Eragon and Eldest

DarthIggy · Jul 23, 2007

I recently finished reading Eragon and Eldest and as I did so, I noticed something that was very distracting...

If you haven't read the books and don't want any spoilers, read no further.

A farm boy, abandoned to relatives as a baby grows up and befriends a mysterious old man who turns out to be a member of an ancient, benevolent order which has been nearly forgotten. This order had been destroyed through the betrayal of one of its own and now a dark empire sits in its place.

The farm boy returns home to find his farm destroyed and his family killed so he sets out on an adventure with the old man who trains him in the old forgotten ways. Along the way the old man is killed and the boy rescues a beautiful princess. He joins the rebellion and defeats the evil empire in a climactic battle.

Then in the sequal, he goes off to a far away place to be trained by another member of the ancient order, but leaves his training early when he sees, in a vision, that his friends need his help. In the climax, he discovers that he is the son of the evil right-hand man of the emperor.

I can't wait for the third book to come out so I can see how the escape from Jabba's palace turns out.

ChaosTitan · Jul 23, 2007

JamieFord · Jul 23, 2007

Impressive books for his age, but yeah, largely derivative. I guess you could call it an homage, rather than outright plagarism.

Inky · Jul 23, 2007

Bought the books ages ago for my kids. Saw the movie. Uh hem, we'll not bother with the critiquing.

Don't have the patience to read these myself, so read your spoiler. And laughed my ass off! Zeus, but you're right!!!! Just from seeing the movie, young Luke is alive and well!!!
Yippeeee!!!

Now...can we have another huge Dan Brown court showdown & sue for plagarism?

OddButInteresting · Jul 23, 2007

http://www.anti-shurtugal.com/ - You most certainly are not alone.

I've never read the books, myself. I'm not a keen reader (despite being an avid writer), but the critique of the books on the above site (check out 'The Eight Epistles' for more in-depth analysis) has helped my writing no end.

I did read an extract from Eragon and one from Eldest on the Inheritance site (http://www.alagaesia.com/), and whilst it did seem like Chris Paolini was trying a little hard, I got the feeling that it could potentially be a decent read; despite how heavily "influenced" he is by exisiting fantasy works.

It's familiar, and it's selling very well. It clearly works and Paolini has to be doing something right.

rugcat · Jul 23, 2007

Damn! He stole my idea.

Inky · Jul 23, 2007

JamieFord said:
Impressive books for his age, but yeah, largely derivative. I guess you could call it an homage, rather than outright plagarism.

Depends if you're in a charitable mood or not. I think I just became disgusted by this twerp allowing himself to be passed off as some sort of boy-author genius. Wait...that would entail me taking him seriously...hmmm...maybe it would be easier to give him a time out? Ground him from the XBox?

DarthIggy · Jul 23, 2007

OddButInteresting said:
http://www.anti-shurtugal.com/ - You most certainly are not alone.

I've never read the books, myself. I'm not a keen reader (despite being an avid writer), but the critique of the books on the above site (check out 'The Eight Epistles' for more in-depth analysis) has helped my writing no end.

I did read an extract from Eragon and one from Eldest on the Inheritance site (http://www.alagaesia.com/), and whilst it did seem like Chris Paolini was trying a little hard, I got the feeling that it could potentially be a decent read; despite how heavily "influenced" he is by exisiting fantasy works.

It's familiar, and it's selling very well. It clearly works and Paolini has to be doing something right.

Good, I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.

I thought they were good books and very well-written. In fact, even though it's not really fair to compare a book to a movie, I think he did a better job of telling the story than Lucas did.

But, like I said, it was distacting. I kept finding myself looking for the next parallel, rather than paying any real attention to the story. When Eragon rescued the elf princess from her cell I half-expected her to say, "You're a little short for a Stormtrooper."

ChaosTitan · Jul 23, 2007

You know we never see? A poor farm girl who goes and rescues a handsome prince from the evil empire.

Farm girls unite!

Inky · Jul 23, 2007

ChaosTitan said:
You know we never see? A poor farm girl who goes and rescues a handsome prince from the evil empire.

Farm girls unite!

Problem is, we kiss the prince & he turns into a toad. And the evil empire is run by a delicious bad boy...with fangs....wait...jeeze...what IS it with me and fangs today?

Nevermind.
Carry on.

OddButInteresting · Jul 23, 2007

inked09012 said:
wait...jeeze...what IS it with me and fangs today?

I knew a girl once who dug the whole sexuality of vampires (she practiced it in the bedroom), especially the concept of sucking blood from the neck.

Yeah... she was a little weird.

I can definitely see how looking out for the next parallel would be quite distracting. However, maybe all isn't bad as you say Paolini tells the story better than Lucas.

At this rate a prequel trilogy set during the age of the Dragon Riders and the Rise of Galbatorix is most probably on the cards. Something tells me Paolini's a one hit wonder, and after Inheritance he may have trouble getting published based on the popularity of his trilogy alone.

I know there are plenty of (clearly envious, might I add) critics at Anti-Shurtugal that would take great joy in seeing his popularity fade away. I think it's sad to be honest. They should stick to writing what they enjoy, and go about trying to get it published rather than obsessing over the success (just or unjust) of a young author.

JCT · Jul 23, 2007

ChaosTitan said:
You know we never see? A poor farm girl who goes and rescues a handsome prince from the evil empire.

Farm girls unite!

Good idea. I would use it except that would mean research since I don't know how girls think and react too well and research means work and work means...well someone can write it :tongue

ChaosTitan · Jul 23, 2007

inked09012 said:
Problem is, we kiss the prince & he turns into a toad. And the evil empire is run by a delicious bad boy...with fangs....

How funny would that be, though? Running around with the toad prince in your knapsack, trying not to squash him as you fight off the sexy advances of your fanged bad boy...

ChaosTitan · Jul 23, 2007

JCT said:
Good idea. I would use it except that would mean research since I don't know how girls think and react too well and research means work and work means...well someone can write it

I didn't think we were that complex. :roll:

Zoombie · Jul 23, 2007

I once had a strange idea about taking 7 farmboys who are all chosen ones, locking them in a dungeon with random weapons and saying, "Fight it out. The one who survives is the heir to the throne."

It's Cliche Royal!

Silverhand · Jul 23, 2007

OddButInteresting said:
At this rate a prequel trilogy set during the age of the Dragon Riders and the Rise of Galbatorix is most probably on the cards. Something tells me Paolini's a one hit wonder, and after Inheritance he may have trouble getting published based on the popularity of his trilogy alone.

I know there are plenty of (clearly envious, might I add) critics at Anti-Shurtugal that would take great joy in seeing his popularity fade away. I think it's sad to be honest. They should stick to writing what they enjoy, and go about trying to get it published rather than obsessing over the success (just or unjust) of a young author.

Though I have seen more bizarre things happen, I highly doubt Paolini will have a lack of people willing to throw him a deal. Why? Because his books have sold in the millions...and they continue to sell.

Saying that, I agree with you about most of the critics bashing him. Why call him a hack...or talentless? I mean, considering that he has already done what most writers can only dream of...how bad is he? Now, I am sure this is where I will be countered with the standard, "But sales dont mean it's good," statement. To that, I say...what other measure of success is there...if not to the people who pay you again and again?

DarthIggy · Jul 23, 2007

Silverhand said:
Though I have seen more bizarre things happen, I highly doubt Paolini will have a lack of people willing to throw him a deal. Why? Because his books have sold in the millions...and they continue to sell.

Saying that, I agree with you about most of the critics bashing him. Why call him a hack...or talentless? I mean, considering that he has already done what most writers can only dream of...how bad is he? Now, I am sure this is where I will be countered with the standard, "But sales dont mean it's good," statement. To that, I say...what other measure of success is there...if not to the people who pay you again and again?

I agree. I would never deny him his success. The books are good. And between the two, you can see there is some growth in his writing ability.

I hope the next installment will have a little more originality to it. But now that I think of it, Eldest added a little more originality by revealing Eragon's long lost sibling. Luke didn't find out about his until the third part of the trilogy.

Sassee · Jul 23, 2007

inked09012 said:
Problem is, we kiss the prince & he turns into a toad. And the evil empire is run by a delicious bad boy...with fangs....wait...jeeze...what IS it with me and fangs today?

Nevermind.
Carry on.

Fangs! <contented sigh>

I love delicious bad boys.

Although it would be really funny to see a particularly clumsy tomboy try and rush in to save the prince from certain doom, only to have her mess up so badly he's incapacitated, and in the mean time tall dark and fangy tries to lure her over to the dark side and attempts to kill the prince... I see an epic tale of comedic error unfolding...

Roger J Carlson · Jul 23, 2007

JamieFord said:
Impressive books for his age, but yeah, largely derivative. I guess you could call it an homage, rather than outright plagarism.

To a certain extent, all literature is derivative. That's why it's important to read voraciously. The more you read, the less derivative your work will be from any single source.

I doubt if Paolini was intentionally derivative. My guess is that Star Wars had such a huge impact on him that he just gravitated to it while thinking he was creating something original. It sells so well because it also resonates with kids on whom Star Wars had a great impact. And just like him, they haven't read enough to see how derivative it is.

I also think that these books won't stand up to the test of time. By that I mean that there I books I first read as a teen that I can still go back and read as an adult. I don't think Eragon will be one of those books for most teens.

dclary · Jul 23, 2007

Um.... The first Harry Potter's not a hell of a lot different...

JCT · Jul 23, 2007

I read the first chapter of the first book and it was pretty bad...not unpublishable bad, but needs some more polishing bad. I give him credit for doing what he did but I think he needs to hone his writing skills a whole lot more.

OddButInteresting · Jul 23, 2007

dclary said:
Um.... The first Harry Potter's not a hell of a lot different...

Quentin Tarantino built a career out of sewing together bits and pieces from films that he loved.

It's how you handle the material. The concept of a boy wizard going to a school of witchcraft and wizardry was very original at the time. The concept is essentially the skeleton of the material. The flesh comprises of what surrounds the concept: the environment, the characters, the situations, etc.

Paolini took the skeleton of the Star Wars trilogy, and applied more than a pound of Tolkein's flesh to it. However, the result is unique because it is written in his own style, and is constructed in a way that he has planned.

If the books were straight adaptations of either Star Wars or Lord of The Rings, with a few minor alterations (like character and place names), then THAT would be plagiarism.

dclary · Jul 23, 2007

JCT said:
I read the first chapter of the first book and it was pretty bad...not unpublishable bad, but needs some more polishing bad. I give him credit for doing what he did but I think he needs to hone his writing skills a whole lot more.

Given that he's what, 18? He's got time to hone.

Zoombie · Jul 23, 2007

I know 19 teenagers who write at least 5 times better than Paolini. More creative too.

It's just, their parents aren't publishers.

Vincent · Jul 23, 2007

I only wonder how this early and spectacular success will affect his future growth as a writer. I mean, where will he be at age 30, 40? 'That kid who wrote a bestseller years back'? Or will the attention encourage him to push himself further, hone his craft, build a real writing career? I certainly see the potential, and I hope he does well for himself. I just have to wonder.

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