David Eddings was an American author, best known for his epic fantasy novels. He was born in Spokane, Washington, on July 7, 1931, and was raised in Snohomish, a city near Puget Sound, north from Seattle. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, in 1954, Eddings served in the US Army and worked in various fields before becoming an author. These included working as a buyer for the Boeing Company, being a grocery clerk, and teaching English in a college.
Eddings' writing career began with the publication of his first novel, High Hunt, in 1973. He later turned to the field of fantasy, gaining significant success with his works. His most notable series include The Belgariad and The Malloreon, as well as The Elenium and The Tamuli. These series are often considered as sub-series of greater series. In addition, Eddings co-authored The Dreamers with his wife, Leigh Eddings.
Eddings' personal life had challenging moments. In 1970, he and his wife lost custody of their two children and were sentenced to a year in jail in separate trials after pleading guilty to 11 counts of physical child abuse. These details did not resurface in media coverage of the couple during their successful joint career as authors, only returning to public attention several years after both had died.
Eddings' writing career was marked by best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. His wife, Leigh Eddings, was an uncredited co-author on many of his early books, but he later acknowledged her contribution to all of his works. After serving their sentences, the couple moved to Denver, where David found work in a grocery store. His first books, which were general fiction, sold moderately well. However, he achieved great success in the field of epic fantasy. Eddings once mentioned in an interview that he did not take orders from readers.
Tragedy struck Eddings' life when his wife, Leigh Eddings, died following a series of strokes on February 28, 2007. Eddings himself passed away on June 2, 2009, at the age of 77. Despite the challenges in his personal life, Eddings' legacy as an author of epic fantasy novels remains significant. His works continue to be enjoyed by fans of the genre, solidifying his place as a notable author in the field of fantasy literature.