I’m re-reading them again and quite like them, but OP might not - depending on what they consider bigotry and how sensitive they are. It was written in the 80s (Belgariad, anyway) and sensibilities have moved on a bit.
Especially ethnicity is very simplistic in the Belgariad - these races are mostly good, these races are mostly bad, each one has a pithy stereotype and people seem to behave more or less like theirs dictates. That seems unfortunate, but in-universe this is justified - the races really are significantly different through selection (7 gods each picked their people), breeding and religious pressure. One of the gods is the Big Bad, making for an “evil race”. The story is not quite that black and white, but it’s also only as complicated as needed.
I think taking it as commentary is a big mistake - at worst it’s still just kinda lazy, IMO - but some people will likely get offended by it anyway. (“This will probably offend Polgara, but that’s too bad. If it wasn’t this, she’d just find something else.”)
I would still recommend it to anyone who likes irreverent (for the 80s) High Fantasy - the story is bog standard YA Fantasy/coming-of-age etc., but then the story isn’t really the point. While not Tolkien or Sanderson level worldbuilding, it certainly fits the lore part.
I’m re-reading them again and quite like them, but OP might not - depending on what they consider bigotry and how sensitive they are. It was written in the 80s (Belgariad, anyway) and sensibilities have moved on a bit.
Especially ethnicity is very simplistic in the Belgariad - these races are mostly good, these races are mostly bad, each one has a pithy stereotype and people seem to behave more or less like theirs dictates. That seems unfortunate, but in-universe this is justified - the races really are significantly different through selection (7 gods each picked their people), breeding and religious pressure. One of the gods is the Big Bad, making for an “evil race”. The story is not quite that black and white, but it’s also only as complicated as needed.
I think taking it as commentary is a big mistake - at worst it’s still just kinda lazy, IMO - but some people will likely get offended by it anyway. (“This will probably offend Polgara, but that’s too bad. If it wasn’t this, she’d just find something else.”)
I would still recommend it to anyone who likes irreverent (for the 80s) High Fantasy - the story is bog standard YA Fantasy/coming-of-age etc., but then the story isn’t really the point. While not Tolkien or Sanderson level worldbuilding, it certainly fits the lore part.