Eragon

[the smiling weirwood]

Originally Posted by hypocriticHarkonnen

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]

Originally Posted by MJRevell

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

[Thadlerian]

About a month ago I asked my local library to order Erikson's Malazan series.

Today I saw, on the "latest orders" list on the library's site: A Norwegian translation of Eldest.

Ain't no freakin' justice!

[timekiller]

i find theese books far too predictable but its still a great read and i would recomend them

[MJRevell]

Yeah, I've just finished Eldest myself, and on the whole it is very enjoyable.

[Scatterheart]

I've read Eragon, and I'm almost halfway through Eldest at the moment.
The whole thing's such a cliche (I mean, come on; "Saphira"? Really...). And his descriptions can be immature at times. But it is his first book. I have forgiven those aspects, and I find his plots are brilliant. A masterful storyteller.
Can't wait to see the film. Hope they don't mongulate it, like HP.

And I agree with those who state that the character of Eragon needs to be slapped thoroughly. He's so arrogant -- hardly a character I would side with. Makes me feel sorry for the dragon, lol.

[infinite]

I havn't read the books but I think I will have to now before the movie comes out in December and there is a rush at the library!

The trailer looks great and has really sparked my interest (see eragonmovie.com for movie stuff inc WAP service too!)

I see there is alot of comparison with LOTR but do you think it may be a bit of a LOTR for beginners? I mean, an easier read from the same genre.

[Saltheart]

I read a few excerpts online, and it seems to me he writes as bad as I did when I was fifteen: way too many cliches and not having his own writing style. It seems to me that he is so popular because his book got published at such a young age. His books do not explore greater themes and motifs, but so doesn't a majority of fantasy out there, so I forgive that. However, a prodigy he is not.

Otherwise, I too could have been a priodigy had I published my Science Fantasy a year ago: sure, it was cliched and didn't explore human nature a bit, but if he can be so successful publishing rehashes, so could I. And I don't consider myself a prodigy at the age of 16 for writing a lame book two years ago. He is a prodigy only because he was published at a young age, not for literary merit.

[HoopyFrood]

I have to admit that I did only read the books because I read about them in the newspaper, and about how young he was. I at this time was desperately trying to write my own first novel and get it published, and hearing this spurred me on, trying to get it published at an earlier age than he!...but alas, now I'm 19, with no published book, and just a deep throbbing jealousy of Mountain Boy (yes, that's what I call him... ) But I can satisify this by thinking to myself that he isn't a brilliant writer...
However, to come to his defence (shockingly...I can't even believe it myself!) he was young, he hasn't had the experience that older writers have, and despite the cliches (which is probably a result of reading those kinds of dragons/dwarves/elves books as he grew up) it is still a very good plot (although I do think the end of Eldest was a bit contrived).
Ah, I do believe I've just taken the first step on the road to recovery from this deep-seated jealousy! Well, until I see the film and realise not only has he got two published books but now he's got a bloody film! *mumbles grumble*

[Coolhand]

I’m split down the middle with this whole Eragon thing. On the one hand, the major publishers who picked him up obviously think they can make money out of his work, and at the end of the day you can’t argue with that. That’s really the trick to getting published these days and he’s obviously pulled it off. Fair dues to him. I’d do the same if I was in his position. I'd take every advantage life gave me to get my work into print.

On the other hand, I’m gagging on my own rage.

Usually I keep my snarling, knee jerk alter-ego on a choke-chain and never let him out to play, but just this once I’ll vent my knee jerk reaction. I apologise for what follows, and rest assured I shall swiftly punish my alter-ego for this. Ready? Here we go.

(Mild mannered Coolhand runs to a phone box and turns into Knee-Jerk-Rage Man)

ARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

This sickens me! Most of us writers have to walk the razor-blade strewn floors of publication in our bare feet for years, frequently with nothing to show for it. We fight for years to create something that will grab an Agent or a publisher and stand a little higher than the thousands of other submissions they received that day. We kneel before the publishing industry like little workhouse orphans twisting our caps between our fingers whilst whimpering “Did you like my book sir? I’ve been working on it for fifteen years? Can I ‘ave some money?” only to get a rejection letter saying something like “You typeface was 1mm out of acceptable limits” or “We don’t think titles containing the letter “F” sell anymore.” or “Today we were just in a really rejecty mood, y’know?” We toil, and slave and fight to try and get our one chance to shine. Most of us will probably never see a single sentence published out of a lifetime of work.

And then this dude comes along.

Firstly, his initial publication was down to Mummy and Daddy owning the company, and then setting him up with over a hundred appearances to flog the book. Call me a cynic, but publicity can sell anything and you’re pretty much guaranteed some sales with that kind of marketing and publicity drive.

Then he gets picked up by the mainstream publishing houses. Okay. Fair enough. They obviously see a product they can make money with. But the vibe I keep getting from those who’ve read the whole thing (and based on my reading little bits of it) is that if this book had gone through the usual channels of submission it would never have stood a chance. Phrases like “Well-written considering he was 15” or “Oooh, he’ll be brilliant in 10 years time.” all speak to the fact that the book ISN’T actually good enough right now to be on shelves on it’s own right. That if he had been forced to fight fair with everyone else, it would have been rejection time for our young prodigy.

Yes this is jealousy, yes this is sour grapes. Pure and simple. I’m not proud of it, I’m not condoning it. I know what I am and what I am is green with envy. But also legitimately irritated that someone could so blatantly jump the cue and sail past the rest of us poor hard working bastards with a smug little wave.

And now he gets a MOVIE??

A multi-million pound LOTR style EXTRAVAGANZA??????

GHAAAAAAARGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Bites own laptop in two and stomps off to sulk in a corner.)

[HoopyFrood]

Haha I think you've just nicely summed up my feelings, Cool, thanks. If you hadn't have done it, I could feel a rant coming on as well.

Although the thing that always gets me is his age...ACKKK! It's sickening, I really wanted to publish something while at quite a young age (nigh on impossible, I know, but hell, I could have a go!) and then he just waltzes in and does it...and now I'm too old to beat him!
Yup, jealousy on my part as well, obviously!

[Coolhand]

And Sienna Guillroy is in his movie! It's just not fair! He's not even old enough to introduce himself as the author and attempt to hit on her in a clumsy, awkward fashion! At least I’d be old enough to do that, and then old enough to order my own drinks in the bar afterwards to drown the sorrows of rejection!

If it’s any consolation, HoopyFrood, anyone who picks your screen name will always know where their towel is, even if they didn’t get published at 15.