A quick glance at my Twitter and something caught my eye yesterday.
‘David Edding has passed away.’
It was a name that I was familiar with, yet a name that I have not come across in years. It brought back the memories when I was still schooling, and when I actually read books.
I remember the first fantasy book that I came across was back in Secondary 2. A classmate recommended me the book Magician by Raymond E. Feist. Before then, I knew nothing about fantasy books, but within a few pages, I was hooked. The idea of a small boy who went on to become the most powerful magician in two worlds somehow appealed to me. Perhaps deep inside the boy I was then, I was hoping to be like Pug, that small boy, hoping that when I grow up, I will be somebody.
David Eddings, Tolkien (way before the movies came out), Tracy Hickman, Margaret Weis, and other fantasy authors, I read their books again and again. The stuff of my day dreams then were made of powerful wizard battling against the immense might of the dragons, to save the beautiful elven lady captured, or a beggar boy growing up to be a knight in shinning armour, riding a white unicorn and leading an army to overthrow the evil King, and other fantasy inspired dreams. Looking back, I think reading fantasy books help to develop the creativity side of me.
However when I started work, the time spent reading books gets lesser and lesser, and then one day it just stopped. The only non-work related stuff I read are what is on Facebook, Twitter and Google News. It is sad really.
After thinking about it, I told myself that no matter how busy I am, I should start reading books again. One of my friends told me before that while food is the source of nourishment for the body, books are the source of nourishment for the brain.
So thanks David Eddings for everything. Not only you were partly responsible for how I am today, but also you were part of the wonderful memories I have now when I was much younger. I hope you are now beside Aldur, enjoying a tankard of ale and giving yourself a pat on the back for all the wonderful books you have written.
