Eragon

[Pharoah Beagle]

I had not been into fantasy novels for quite awhile, but I kept hearing how good the 'Harry Potter' books were, especially for being "kids books". I ended up reading all of them over the course of a couple months. Anyway, seeing how I enjoyed those novels so much, I decided to take a chance on another "kids book", this one entitled 'Eragon'. It's written by Christiopher Paolini, and after 127 pages, I'm glad I picked it up. I'm interested if others on this board have read it, and what they think of it.

[Solaris]

I had not been into fantasy novels for quite awhile, but I kept hearing how good the 'Harry Potter' books were, especially for being "kids books". I ended up reading all of them over the course of a couple months. Anyway, seeing how I enjoyed those novels so much, I decided to take a chance on another "kids book", this one entitled 'Eragon'. It's written by Christiopher Paolini, and after 127 pages, I'm glad I picked it up. I'm interested if others on this board have read it, and what they think of it.

Isn't this one of the teen authors everyone was buzzing about? I've heard the book is really good.

[Pharoah Beagle]

Isn't this one of the teen authors everyone was buzzing about? I've heard the book is really good.


Yes indeed, he does look quite young, but it a really good book.

[Mike Smash!]

Yes indeed, he does look quite young, but it a really good book.

Very young. He's 19. Wrote the book when he was fifteen. Nice kid, too. Seemed really smart. He did a signing at my store a few months ago and is planning on doing an event at my B&N when the second book in this series comes out.

[FresnoXpatriate]

He's also scheduled to appear at SDCC.

[effae]

I don't know whether I like this book, it kinda screams Star Wars to me. But it is a fun read. I'll definately watch out for book this guy writes when he is older though, he has talent.

[effae]

oops, sorry. double post.

[comicsarefun]

;) I really liked this book, I hope the series continues strong. The beginning of the book provides alot of background information, the adventure begins about 100 pages in.

[Cleric of Hell's Brigade]

;) I really liked this book, I hope the series continues strong. The beginning of the book provides alot of background information, the adventure begins about 100 pages in.



The 2nd book comes out soon. I can't wait.

[Zeta]

Meh. I thought about picking it up, I just haven't felt up to medieval fantasy lately. I dunno. I think my suspension of disbeleif has worn thin on places like the "Castle of Agomogo" and such. I've been leaning towards fantasy set in the modern day, lately. But it's so hard to find.

[Bright-Raven]

Decent enough writer, though I'm sorry, he'd be a nobody if his parents hadn't owned their own publishing company and got him into print and promoted him well enough to be noticed by a corporate publisher.

Nothing personal against the guy. It just goes to show that talent isn't what gets you published. It's who you know and what they can do for you.

[The Defenestrator]

Doesn't that have a picture of a dragon on it? Blue cover? My wife's weird single friend, who doesn't read, bought a copy of the book because of the pretty dragon and has left it on the floor of her car for the last year or so. She never read it, and every time we get a ride from her, we poke fun at her for not reading.

[Dennis K]

Decent enough writer, though I'm sorry, he'd be a nobody if his parents hadn't owned their own publishing company and got him into print and promoted him well enough to be noticed by a corporate publisher.

Nothing personal against the guy. It just goes to show that talent isn't what gets you published. It's who you know and what they can do for you.


So what's the problem, the fact that life isn't fair? That some people have an advantage? Not really a newsflash, is it?

Also, I read not too long ago that the Eragon movie will begin production soon

[Bright-Raven]

American Brutus:

So what's the problem, the fact that life isn't fair? That some people have an advantage? Not really a newsflash, is it?

The problem is the misrepresentation of the media, who tends to describe the author, Christopher Paolini, as this wunderkind teen author, when in reality there is nothing that amazing about his writing skill, as much as his family's fortune and business sense to get him not only into print, but to have the means to market and put him out on tour the way they did (because touring is expensive as hell), which led him to being picked up by Scholastic or whomever it was who published him.

Give the guy his credit for being a hell of a business person and for having the will to tour the way he did (maybe it was just the fact that he is that young and didn't have "life" in the way yet - most authors certainly cannot tour to the extent he has). But I just don't see him as this great writer that he is being heralded as. Not that he doesn't write an entertaining work. He does. But so do a lot of fanboys writing fanfic on websites, for that matter, eh?

[MKTerra]

The only part of it I've read is the first few pages, while in a store. The writing style didn't really grab me, but I'm reserving judgment till I read more of it, assuming I ever get around to it...

[Headhunter]

Nothing personal against the guy. It just goes to show that talent isn't what gets you published. It's who you know and what they can do for you.
That's the way the world works, unfortunately; merit is only a fringe factor.

[Dennis K]

The problem is the misrepresentation of the media, who tends to describe the author, Christopher Paolini, as this wunderkind teen author, when in reality there is nothing that amazing about his writing skill, as much as his family's fortune and business sense to get him not only into print, but to have the means to market and put him out on tour the way they did (because touring is expensive as hell), which led him to being picked up by Scholastic or whomever it was who published him.

While he's no wunderkind author, he is a very good author, especially for being a teen. Most teens have a hard time putting two good sentences together, much less write a solidly entertaining book.

[Erebus]

AWESOME book. I'm pretty sure 20th century Fox is going to make a movie. Another great teenage writer- Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Wrote her first book at the age of 13

[Solaris]

You know what irks me? I wish that the bookstores would create a special shelf in the "young adult/teen" section for books written by kid/teen authors... and pull some of the titles out of mothballs. I think they should also include ones where the kid co-wrote with an adult author. Shirley Rousseau Murphy co-wrote a great book a few years ago with a male teen (his name was Wesley something, IIRC) that paid tribute to the "Finn MacCumhal" legend... and it's OOP, can't find it anywhere. IIRC the title was something like "The Medallion of the Black Hound." The kid came up with the story, and Murphy worked with him on it, and used her publisher to get it published.

Piers Anthony finished off a story for the family of another teen author who died (of cancer, I believe) before he could finish the book. I've heard that it's also a good book.

I think having books written by kids/teens, and/or co-written by the same, on a special shelf would be a great move in encouraging teen writers... especially if some of the publishers would get said books out of mothballs.

[Hiromi]

I greatly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the trilogy which comes out either next week or the week after(Eldest).

[Dennis K]

AWESOME book. I'm pretty sure 20th century Fox is going to make a movie.

They've already cast the movie, I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a poor man's Harry Potter.

[Rocket13]

Just a quick heads-up that Time magazine has an article about the author of this book and a little about the sequel I think in this weeks issue. Saw it last night while skimming the issue.

[Hiromi]

Eldest is proving to be an enjoyable read, though the jumping around to the three different storylines is a bit tiresome.

[Z-man]

Now, I didn't read the book, but I listened to it as an unabridged book on tape., so keep that in mind.

It looked like he was becoming a better writer as the book went on, but never went back to edit the earlier sections.

I absolutely hated the storyteller (Brom?) with a passion. A character whose sole purpose for most of the book was exposition, getting out facts of the world that couldn't come out in the book. That's sloppy writing, plain and simple.

But other than that, reasonably entertaining for my commute.

[Sadyv]

It was better when they called it Star Wars.

[Zeta]

Indeed. I was expecting a Tolkien ripoff from the setting, which is essentially Middle Earth, with elves, dwarves, humans and orcs.

But this is Star Wars. Entirely in terms of plot!

A small farmboy discovers a mysterious object being pursued by the empire, formerly owned by a princess. The empire's chasers burn down his farm and kill his uncle, so he takes up with the local old man who was once a former magical knight of goodness before his best friend, the kid's father, turned evil under the influence of the emperor and struck him down. He gives the kid his father's sword and they set off to join up with rebels.

Why isn't Lucas suing his ass?

Also, if only the Panzer Dragoon games were still sold. It's like this Dragon Rider stuff, but with a deeper story and a scifi setting.

[Alex]

Indeed. I was expecting a Tolkien ripoff from the setting, which is essentially Middle Earth, with elves, dwarves, humans and orcs.

But this is Star Wars. Entirely in terms of plot!

A small farmboy discovers a mysterious object being pursued by the empire, formerly owned by a princess. The empire's chasers burn down his farm and kill his uncle, so he takes up with the local old man who was once a former magical knight of goodness before his best friend, the kid's father, turned evil under the influence of the emperor and struck him down. He gives the kid his father's sword and they set off to join up with rebels.

Why isn't Lucas suing his ass?

Also, if only the Panzer Dragoon games were still sold. It's like this Dragon Rider stuff, but with a deeper story and a scifi setting.
Forget lucas, this kid is 19.
Which means he's a few years younger then me, and he grew up with videogames. That right there is a plot to almost every rpg that came out between 1988 and 1999, we are seeing what videogames as a medium are doing to the world!
...
I won't read these books myself, put off them by a guy who comes into work and talks about how great it is, and how great the movie will be, every week.
This guy has awful taste in movies, so i just assumed the books were no good.

[saintjon]

It had a couple good scenes and it was entertaining enough, but nothing really original or groundbreaking about it. even/especially in terms of style. Not quite as good as Magician by Ray Feist, but it's a similar kind of appeal.

[Blueferret]

I was given this book as a gift for Christmas. I finally got around to reading it last week. How was this book not sued by Lucas for theft of ideas? It's a well written book and fast paced, but every scene in it screams Star Wars!! It's a blatant rip-off.

[xerces213]

although it may be a rip off with a different setting you could just think of it as a homage
just like superman was a pseudohomage to hugo danner

[xerces213]

although it maybe a rip off with a different setting you could just think of it as a homage
just like superman was a pseudohomage to hugo danner
although hugo danner was more of an inspiration

[Zeta]

No, there's a line between an homage and a complete ripoff, and Eragon cheerfully crosses it.

In the second half of Eragon, Eragon rescues a spunky princess with the help of a rogueish criminal, and his mentor is killed. There they escape to the rebel base, where Eragon and his friends help defend it from the empire. After the battle with the Dark Warrior, Eragon has a magical vision telling him to seek training from an eccentric old knight who lives as a hermit in the woods.

In Book 2, Eragon seeks out mystical training from the crazy old pointy-eared hermit in the woods, while his friends find themselves in peril. Eragon must make a choice between continuing his training or saving his friends, but sets off to fight. There, he is defeated by a high ranking officer from the Evil Empire, who reveals that the Emperor's right hand man was his FATHER! Eragon slinks away, after he finds out one of his friends was kidnapped by disgusting criminals, and sets off to save them before confronting his evil relative once in for all in Book 3.

That's not an homage. That's outright theft.

[xerces213]

No, there's a line between an homage and a complete ripoff, and Eragon cheerfully crosses it.

In the second half of Eragon, Eragon rescues a spunky princess with the help of a rogueish criminal, and his mentor is killed. There they escape to the rebel base, where Eragon and his friends help defend it from the empire. After the battle with the Dark Warrior, Eragon has a magical vision telling him to seek training from an eccentric old knight who lives as a hermit in the woods.

In Book 2, Eragon seeks out mystical training from the crazy old pointy-eared hermit in the woods, while his friends find themselves in peril. Eragon must make a choice between continuing his training or saving his friends, but sets off to fight. There, he is defeated by a high ranking officer from the Evil Empire, who reveals that the Emperor's right hand man was his FATHER! Eragon slinks away, after he finds out one of his friends was kidnapped by disgusting criminals, and sets off to save them before confronting his evil relative once in for all in Book 3.

That's not an homage. That's outright theft.

i didn't read the second one only the first
yeah that does sound like the first and second star wars movie though oh well
star wars with a different spin the spin being magic instead of the force
although i still like the book even if it was a rip-off

[DonC]

I haven't read the book, but seeing the movie I was making all kinds of Star Wars jokes in my head. When the Eragon went to kiss the princess I blurted out, "I hope they aren't really brother and sister."

This was, to me, a very obvious Star Wars rip off.

[Chiasm]

I was given this book as a gift for Christmas. I finally got around to reading it last week. How was this book not sued by Lucas for theft of ideas? It's a well written book and fast paced, but every scene in it screams Star Wars!! It's a blatant rip-off.

I did a review of the movie in the TV / Film section that went something like:

Princess Leia is fleeing from the evil Darth Durza with the stolen plans, er egg, to the empires secret weapon. Just before capture she is able to send the plans, er egg, to Eragon Skywalker who is taken in by wizened Jedi Rider Obi Wan Brohm. Etc, etc

I haven't read the book but if the movie was even close to being the same then it is a point by point rip off of Star Wars with a bit of Lord of the Rings thrown in. But the kid was only 15 at the time of writing it so its hard to be too critical of him.

[xerces213]

Eldest is proving to be an enjoyable read, though the jumping around to the three different storylines is a bit tiresome.

yeah i read another book with the jumping around of storylines it was The Great Tree of Avalon i don't recall who it was written by but the storylines eventually came together and it worked out really well in the end

[xerces213]

I did a review of the movie in the TV / Film section that went something like:

Princess Leia is fleeing from the evil Darth Durza with the stolen plans, er egg, to the empires secret weapon. Just before capture she is able to send the plans, er egg, to Eragon Skywalker who is taken in by wizened Jedi Rider Obi Wan Brohm. Etc, etc

I haven't read the book but if the movie was even close to being the same then it is a point by point rip off of Star Wars with a bit of Lord of the Rings thrown in. But the kid was only 15 at the time of writing it so its hard to be too critical of him.

hopefully the third installment will scream less star-wars

[Fireblazer16]

I don't believe it is a Lord of the Rings nor Star Wars rip-off at all. Yes, it may have some similiarities to it, but that doesn't mean it's necessary a rip-off, and for someone who started it in his teens, I believe Christopher Paolini did a excellent job writing, and deserves to be appericated.

[LordAllMighty]

I don't believe it is a Lord of the Rings nor Star Wars rip-off at all. Yes, it may have some similiarities to it, but that doesn't mean it's necessary a rip-off, and for someone who started it in his teens, I believe Christopher Paolini did a excellent job writing, and deserves to be appericated.


I agree, I don't think it that bad. While I agree it does have some similiaties to Star War, it has enough original ideas that it can be consider a good story.

Now if Chris really wanted to do something original, he could kill off the Elf girl and have Eragon fall for the black chick.:evilsmile

Or has that already been done.;)