2009 Year in Review: The death of fantasy writer David Eddings

While writer David Eddings' life and death in Carson City went largely unnoticed here, legions of fans from across the world kept track via nevadaappeal

.com of the prolific fantasy writer who, along with his wife Leigh Eddings, gave readers the stories of "The Belgariad" and "The Mallorean," among dozens of others.

In 2007 when he accidentally burned down his garage on Bonanza Drive, nevadaappeal.com received thousands of Web hits.

His death on June 2 was one of the top read stories on the Web site in 2009.

Eddings lived in Carson City since 1988 and in the last years of his life he and his mother-in-law cared for Leigh in the couple's Carson City home. Leigh died in February 2007.

Eddings' brother Dennis said that in the months before his death David Eddings was working on a manuscript unlike anything he'd ever written. It was never completed.

As one nevadaappeal.com reader commented upon Edding's passing: "Truly, a sad and tragic event for the fantasy community. It is a great loss to lose this couple who created such engaging works."

- F.T. Norton