The Belgariad

There are five books in this series – the first being Pawn of Prophecy. This isn't fantasy with a lesson. Nor is it fantasy with emotional depth. And it doesn't even come close to being a fantasy for intellectual discussion, but it is fantasy for fun.Why it made the listThere's nothing particularly special about this series – we've seen characters and read stories like this before. It's not even the best example of this kind of fantasy. If you're looking for something that is both quick to read and an entertaining piece of fiction, then The Belgariad is perfect for you.It's also an important series for the effect it had on the fantasy genre. This was one of those series that proved that fantasy could appeal to a wider audience. Probably because it doesn't take itself so seriously, it was one of the first big fantasy bestsellers.If you'd like to introduce fantasy to someone who has never read anything in the genre before – especially if they're younger – then David Eddings is a good option. The characters are easy to identify with, the cultures aren't unlike the ones in our world and there's enough humor and adventure to keep anyone entertained. If you can finish these books and not wish you were a thousand-year old cantankerous sorcerer like Belgarath, then there's no hope for you.