Eragon

[rune]

I saw a reference to the 2nd book in this new series by Christopher Paolini


Eldest

May be out August this year

 

[Princess Ivy]

I'm stuggling through it at the moment. The story is enjoyable enough, with some passages which are really good. however, my overall impression is that this is a story which should have matured a little bit. It was writen by a teenager. That is obvious with a lot of the passages. It has potential, but i think it would have benifited from being put on the shelf a few years, then re-visited and corrected by the author. I think his future work will be worth looking out for. However, i've a feeling i won't be finishing this one

And just to note, i'd heard many good things about this book, but it wasn't until i was half way through that i checked the authors bio and noted his age. I read that and thought, yeah, that explains the odd discords that i'm picking up. Not the other way round.

 

[alexhurry]

It is a fairly enjoyable read, but I think Paolini is a bit arrogant, in most of his interviews and biographies, he tries to make out how good an author he is when really he's medicore.

yes he did self publish with his parents at first, but when he was more well known and was on a signing tour, he was approached by someone from Random House publishings and was published by Alfred.A.Knopf. So yes, he got published in basically the same way as other authors.

 

[hypocriticHarkonnen]

i've read Eragon, and though it has hints or traces of some of our well-beloved fantasy books (did anyone notice that there was a place there called Melian? And in the Silmarillion you have Melian the Maya? Coincidence?), I pretty much enjoyed it. But I'm going to have to reread it though, it's been a long time since I've finished it, and I might get confused when I read Eldest.

As for the author himself, darnit! I've been telling myself I'll publish a fantasy novel since I was 10, and this brilliant young guy comes along and makes Eragon! He makes me feel so unaccomplished....feh. ;D

 

[Alia]

He makes me feel so unaccomplished....feh. ;D

I think he makes us all feel that way, especially us over 20.

 

[GOLLUM]

......he's medicore.

At the risk of being howled out of the YA section I'ld have to agree with you on what I've read of these books.

 

[Alia]

You will hear no up roar from me, Gollum. J K Rowling is a better writer. I can see in Eldest where his writing skills have improved but he still has a long way to go. I think what's impressive is the fact he is 19 years old and finished writing a book. How many of us can say the same?

 

[kyektulu]

I still have not gotten round to reading Eragon, it doesnt help with me getting a humongous pile opf books for my birthday.

I have heard both good and bad press about it so I will be wary whilst im reading it.

 

[Jeremy]

I think what's impressive is the fact he is 19 years old and finished writing a book. How many of us can say the same?

I admire Paolini's evident enthusiasm and passion for writing, and I respect him for writing and self-publishing a novel at the tender age of 17 and then having the novel published traditionally at 19. However, in my humble opinion, the novel would not have been published traditionally if it were not for the author's youth, which the publisher must have thought a great gimmick that would help sell books. They were right. Still, I'm surprised that so many youngsters loved Eragon and its sequel, and apparently many here in the forum enjoyed them as well. I'm thinking it's because these two novels share many elements in common with several other great works of fantasy, such as LOTR, Dragonriders of Pern, Earthsea, WOT, Belgariad, and Star Wars. Paolini borrowed heavily from these works and weaved these elements into his own novels. I'm eager to see if he would show greater originality after the Inheritance Trilogy.

 

[Alia]

However, in my humble opinion, the novel would not have been published traditionally if it were not for the author's youth, which the publisher must have thought a great gimmick that would help sell books.

I totally agree with you, Jeremy. These books are being pushed like I have never seen before,I don't believe that the Harry Potter series were pushed nearly this hard all because of the age of the author.

 

[GiantkillerJay]

I've just read Eragon, and enjoyed it. It's not the best book I've read, but I've certainly read worse. I agree that there ar cliche's in it, but that doesn't really bother me, most books in this genre feature archetypes, don't they? From a writing POV, there is some clumsy stuff in there, which he'll no doubt smooth out as he matures, and I thought the last 'act' was weak. But I still enjoyed it and am green with envy with Paolini.
The movie looks interesting though.

 

[ZoeRat]

I read Eragon and thought it was pretty good, but then I tried to read Eldest, and I made it about 100 pages in before I decided it was too boring to continue. Paolini is talented, but there are far more talented writers out there who don't get nearly the amount of attention Paolini has for his mediocre books.

 

[Gladestrider]

I'm about halfway through Eragon, and I'm definately enjoying it. I must admit that I've been putting off reading the book because I was afraid it would be too obvious that it was written by someone so young, but I've been pleasantly suprised.

However, there are elements I don't care for that you wouldn't find with a more experienced/mature author. The thing that stands out the most to me is that the vast majority of sentences seem to be very short, especially those that are purely descriptive. I find it very distracting, and have often had a difficult time getting into the rhythm of the story as a result.

Because he's gotten into the industry so early, and has a clear talent for writing in the fantasy genre, I see great things coming from that one in the future. It'll be fun to follow his career, provided he doesn't crash and burn along the way...

 

[the smiling weirwood]

I thought it was alright, but way too predictable. *sigh* *Spoiler Warning*




















I could tell who was Eragon's father as soon as I heard that story about his mother leaving him in the village and I had my suspicions before that. I also knew Murtagh had to be his brother when we met him.

 

[MJRevell]

"Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world."

What the hell. What slush pile editor would look further than that before tossing the book in the reject pile?

"The weapon was thin enough to slip between a pair of ribs, yet stout enough to hack through the hardest armor."

I am failing to grasp what is so bad about the opening line of the book. To me, it is engaging. The sword quote, yes, but not the first one.

I have yet to read the book, but i myself am writing a YA series, so i am sure i will get round to it soon enough, even if it is only for research. In truth, it sounds an entertaining story.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

As for the author himself, darnit! I've been telling myself I'll publish a fantasy novel since I was 10, and this brilliant young guy comes along and makes Eragon! He makes me feel so unaccomplished....feh. ;D

Not me! I have no aspirations to be a writer, so I'm free to just think he's goofy!

 

[dustinzgirl]

I just picked this book up the other day ata yard sale for like a buck. I've been reading it to the kids and just finished it myself. WOW. I love this book. It is easy to read, its just a fun loving, classic good guy, bad guy fantasy novel, which are my favorite!

 

[Lovely_Elm]

I have read Eragon and Eldest now. I liked them in places but found it rather derivative of other books. Eragon himself isn't to annoying, apart from his Arya obsession. There are lots of LotR ish bits, dwarves with mines, Elves living up in trees, Mordorsih landscapes etc.. I guess those things come up alot ing fatasy fiction but it did grate a wee bit. Its also quite predictable. Saying all this I will read the next installment, so it can't be all bad!

 

[Prefx]

I am failing to grasp what is so bad about the opening line of the book. To me, it is engaging. The sword quote, yes, but not the first one.

I have yet to read the book, but i myself am writing a YA series, so i am sure i will get round to it soon enough, even if it is only for research. In truth, it sounds an entertaining story.

Using wind to begin a story is probably the biggest cliche in introductions. If you read fanfiction 60% of it will have either the word "wind" or "moon" in it.

 

[steve12553]

I have read Eragon and Eldest now. I liked them in places but found it rather derivative of other books. Eragon himself isn't to annoying, apart from his Arya obsession. There are lots of LotR ish bits, dwarves with mines, Elves living up in trees, Mordorsih landscapes etc.. I guess those things come up alot ing fatasy fiction but it did grate a wee bit. Its also quite predictable. Saying all this I will read the next installment, so it can't be all bad!

Isn't LOTR derivative itself, of old stories and legends. It's definitely consumate when it comes to the arrangement of the old ideas but some of the ideas come from other places. It's OK for more than one writer to be in the same territory.