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Pawn of Prophecy - The Belgariad 1
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Plot Summary of Pawn of Prophecy - The Belgariad 1
"Garion, an orphaned farm-boy, finds that he is the heir to the throne of Riva, a family line thought to have been wiped out, and that his Aunt Pol is actually a great sorceress. Garion, his aunt and grandfather, and several bold companions must leave the farm on which Garion was raised to both hide Garion from the twisted god Torak, and to recover the orb of aldur, which Torak would twist to destroy the world."
Sarah, Resident Scholar

"It's hard to seperate one book from a series because it all eventually becomes one in your mind. However, this is basically the story of a young boy coming up age under the guidance of some very special "family members" and characters met while on the road. The group is traveling to right some wrongs made long ago. Very interesting read. Impossible to put it down OR read just one book in the series."
~ T ~, Resident Scholar

"Garion is coming of age into greatness. Through his travels he encounters many encounters friends and foes. A simple story that is easy to follow, and easily lovable. "
Joe, Resident Scholar

"Woderful start of the seris. The best quest books I have ever read.
"

Steven Bradley, Resident Scholar

"This is the first book in the Belgariad. It's not the best in this serie, but it ia very good."
Mikael Andre Larsen, Resident Scholar

"After being raised by his Aunt Pol, Garion embarks on a journey with a group consisting of his aunt, a storyteller, a prince, and an earl to obtain an artifact that has been stolen. As certain things start to reveal themselves, Garion begins to doubt himself, who he is and his origins. He isn't even sure Aunt Pol is really his aunt."
Jennifer, Resident Scholar

"The First in the Belgariad series. Garion is a young boy living on a farm with his Aunt Pol. Life is going well until one evening, the old storyteller arrives and turns Garions world upside down. He finds himself in a life he never knew exixted. Running from goblins, monsters, evil wizards, and he doesn't know why. Who are these people? Why does everyone show such undying restpec for his Aunt Pol? Who is Garion really?"
Alexandra Cossaboom, Resident Scholar

"Garion is no one special- just a poor orphaned farm boy being raised by his aunt. He has heard tales of magic, but he doesn't believe in it. He knows the legend of the Orb, a magical artifact said to protect the world from evil as long as it is in at a place called Riva, but he never really thought it was true. Which is why, when he learns that the Orb has been stolen, he doesn't give much thought to it.

Until a mysterious traveler who seems to know his Aunt Pol tells him that not only is the legend of the Orb true, but that the prophecies state that he must go on a quest to retrieve the Orb and return it to its rightful place. He is intrigued, if slightly less than thrilled, and agrees to go.

"

Emma, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Pawn of Prophecy - The Belgariad 1
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 21%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 39%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - an adult (general)
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - magical artifact
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Age: - a kid - a teen
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can change shapes - can talk to animals - mind reading - can cast many different spells
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - magical being
Age: - long-lived adults
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - almost none
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant

Setting
Terrain - Jungle - Water - Mountains - Forests
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment - moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Pawn of Prophecy - The Belgariad 1
Dragonne's Eg by Mary Brown
The Black Cauldron - Prydain Chronicles 2 by Lloyd Alexander
The Lute and the Liar by Rie Sheridan
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
Firebird by Mercedes Lackey


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