Rest in Peace, Mr Eddings.

Well, that's another creator of wonderful fantasy realms gone off to the next one.
I still remember when A and the uni/jump-point gang gave me the entire Belgariad for my birthday and followed it up with the Mallorean for Christmas.
Eddings' stuff may be more simple fare in some ways than that of Tolkien or Jordan or Feist... but it is great fun to read.