really a cliche. but it is kinda odd if different characters in different books are speaking the same way. tho i agree with the others for being cliches.

20th February 2006, 03:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
Foxtale Send in the foxes! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 70	Re: Eddings Cliches Using the same recycled characters over and over is kinda irritating. And the characters all use the same things. Oh, I remembered the girl in Althalus. It's Andine who's the pompous princess. And then reading the Belgariad, OH MY GOD! CY'NEDRA IS ANDINE AND ARACIA!

20th February 2006, 07:50 AM	#15 (permalink)
Winters_Sorrow Unreg. Mutant Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tyne and Wear Posts: 2,689	Re: Eddings Cliches Ironically, if it's done well (like Moorcock's "Eternal Champion") then it's ok. Like everything else, you'll be forgiven for recycling characters if you don't tale the mickey. Eddings, unfortunately, comes across as a man of few new ideas, rather than tweaking and reinvigorating old characters.

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