So yeah…I just flew from Shanghai to America yesterday, and the day before my friend returned my copy of Eragon to me (I told her that if she wanted to flame it with me she should at least try to read it). Out of boredom, I reread it on the plane…and yes, there are so many pretentious words/innuendo/strange descriptions in there that made me laugh.

But, I found, there’s also some good stuff in there. Like, once in a while, I’ll come across a description or something that’s actually….really good. Like one description about a thunderhead. It was, I’ll admit, totally unneeded, but he wrote it in a lovely way, actually. I was suprised. Yes, there’s a load of purple prose (I needed a dictionary at one point), and strange dialogue, and all that, but under all the crap I suspect Paolini had the potential to be a good writer. I think it’s sad; if he hadn’t been picked up by Carl Hiassen and had instead just kept writing, I think he would be a talented author, you know?

Too bad. For everyone. But there are still some merits of Inheritance (mostly Eragon; Eldest and Brisingr are terrible) and I thought we could discuss them?

It’s better than The Eye of Argon.

Look, I tried.

Come to think of it, The Eye of Argon actually had an original plot…

What the Mrifk?

It’s okay, Steph. I’m a crazed Murtagh fangirl, and Angela is mildly amusing too.

OMGAWDS YES STEPH!

In a way all my posts are as informational as infomercials.

Useless if you don’t question them.

Useless to everyone apart from that 5% of the general population so yes.

It wasn’t only the most entertaining, but by far the most engaging. And from what I remember, CP spent less time describing long events in great detail (unlike the Agaeti Blodhren [ok I spelled it wrong, who cares], dwarf politics, long elfish thought processes, etc.). It was like, so much more happened in Eragon, in less words. Besides, Murtagh was great. ^^

Lol, whereas Fridge Logic for this would never hit me, because I haven’t seen Star Wars yet.

No. Comment.

You haven’t seen Star Wars? Have you been living under a rock for the past 32 years your entire life?

That crossing-out was premeditated. I didn’t change anything.

I stole them, I’m afraid. I refuse to tell you who actually got them.

<<
>>

Shhhh.

Eragon was a pretty good What Not to Do guide, though. Also it provided me hours of enjoyment, going through it and writing up snarky comments.

proffers roses and chocolate

STEPH

JENI WISHES TO MARRY YOU for your avatar

cackles in her corner

[checks edward’s guide to relationships]

Forget it Steph, I wouldn’t come back to you unless [reads] you throw yourself off a cliff.

Eragon was also fairly well paced. The characters weren’t great (though I was actually a fan of Brom) and Paolini would drop in purple description at inappropriate time, but the plot always kept moving and maintained high energy throughout. In fact, you might even argue that it was too fast paced, forcing Eragon to learn things impossibly quickly (reading in two weeks; swordplay in a few months). Of course, Eldest and Brisingr had the opposite problem.

You know, I think the best thing Paolini has done so far is the relationship between Saphira and Eragon. It’s one of the few original points of the story that doesn’t get boring no matter how many times you read it and you can really see that their relationship as dragon and rider has come a long way.

It’s in discussions like these that I really miss Addie. She and I could have struck up some really good arguments…

@Jinx

Saint Alia-of-the-Knife

Ironic because the movie tried to show more of Galbatorix’s badness with conscripting from villages.

Of course, even that flopped when you realized that he wouldn’t need to conscript anyone if he wasn’t fighting rebels in the first place.

Eldest would be even better.

We need to Kitty to draw a “merits of the Inheritance cycle” picture.

It shows a guy wielding a chain with brisinger on one end and eldest on the other.

“Fear my book-fu”

ERAGON NUNCHUKS!

LIKE THIS

“Ok inheritance, you must roll a d20 for dazzle saving.”

She has the feat: “Mary sue-ness.” Add +19 to any saving roll.

Inheritance has merits?

Also as doorstops.

And they do make quite good makeshift steps and seats.

50 uses for a brick

I guess it’s sort of mostly left-handed compliments now. Which I was…sort of expecting.

Why Eragon is good, off the top of my head:
-It introduces and excites little kids about reading and the fantasy genre.
-It inspires little kids to try their hand at writing, too, since most people think Paolini is an example of how success can be found anywhere (I know this isn’t true, but most people don’t. That’s what’s important.)
-It’s an excellent book to read on a plane when you’re bored. Or…to read anywhere when you’re bored. It’s quite a light story (despite people getting ravaged by the Ra’zac and such) and is very easy to understand.

Eragon inspired the Anti-Shurtugal community. For that I am genuinely grateful.

Like ME!

cough

-It inspires little kids to try their hand at writing, too, since most people think Paolini is an example of how success can be found anywhere (I know this isn’t true, but most people don’t. That’s what’s important.)

True for me! TP got me into reading, but CP got me into writing!

(And comparing Tamora Pierce to Christopher Paolini is like comparing silken napkins with fine lace edges to paper towels. self-flagellates for heresy)

Definitely.