Preview of The Rivan Codex

Here are some of the reasons.

I have acquired a copy of "The Rivan Codex", now that it is out in the UK. I was expecting a more colourful volume, but it seems to be in the same format as all the previous hardcovers (Plain text with simple monocolour illustrations). Here is what the books blurb says:

THE RIVEN CODEX: Ancient texts of the Belgariad and the Mallorean
by David and Leigh Eddings
Illustrated by Geoff Taylor
ISBN 0-00-224677-5 (UK)
ISBN 345-42402-6 (US)
Published by HarperCollins (UK)
394 Pages

(START BLURB)

IMAGINE WONDERS NO MAN OR GOD HAS YET BEHELD!

The Rivan Codex is a book full of wonders. In its pages can be found the origin and the birth of the greatest fantasy epic of modern times which began with The Belgariad and continued with The Mallorean. Here for the very first time David and Leigh Eddings present the seminal texts on which they built their worldwide best-selling masterpiece. Their millions of readers are entranced by the magic of the Eddings's writing, but it is the sheer scale of the world of the novels that inspire awe. Its undeniable air of authenticity was forged in the beautiful writings that make up The Rivan Codex.

The Holy Books include the first account of the origin of the Orb, The forbidden Book of Torak (possession of a copy of this work is punishable by death in all the civilized world), the unbridled spirit of the God Mara, the pragmatic proverbs of beloved Nedra (Kill not. Dead men cannot buy from thee. Give full measure, and thy customer shall return), the dazzling Sermon of Aldur (Infinite is the power of the word, for the word is the breath and soul of the mind), and the Book of Ulgo, which provides the only clues we have to an understanding of the enigmatic Ulgos.

The Histories, compiled by the Imperial Historical Society at the command of his Imperial Majesty Ran Borune XXIII, give a grand overview of 5000 years of history. There are several Notes to the Imperial Student by Master Jeebers, but the common or garden student will learn where Mandorallen and Lelldorin, Silk, Salmissra, Zith and Vella and all the main characters have their origins.

The Battle of Vo Mimbre is the original prose epic, The Latter Days of the House of Mimbre by the Arendish bard, Davoul the Lame. But it is edited by Master Jeebers who adds his own acid comments.

The History of the Angarak Kingdoms explains how Zakath, the previously open and gregarious young man, became "the man of ice". The Mallorean Gospels: Behold also this truth; the rocks of the world and all other worlds murmur continually of the two stones which lie at the center of the division between good and evil. The Book of Ages, The Book of Fates, The Book of Tasks, The Book of Generations, The Book of Visions, A Summary of Events: find them here.

Eminently collectable, absolutely essential, The Rivan Codex is the book no Eddings reader will want to miss.

(END BLURB)

The book is broken up into the main sections: Holy Books, The Histories, The Battle of Vo Mimbre, The Mallorean Gospels.

I will put up a full review when I finish the book. I've got to go do some reading now.

Regards,

- pf.

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If you have read The Rivan Codex and would like to say what you thought of it then please email me at [email protected]

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