Book Description
Welcome to High Pines Summer Camp for Boys. There is hiking, swimming, canoeing--and a revolution led by General Frank. He promises change for the better, but little by little, he begins to change, and the revolution turns into a nightmare....
Customer Reviews:
Summer Camp Revolution.......2007-04-23
Winston is a small, bright, book-reading thirteen-year-old. His parents are somewhat worried about him socially, and decide to send him to a boys' summer camp where he'll spend a great deal of time with other boys and will perhaps become more like them.
The boys in the camp range in age from ten to seventeen, and most of the activities are aimed at the younger boys. They play capture the flag and go for hikes, and the counselors even suggest a butterfly collecting exercise. The older boys are fed up with this camp and its counselors; they feel that they should be having more fun at summer camp. So they decide to change things.
One of the older boys, Frank, is a charismatic leader, skilled at making speeches that get people riled up. He selects a group of other boys from the camp, including Winston, and explains that they need to have a revolution, to take over the camp and lock up the counselors so then they will be able to have some fun. He promises parties and mixing with the nearby girls' camp--what he calls real fun instead of the lame activities the counselors have come up with. Frank says it will all be a big game, really, and that no one will get hurt. After a little fun the counselors will be released and everything will get back to normal.
Frank makes his plan sound so good, almost all of the boys immediately agree to it, and the capture of the counselors is carried off without a hitch. Winston thinks the fun is about to begin.
Instead, things get even more difficult. Frank is running the boys' camp like an army. Some of the boys seem to be afraid of saying the wrong thing, of being accused of being counterrevolutionary. Frank insisted that no one would be hurt, but was he telling the truth? Is he still in control?
I liked that the story was told through Winston's diaries, and that he was such a deep thinker. His knowledge of the world helped him to see and to convey to us how creepy Frank's camp was. I also liked that there wasn't an easy ending to this story. The situation was complex and shouldn't have been easily fixed. It was hard to believe, though, that the boys were able to operate secretly for so long, without any parents growing suspicious.
Great book for students.......2005-07-23
This was required reading at school, many years ago. I have reread it a few times and really enjoy it.
most related.......2004-05-07
This book is the most related book to me that I have ever read.
I can relate to Egriss the most because he is nice and peacefull. For all of you who read this book "YOU WILL BE RIVITED" If you want to reply to me email me at chubhorntehub@yahoo.com
Whet's the appetite.......2003-06-17
As a child, I'll readily admit that I abhorred reading. I avoided every reading assignment in school and couldn't grasp why people held books in such high esteem when movies were quicker and far more entertaining. I was ignorant. All that changed when I found this book decaying at a army housing book swap. This book made me realize that there is a far more intimate interaction that happens by reading a book. A slow dialog between the writer an the reader that allows for a full and satisfying digestion. It whet my appetite and I've been devouring ever since.
The plot is classic youth versus authority and it has a "be careful what you wish for" moral. It also works as a larger political allegory.
I highly recommend this book to book-hating, disaffected youth. If you have one in your life, buy this book and pass it on.
damn.......2003-06-10
Butterfly Revolution by William Butler, which followed the life of a young teenage boy in a summer camp. The camp is taken over by an older camper, named Frank, who turns the camp into what is almost a prison camp. The conditions are awful eventually leading to the death of two campers.
Read this nasty book
Product Description
A stunning novel of the young and evil that ranks with "Lord of the Flies"
Average customer rating:
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The Butterfly Revolution
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000BH1GFU |
Product Description
The Butterfly Revolution is a chilling tale of terror in a world without adults. On the surface it is the compulsively readable story of a bloodless revolution at High Pines Summer Camp for Boys--a revolution that gets out of hand and turns into a nightmare. BUt General Frank is the dictator that men instinctively seek. The boys totalitarian government--it organization, its psychology, its brutality--is a mirror of the adult world. And Winston Weyn--despised bookworm, hater of the fuhrer principle-- is attracted like the rest through the cunning of the leader. Inevitably this is a book that will be read and compared with Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace.
Average customer rating:
- Love it, always have!
- A little simple, but an engaging series that doesnt drag on forever
- Nothing inherently wrong with the writing but....
- A good, simple read!
- The Belgariad
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The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Eddings, David | ( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Belgariad | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
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The Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game
-
The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
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The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
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Belgarath the Sorcerer
-
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))
ASIN: 0345456327
Release Date: 2002-08-27 |
Book Description
Millions of readers have discovered the magic of David Eddings’ New York Times bestselling series The Belgariad. Now the first three books in this monumental epic appear in a single volume. Here, long-time fans can rediscover the wonder—and the uninitiated can embark upon a thrilling new journey of fantasy and adventure.
It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower—and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic.
Customer Reviews:
Love it, always have!.......2007-08-15
Approximately 15 years ago, I was given a copy of Pawn of Prophecy (Belgariad). I quickly read all the Belgariad, then the Mallorean and moved on to Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress. I have never read anything like these books. Over the last 15 years I have read all these books at least 20 times. Everytime I read the series something else comes out of the books that i either didn't notice last time or that became more important as I aged. David and his wife Leigh Eddings intersperse just enough philosphy and aged wisdom to enhance the reading experience. Dialog is often funny, while maintaining the seriousness of the story.
For a great read, and an engaging read, I recommend you read the best series of books I have ever read.
A little simple, but an engaging series that doesnt drag on forever.......2007-07-11
While the plot line is of a simplish epic quest, good vs evil, type, that doesnt detract from the enjoyment of reading these books at all. Not only is the entire series fast paced and full of action, but the interactions between the characters, whom I love dearly, are also very entertaining and hilarious.
Both this series, and its sequel series, are well worth the read, so buy them, and don't cheat yourself out of a great read by only buying the first few.
Nothing inherently wrong with the writing but...........2007-07-06
I read some good reviews of this series and thought it might be worth checking out. There is nothing horrible about the writing. The storyline is interesting, though a bit of a cliche. The problem with the books (I only read the first two) is that every character is a stereotype. All Drasnians are cunning and secretive, all Chereks are big brutes who get drunk and like to fight, all Murgos are bad etc. etc. No one in the books seem to have a free thought apart from where they are from. There is nothing inherently bad about the writing, but I found the shallow stereotypical characters mundane and a little disturbing. But if you can read the books without actually thinking about what you are reading than go for it.
A good, simple read!.......2007-06-21
I have to admit that when I started reading these stories, I felt the plot was somewhat slow. But keep going! the books are not all that long. You need to read through at least book 3, which is my favorite so far. Eddings writing gets better the further you read. Some people have complained that these stories are cliche. They are not exactly original, but if the writing is good, it's worth it to read them. Why can't we every now and then just read a good book and not worry about its originality, how deep is the story? Just once in awhile read a book and enjoy it for the journey it takes you on. This is one of those books!
The Belgariad.......2007-05-31
I regret that I was forced to give it 1 star. If I had to write Cliff Notes for book one It would say "They went from here to there." Over the course of 5 books this kid casts 4 spells and at the end he is Fencing with a God and wins! I will say Eddings writes a character like no one. They really have a personality, but I found the entire experience of reading the Belgariad to be a waste of time.
Book Description
The Belgariad Book #1
Long ago, 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 the West. So long as it lay at Riva, the prophecy went, men would be safe. That was only a story, and Garion did not believe in magic dooms. 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 unparalled magic and danger by those he loved. For yet a little while his dreams of innocence remained safe, untroubled by knowledge of his strange heritage. For a little while. Read by Cameron Beierle. 10 CD's 10.5 Hrs.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic!!.......2007-09-12
This is probably the best book I've read in a very long time. I was in a fantasy rut until I found this book. I am currently reading all the books in the series but I loved this one so much I had to write a review.
I would say that even my most beloved books have that dreaded "lag" time where the story seems to drag but not this one. This book is great from start to finish as are the second and third books in this series. It seems you are always at "the best part" of the story.
If you are considering reading these books and have not yet, I highly recommend them. You will not be disappointed. Fans of fantasy will delight in the vivid characters and world of the Belgariad.
"Polgara was quite firm," Silk said........2007-08-19
Once upon a time, I loved these books. I think I originally got exposed to them through some kind of fantasy book of the month club. I loved the trials of Garion and read/reread the whole series with fervent interest.
And then I grew up. And then I got cynical. And then Eddings started to seriously irritate me as a writer. Even for escapism, his books didn't live up to the mark. The sitcom aspects started to get more and more annoying. The Mallorean series started to annoy me, and by the Elenium I had completely had it as a reader. All the charm and freshness had rubbed away. The plots seemed to turn into the kind of silly string that Edding's trademark snappy banter could not effectively disguise. Worse, the snappy banter was not nearly so snappy the third or fourth time around.
In any case, when I saw Pawn of Prophecy at a second hand bookstore I decided to pick it up to see if I could remember what I liked about it in the first place. Had the series gotten *that* much worse? Or was it just that I had gotten older, and my tastes more discriminating?
I'm not sure that I really have an answer. Certainly, Pawn of Prophecy shows a great deal about what is best in the series. Mostly, that's the character description. Edding's characters are particularly likeable. It's as though characters from Lake Wobegon wandered into a fantasy novel. In his later books, I think that this talent got stretched dangerously close to caricature. So that is a genuinely good and entertaining thing about Pawn of Prophecy.
Still, though, the flaws that would bug me later are also evident. The mythology is already emerging as heavy-handed, and the politics of the realm distressingly easy to solve with folksy home wisdom. For an epic fantasy, it doesn't come close to the more complex and edgy writers like Martin or even Robin Hobb.
I'd probably like it again as a kid. I may even finish rereading the Belgariad if I can pick it up second-hand or find it in my archive. Who knows?
Old school, but pretty good.......2007-05-05
I'm giving this four stars only because I can't give it three and half. But I don't want to give it three because that would look more negative than I intend. I read this just after reading The Sword of Shannara. (I'm on some old-school fantasy exploration, I guess.) I like this a lot more, although I don't think it's up to the standards of the best of contemporary YA fantasy.
What I liked about it at the start was the mythology Eddings lays out. It's heavy-handed, yes, but it has an archaic quality that makes if feel authentic. The God Torak and Belgarath the Sorcerer should feel like heroic types, because their exploits are the stuff of legends. I liked this sequence much more than the opening of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, for instance.
The other thing I liked about this is that while the story fits that tried and true template of an orphaned peasant boy who discovers he's actually royalty in hiding, Eddings handles it well. He doesn't ask his readers to be surprised by this. Really, he gives us glimpses into the adult side of the world that Garion does not yet have. In a way we know things that he doesn't. I liked that because it respects the reader's intelligence.
I don't think I'll pick up the next one anytime soon, or maybe at all. But that's just because there's lots of other good stuff to read out there. I do think that Eddings is maybe a bit better than many people give him credit for, though, and I certainly think this could appeal to younger readers.
A Journey of Self Discovery.......2007-04-25
Pawn of Prophecy (1982) is the first fantasy novel in the Belgariad series. In the beginning, the gods created the world and all its peoples. Six of the gods gathered peoples unto themselves, but the eldest god, Aldur, had no people of his own. Still certain persons joined with him and became users of the Will and the Word. Belgarath was the first of these.
Aldur formed an Orb to use as a tool of power. His brother Torak grew envious of this artifact and stole it from Aldur. Then Aldur and his five other brothers, as well as all their people, went to war against Torak and his Angaraks. Torak used the Orb to create a deep chasm in the Earth, but this artifact turned against him and severely burned his left side. Afterward Torak lived in constant pain.
The people of Belar, the youngest god, searched for a way to reach where Torak lay within a tower in Mallorea. A few thousand years later, they found a way and Belgarath led Cherek and his three sons on a raid into Torak's tower. They stole back the Orb and returned home. They then divided Aloria into four separate kingdoms and gave the Orb to Riva -- the purest of Cherek's sons -- to guard his kingdom on the Isle of Winds, and thus all the other kingdoms of the West, from the Accursed One.
In this novel, Garion grew up on the farm of Feldor in the Kingdom of Sendaria. Garion's Aunt Pol is the head cook, providing Feldor, his family and his workers with the best food in the region and maybe the whole kingdom. Garion soon learned to stay out from underfoot within the kitchen. As he grew older, he became friends with two other lads and a pretty and pitiless girl about his own age.
Garion enjoyed visits from the storyteller, an old man with white hair and beard, and dressed in travel worn clothes, who told the most amazing stories. Aunt Pol calls the storyteller "old wolf" and one year Garion asks if he can call the man Mister Wolf. The old man seems pleased to receive that name from Garion.
In this story, Garion is aware of a black attired man who watches him from time to time, but Garion is not able to tell anyone about the watcher. One day Mister Wolf takes him to town to run an errand for Aunt Pol and they encounter a Murgo merchant at the spice shop. Later a new worker is hired at the farm and Garion notices him spying on his Aunt Pol.
When he tells Mister Wolf about Brill, they find the man in the stable trying to saddle a horse. With a little help from Durnik, the farm blacksmith, Mister Wolf soon learns enough about Brill's employers to leave the farm hastily. Wolf, Aunt Pol, Garion and Durnik -- who insisted on going along -- walk away from the farm and eventually find two friends in the woods. After an initial confusion on the part of Garion, Silk and Barak join the party and they drive away in three wagons.
This story gradually reveals the family history of Garion. He first learns that Aunt Pol is not really his aunt and this disturbs his sense of security. Yet he eventually learns that she is more distantly related to him, but is still a blood relation. Then he learns that Mister Wolf is also related to him in the same distant way.
Gradually Garion discovers that Mister Wolf and Aunt Pol are more important than he assumed. At the same time, the reader begins to suspect that Garion himself is even more important than he can imagine. After all, this is the first volume of a heroic fantasy and Garion is right in the middle of things.
Highly recommended for Eddings fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of gods, sorcerers, kings and queens, and a confused, curious and courageous youngster.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Pawn of Prophecy.......2007-03-29
All through his life, Garion thought he was an average boy. That was, until strange things started to happen. On one normal day, Garion and Rundorig listen to two farmers talking about the Battle of Vo Mimbre. They overheard talk of a man named Brand, who had fought the enraged god Kal Torak. Just when Brand was about to die, he uncovered his shield to reveal a mysterious object which made Kal Torak lower his guard, allowing Brand to kill him. Garion and Runderig, being children, decided to reenact the battle hoping to discover what could have made Kal Torak lose the battle, but to no avail. Aunt Pol, noticing Garion's recent change in behavior and attitude, decided to leave Faldors farm in the middle of the night. Along with Garion and Aunt Pol, Good-Man Durnik, the smith, left with them. They fled to the kingdom of Riva on the Isle of Winds. Throughout this book, Garion learns of his past, his parents, his powers, and most importantly, himself. I would highly recommend this book to all teenagers.
The first reason I would recommend this book is because of its great plot and layout. For example, during Garion's childhood, he does a few bad things and gets punished. But later on, he makes the opposite choice when the same circumstance appears. When Garion and Rundorig fight for the first time, he almost hurt Rundorig so as he wouldn't be the same. Though later on, he never fights his friends for fun. He only trains with them or fights along-side them. He eventually learns that the king of Riva who is said to rise and fight Kal Torak is actually Garion himself.
The second reason I would recommend this book is because of its creativity. The first example of its creativity is having a part of the description of the gods. Aldur was the only god that lived in the world and he was ridiculed for it. Though he appeared as a mortal, he had disciples and was most definitely not ordinary. His disciples knew of his true powers and his hidden domain. He only appeared to a selected few when there was no danger to him. Aldur created an orb which he gave to the overseer of Riva, who then passed it to the king of Riva, Garion. Aldur's orb was not any item in other books. It allowed the owner to detect Torah and gave the owner superior powers unknown to man-kind.
The final reason I would recommend this book is because its storyline affects the entire series. Though this book has its own plot and story, you can learn other events and find out missing parts from other books of the series. When certain events happen, it allows the reader to discover details about the story of the entire series. Just reading this book, you learn of Garion's past allowing you to understand more of the Mallorean.
I would highly recommend this book to fantasy readers of all ages. This book will most definitely keep you interested. Pawn of Prophecy is the first book of the first series written by David Eddings. With its interesting storyline, background information on every character, you will be completely engrossed into it. The amazing plot keeps you up for hours on end making you want to keep reading. When one event happens, the next one follows keeping the pace constant for all readers to enjoy
N.Koester
Average customer rating:
- A Great Read
- To bad it is all finished and in the past
- Belgariad & Malloreon. My Favorite.
- Great Entry-to-Mid-level Fare
- Praise-worthy
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The Belgariad Set, Books 1-5: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, & Enchanter's End Game
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Eddings, David | ( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Belgariad | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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-
The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
-
The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
-
Belgarath the Sorcerer
-
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon (Paperback Random House))
-
The Rivan Codex: Ancient Texts of THE BELGARIAD and THE MALLOREON
ASIN: 0345340442 |
Customer Reviews:
A Great Read.......2005-10-14
Eddings' series The Belgariad is one of my all-time favorite reads. It's the classic fantasy good-vs.-evil, coming-of-age, lost-kings-returning, quest-with-companions epic. These are common themes in fantasy, but Eddings' writing is so witty, and his characters so intriguing, that it never gets old. He seems very aware he is using some well established cliches, but puts new twists on them and even makes fun of them as the story goes on. I especially love Eddings' twist on the concept of prophesy: In this story, the prophesy is actually sentient, and does not hesitate to tell our hero, Garion, when he is being an idiot.
This series is funny, entertaining, engrossing, and complex. It was my introduction to the sword and sorcery genre of fantasy, and I absolutely love it.
To bad it is all finished and in the past.......2004-04-17
I recomend all of david eddings books to any reader of any age.
David eddings is my idle in a short way of putting it... he has brought a new light to me and my writing since i was a child... His books have a certian amount of amusement in them. Yet the characters are all lovable. This is a book that i promise all will remember and read again... I love all of his books. his philosiphy is simple to understand, yet the writing syle is one that i still have not seen in any other books. He allows a certian amount of ammusement into them, yet keeping them serious. His books are like a good movie that you dont want to end. After reading one of them you want more and more. until you have devoured the very sould of his writing.
To put it short i dont know why i like them there just fun loving and honest to god books.
Belgariad & Malloreon. My Favorite........2004-04-02
I have never came across a set of books that is so moving,very few authors have made me as emitional as this athor has with this set.I hope their will be a follow up,it would be nice to see how everything whent after all was said and done,peace doesn't last for ever. Highly recomened,own the full set,have read them so much I can almost tell the story myself.
Great Entry-to-Mid-level Fare.......2001-10-16
This is, I believe, Eddings' first real foray into the realm of true Fantasy, and it doesn't disappoint. Eddings does well to develop characters over time and doesn't sacrifice depth for brevity. I've always enjoyed the sense of humor he brings to his works and the repartee that develops between the characters.
If you are looking for a great starter series in the fantasy genre or a more developed work, look no further. Those looking for the complexity and seriousness of high-fantasy should stick with Tolkien and Donaldson.
This was one of my favorite starting fantasy series, and continues to entertain after all these years.
Praise-worthy.......2001-06-23
David Eddings' Belgariad series is one of the masterpieces of modern fantasy literature. I fell in love with his books many years ago, and re-read them to this day. His characters are lifelike and amusing, and written in a very human manner. Every time I read, I feel like I am visiting with old friends. Although Eddings writes conflicts into his story, he writes with an assurance that success will come which parallels the great epics of history. His novels, though not thrilling, are relaxing and enthralling in a more stoic fashion-- you will care about the characters and want to see them succeed.
I would recommend this book to the starting fantasy reader, or the reader of modern fiction who hasn't yet delved into the genre. Eddings' personal style and lovable characters have turned me into a dedicated fantasy reader, and I have not yet found his equal among the other authors I've read.
Average customer rating:
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Pawn of Prophecy (Belgariad S.)
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Corgi Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Belgariad | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 055212284X |
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Average customer rating:
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PAWN OF PROPHECY
EDDINGS
Manufacturer: CORGI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S5YQU2 |
Average customer rating:
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Pawn of Prophecy
Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000FPYWTU |
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