When I finished reading "Pawn" I was so angry that one of my co-workers had suggested it to me. It was slow, and I didn't care about what happened to any of the characters at the end of the book. However, my friend assurred me that the following books in the "Belgariad" built upon this first book, and that I wouldn't regret reading this book once I was done with the series. He was absolutely correct. Once I had finished the first five books, I couldn't wait to read more. Now, I read anything I can find by Eddings