Eragon

HeadInTheClouds wrote:Yeah, I've seen quotes by Paolini. It's one thing to be totally full of yourself and be a talented writer. It's another thing all together to be totally full of yourself and be nothing but a copycat with very little writing talent, if any at all. He acts like most of the content of his book are actually his own ideas. Does he think the world is stupid and won't notice? Being a big Lord of the Rings fan myself, I can't even describe how much it ticks me off that Paolini quite obviously stole Tolkien's concept of elves and dwarves, without even trying to cover it up. Have you all seen the lists of words from Eragon that were so obviously copied from LOTR? It's mind-boggling to me how the world has accepted this book and acted like it's no big deal that it comes dangerously close to plagiarism. *shakes head sadly* What has the world come to?

I know, it's unbelievable! And he bases "his" "Ancient Language" *cough*unashamedly using Tolkein's own words*cough* off of languages like Old Norse. Now, a quote from Wikipedia, regarding one of Tolkein's languages, Sindarin:

Tolkien based the sound and some of the grammar of his Noldorin/Sindarin on Welsh, and Sindarin displays some of the consonant mutations that characterise the Celtic (especially Brythonic) languages. The language was also probably influenced to an extent by the Germanic languages, as Tolkien was a scholar of Old English, Old Norse and Gothic

What a coincidence.

I read Eragon sometime last year, and I didn't absolute hate it, but I didn't think it was that great. I mean, it was a rather mindless thing to read when I had nothing else to do, but the extremely Lord of the Rings-Star Warsy plot made it extremely predictable and not all that enjoyable for me. If you ask me, Murtagh was the saving grace of the book.

Then I read Eldest. And after that, I really didn't like Eragon OR Eldest.

Anyways, I think Paolini does have a writing talent, but he just needs to fine tune it. A lot of Eldest made me shudder, but there were a few parts that were rather good. It wasn't a disgrace to writing or anything, but I certainly expected more out of a best-seller book. I've read many other young adult fantasy books that are much more worth the read.

Agreed, Poalini bases a lot offf of Star Wars such as Eragon = Luke Skywalker,Brom= Obi Wan,Arya=Leia,and many other elements. Poalini also based off The Immortals Quartet,Dragon Riders of Pern,and of course Star Wars.
I think Poalini knew a certain Kathy Tyres who wrote a Star Wars book.

Writersdomain wrote:Anyways, I think Paolini does have a writing talent, but he just needs to fine tune it. A lot of Eldest made me shudder, but there were a few parts that were rather good. It wasn't a disgrace to writing or anything, but I certainly expected more out of a best-seller book. I've read many other young adult fantasy books that are much more worth the read.

I agree. Paolini isn't a terrible writer, he just seems to think taking entire words and plots from other writers is okay. Personally I blame his parents and publisher for helping him publish and market a totally unoriginal book and acting like it was acceptable.

Eragon proves that it really isn't the quality of the book that makes it a bestseller, it's the marketing. I've read YA fantasy books that are a million times better than Eragon but no one has ever heard of them. And then i'll ask them if they've read Eragon and they'll say: "Oh yeah, i've read that one. It really sucked."

In my opinion, I think it gives a bad impression of young writers to the people who count.

HeadInTheClouds wrote: Eragon proves that it really isn't the quality of the book that makes it a bestseller, it's the marketing. I've read YA fantasy books that are a million times better than Eragon but no one has ever heard of them. And then i'll ask them if they've read Eragon and they'll say: "Oh yeah, i've read that one. It really sucked."

I know, it's sickening. But, in worst case scenarios, some people will say they've read it and that it's the best book they've ever read. That really gets on my nerves.

I read Eragon because i saw the movie trailer. I liked the books but i agree that the ending to the second book is irritating and pointless. even though there are some simularities to star wars i liked the books and found the characters interesting.

But i also agree with KazSmurf. There are some better fantasy writers out there that people have never even heard of and have some of the best inspirational writing out there.

...................................................

Just finished Eldest. I'll leave it at that.

Loved the book, hated the movie. Haven't read Eldest, though, nor have I watched/read Star Wars. (books or movies of both?) Of course, it's rare that I watch a movie before reading a book. I thoroughly enjoyed Eragon the book, though it seemed a bit long and kinda repetetive at some points. Saphira was the best character in my opinion, i loved her wit and wisdom. Anyone want to tell me what's so great about star wars? maybe convince me to go watch/read (whatever) star wars?

I find it simultaneously amazing and terrifying that you have never watched the Star Wars movie, nor are you aware exactly was Star Wars is. Indeed, I believe you may well be the only person in the Western hemisphere who is in this position.

You-you-you-you don't know what Star Wars is? Star Wars? *faints* Even my Star Wars-loathing elder brother knows what Star Wars is! Well, he'd have to know what it is, wouldn't he, or else he couldn't loathe it.

In the old ones, there is perhaps more plot, and the special effects are good, considering their time, except for a bit in Return of the Jedi, which was really bad.

In the new ones, there are some seriously cool, mouth-dropping lightsabre duels. The Phantom Menace isn't THAT great. It got an award for Worst Supporting Actor, and I can see why.

How is it that when Johnny Depp says "Not good", is sounds funny and believable, yet when Jake Lloyd says "Not good" it just sounds silly? Better actors.

Attack of the Clones was better than The Phantom Menace, but Revenge of the Sith was brilliant. Even though I knew what was going to happen in the end (of a sorts) it was still sad, and....ironic? Is that the right word? I have difficulty recognizing irony.

But yes, watch the movies. A thought tho, is it better to watch them in the order they came out (first episode IV, then V, then VI) or in chronological order? If you watch them chronologically, you'd get the full impact of Anakin's transformation in Revenge of the Sith, but if you watch them in the order they came out, then you'd get the full impact of the punch in The Empire Strikes Back. (I won't say what it is for those who haven't seen it. )

-ST

thanks! yes, i do feel ashamed...only person in the world who hasn't watched star wars.... quite honestly, i went to a very strict boarding academy where movies and music weren't allowed... hehe no joke! so now i'm in college, and kinda experiencing the world for the first time...everything!
i will definately go rent the movies. so there's the old and the new, huh? great..the more the better! Finals end next week then i'm home free, and i guess it's time for some Star Wars education!

Chris Paolini wrote:
The real torture with Eragon came in the editing. I discovered that editing is really another word for someone ruthlessly tearing apart your work with a big smile, all the while telling you that it will make the book so much better. And it did, though it felt like splinters of hot bamboo being driven into my tender eyeballs.

Get a clue, idiot. It's bitter reality. Just because your father pulled all the strings doesn't mean you get to escape all the realities of publishing.

EDIT: OMGOSH...no Star Wars in childhood? :tries not to blurt out several spoilers:
I would suggest: Go to the bathroom before you start. You won't want to pause the movie. And get a good seat. You won't want to move. xD

I actually...*gulp*...enjoyed Eragon. I do recognize its similarities to LOTR, although I have not read star wars. (Watched some of the movies--hated them. Never bothered to read the books. Not my forte, I guess.) I think that we, as writers, read things differently than the majority of the population. Actually, when I read, I just try and enjoy the book. I keep myself from editing the sentences in my head, or telling myself that a particular plot twist was shamelessly cliche. I'm different when I'm reading than when I'm writing. Perhaps a day will come when this changes, and probably if I read it over again, looking for all the faults, it would drive me crazy, but I think most people enjoyed it because they could identify with the characters, and enjoyed it for that reason. And, honestly, I don't think Paolini is that bad an author, especially for a boy of 16 when he began, depending, of course, on how much it was edited.

By the way, hated the movie. Horrible acting, horrible scenes, horrible everything....

Okay, so I finally found a copy of Eragon in my house and attempted to read it, to see if it was more understandable than Eldest. It isn't.

It is true that the book is almost a copy of Star Wars. Just read the back cover and substitute "Eragon", "wise old man" and "Dragonriders" for "Luke Skywalker", "Obi-Wan" and "Jedi" and there you have Star Wars.

Christopher's writing is extremely hard to read. It's choppy, flat and unrealistic. Despite the fact that the author says that he got his inspiration of Alagaesia by visiting parks and whatnot, he never describes in detail what the landscape looks like except for some brief, vauge comments about a "dark" or "orange and pink" sky.
After Eragon's dragon egg hatches, he expresses little or no emotion at all. You'd think you'd get a short description of Eragon's surprise, but basically all you get is "Eragon stared in astonishment," followed by five pages about the dumb dragon. Big whoop.
Also annoying are the occasional bizzare statements such as "he heard a soundless scream of rage." How can you hear it if it's soundless?

I am also bothered by Christopher's bragging and assumptions that he is the only teenager to write two novels by age 21. I have seen FAR better work written by younger writers on YWS.