Eragon

[thecripplewhoiswhole]

I haven't read any of the Pern books so I wouldn't know and as far as Tolkien it's not all that similar to LOTR.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by thecripplewhoiswhole

I haven't read any of the Pern books so I wouldn't know and as far as Tolkien it's not all that similar to LOTR.

It is not all that similar because it only borrows a few things from each source. The elves, dwarves, languages and poems have a lotr feel. The dragonrider business has a Pern feel and a few other things seem to remind me of other books. But together they do create something new. I am interested to see what Paolini will write after he finishes this trilogy.

[thecripplewhoiswhole]

technically the elves arn't Tolkien's and niether are the dwarves as for the languages I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that he created them him self except for one which was based on nordic.

[knivesout]

Here's a rather interesting panel interview with Christopher Paolini, Phillip Pullman and Tamora Pierce: http://www.powells.com/authors/paolini.htmlA lot of the discussion revolves around writing fantasy fiction and may be of interest to the writers among us.
Here's a quote by Paolini which sort of addresses the accusation of being derivative:

as far as I can tell, my first novel was a way to explore the standard fantasy traditions that I enjoyed reading so much. It was a chance for me to play in this type of world. My second book and third book, as I see it, are opportunities to expand upon the original archetypes and try to bring a depth to the world that I haven't seen done or in ways that I want to explore personally.

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by knivesout

Here's a rather interesting panel interview with Christopher Paolini, Phillip Pullman and Tamora Pierce: http://www.powells.com/authors/paolini.htmlA lot of the discussion revolves around writing fantasy fiction and may be of interest to the writers among us.
Here's a quote by Paolini which sort of addresses the accusation of being derivative:

I posted this interview earlier this year here in the forums. I felt it was a wonderful interview and all three authors were very forthcoming and said a lot of interesting things.

[knivesout]

Oops, didnt see that. Must have been before my time.


Still, I thought the Paolini quote was worth repeating since a few people (including me) have bandied the word 'derivative about'.

I think shall check this book out - oddly, it's all over other cities here but hasn't reached the place I live yet.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by thecripplewhoiswhole

technically the elves arn't Tolkien's and niether are the dwarves as for the languages I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that he created them him self except for one which was based on nordic.

Oh I didn't mean that he was copying. I meant that he was using the same archetypes. Judging by the quote below your post he was aware of it though. It's a good way to grow as a writer to explore the styles of the past. I do it all the time.
The book kept reminding me of other great fantasy books I've read. But I liked that, in a strange way. It was like strolling through memory lane. Only the memories were arranged in a new and creative way with other additions. I can't wait for the next book.
I read that interview- those are two of my favorite authors he was speaking with. Tamora Peirce was what got me started on speculative fiction as a kid.

[tergen]

Just Finished this book .

Yes I too felt that the author had a lot of Anne McCaffrey (Pern), Tolkien (LOTR/HOBBIT), and even some R A Salvatore (Drow), Plus others influences to this novel. He is young and a good writer and I think he will develop his own style in time.

Think about how long Fantasy has been around. There is a lot of stuff out there and almost all of it overlaps somewhat. Almost all Fanasty has the same plot:
1. Hero
2. Friends
3. Great evil or deed
4. Hardships/tasks the hero goes through to truimph.

Its what happens to the people in thier quest that changes and keeps you reading the different authors. He has created some interesting Characters that people enjoy watching them Grow.

I enjoyed this novel tremendously and eagerly await his next Novel in the trilogy (The Eldest). I like the Idea of Eragon and Saphira bonding, Growing, Learning and trusting in each other and what they can accomplish together that they could never do seperately.

And Obivously there are some Movie production people who are also interested in this:

from the following website: http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/eragon/news.htm
I hope it makes it.
Eragon Coming to a Screen Near You!

Some great news for all die-hard Eragon fans! Fox 2000, a division of 20th Century Fox announced that they have bought the rights for Eragon and are scheduled to release the film in 2005.



"We read the book very early in manuscript form when the family was trying to self-publish it," says Elizabeth Gabler, president of Fox 2000 said in an article in USA Today (1/20/04). "We found the core relationship between a boy and a dragon who share a telepathic connection a strong concept for a movie."

[I, Brian]

Hi tergen, and welcome to the chronicles-network.

[Cartazon]

My husband was given this book as a birthday gift in November, from someone who doesn't read fantasy but had heard "good things" about it.

He couldn't go further than 20 pages.

Me, I couldn't get past the first.

"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."

Yeah, right. That's where I stopped. Then I flipped to the back and read the Author's Note. Ahah! It was published by mom and dad, and they spent a full year traveling around promoting the book in person, until eventually someone at Knopf took note and decided to take advantage of the marketing ball the Paolini's had already started rolling. The book sold not because of it's literary merits, but because of the novelty of a teen author made a nice gimmick.

Don't get me wrong: Paolini is a competent writer, and may develop into a good writer as he gets older, but his prose reads very much like a 15-year-old's prose and it just burns me to think how many already good writers are being overlooked in the marketing hype about Eragon. It's just not worth it.

[I, Brian]

Thanks for the opinion, Cartazon. Although I have not read this work, so I cannot comment, I am glad to see that I am not the only cynic around here.

Though, of course, one person's treasure is another's trash - and vice versa.

And before someone quotes Oscar Wilde before me: "A cynic knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing."

[Myla Starchild]

I read Eragon and it just seemed like another LOTR rip-off to me at first, however I think the story may develop in the second and thrid books. With the story I'm writing I made the first few chapters seem like that, then added twists to make it original.

[knivesout]

BTW, Myla, I checked your site out - I rather liked what I saw. Do feel free to share anything you might want an opnion or two on with us! I can't guarantee great critiques, but it might be fun at least.

[Myla Starchild]

Thanks for visiting my site I probably will put something up eventually once I have more time, I'm busy now and probably shouldn't be on here.

Back to Eragon, I agree it's very much a teenage writer's prose. I'm fifteen and a writer also, though most people who've read it say I write much older which is flattering but probably not true. I'm going for publishing and worried people are only gonna buy my book for the same novelty.

[sawbonz]

I would like to see what books Cartazon and her husband like. I have read Eragon and enjoyed it. It's certainly not on a level of George RR Martin, but then few books are. Whether you have parents that are publishers or not, I was impressed that a teenager wrote this. I did feel that the book got better as it progressed- maybe he was improving. There are a lot of worse books out there. My problem is I run out of new things to read, so I love to see new authors. I also don't agree that it rips off the "Pern" books. Other than there are dragons in each, I don't see many similarities.