I found Robert Jordan's earlier books to be rather good, but they quickly degraded in quality, probably around the third book or so. Honestly, Eye of the World itself was a very good book however.
And although I didn't find Eddings to be too impressive an author, he is by no means the worst.
Reading L.E. Modesitt's (sp) books (the Recluse ones) which my brother had read, I realized that every book involves an absolutely identical plot in which some powerful order mage that is simple at heart and works as a carpender or something must fight off chaos in the Last chapter, beating the odds and going temporarily blind by overuse of order magic. From what I've read he gets my worst author prize.
By the way, would anyone advise reading any of Fred Saberhagen's stuff? I have some of his books that I bought used sitting around in my line of books to read.
But I'm really more of a SF person anyway. As such I give you Greg Egan's webpage for those who dare read his short stories Online...or try to play quantum soccer.
http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/