The Eragon (Inheritance Trilogy) Thread

[ominous]

I read TIME magazine today.
A article has it that young writer (age 17) named "Christopher Paolini" wrote a medieval fantasy novel full of dragons, dwarfs (title: Dragon) and it is now outselling four of five Harry Potter books.

Wow, Have you ever read "Dragon"?

IS HE BETTER THAN ROWLING?

:wow: :wow: :wow:

[Magi]

The book is called "ERAGON", not "DRAGON". :)

About the book. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375826688/qid=1066282934/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-8597405-5491245)

It seems to be doing well on Amazon's Best Sellers list. Currently ranked #33.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is currently on #36.

[ominous]

Woops! Sorry!
Eragon is right.

:banghead: :banghead:

[Dedalus]

A good book isn't going to stay at the top of the charts forever, and it being shunted aside doesn't mean that another is better than it or that it's gotten worse. It's still the same book - just a different chart.

And I don't think anybody can really say any book is better than another, or that any book is going to replace another - every book is individual and good in it's own right, and there's no order to define them ... oh there are charts and things, but they only say how well a book is selling at that particular moment.

Honestly, I'd never heard of this book! I just read about it in that link ... it sounds good! Not something I'd read, because I don't like serious fantasy, but it still sounds good.

[Furienna]

I read TIME magazine today.
A article has it that young writer (age 17) named "Christopher Paolini" wrote a medieval fantasy novel full of dragons, dwarfs (title: Dragon) and it is now outselling four of five Harry Potter books.

Wow, Have you ever read "Dragon"?

IS HE BETTER THAN ROWLING?

:wow: :wow: :wow:


Any book selling more than HP this decade? Good luck!

[Cat]

A good book isn't going to stay at the top of the charts forever, and it being shunted aside doesn't mean that another is better than it or that it's gotten worse. It's still the same book - just a different chart.

And I don't think anybody can really say any book is better than another, or that any book is going to replace another - every book is individual and good in it's own right, and there's no order to define them ... oh there are charts and things, but they only say how well a book is selling at that particular moment.

Honestly, I'd never heard of this book! I just read about it in that link ... it sounds good! Not something I'd read, because I don't like serious fantasy, but it still sounds good.

I know what you mean. I hate all this 'the new Harry Potter!' malarkey. It's insulting to Harry Potter and it's insulting to the new book.

I think Harry Potter has been out-sold on numerous occasions, hasn't it? Otherwise, the books would have never journeyed down the charts at all...?

[Hpmons]

In a sense the Harry Potter books have been out-sold; but it depends what you are measuring. Whether you are measuring the number of books sold, the rank after one week, or the number of people who have read it in total...There are several things to measure.

Of course, when JKR becomes the first billionaire writer, it is another way to show that Harry Potter is the best!

[hesdead-dealwithit]

Of course, when JKR becomes the first billionaire writer, it is another way to show that Harry Potter is the best!
Is it a when? How about an if. I think she has about a quarter of a billion right now, but five sevenths of her books have been published already! She's only got two left. I know that sales on the first five haven't stopped, nor will they stop, but I don't think that a billion dollars is a done deal.

(A little back on topic - its a done deal "Dragon" won't get a billion. There have been so many books over the years that people have said will usurp HP. None of them have panned out.)

[WeasleyIsOurKing]

Is it a when? How about an if. I think she has about a quarter of a billion right now, but five sevenths of her books have been published already! She's only got two left. I know that sales on the first five haven't stopped, nor will they stop, but I don't think that a billion dollars is a done deal.

(A little back on topic - its a done deal "Dragon" won't get a billion. There have been so many books over the years that people have said will usurp HP. None of them have panned out.)


Hey, you have to remember she wouldn't get a billion dollars... more like a billion pounds. :cool:

[hesdead-dealwithit]

Hey, you have to remember she wouldn't get a billion dollars... more like a billion pounds. :cool:
True that - it's my stuck up, self important American self coming through.

[Lupin4499]

Eragon sounds good. But I agree just cause it "outsold" Harry Potter doesn't mean its better than it. I don't thing any book anytime soon is coming to come out that is as good as Harry Potter. I mean, HP has websites, movies, and thousands of fans from all over the world. What other book is going to get that much attention?

[rotsiepots]

Is it a when? How about an if. I think she has about a quarter of a billion right now, but five sevenths of her books have been published already! She's only got two left. I know that sales on the first five haven't stopped, nor will they stop, but I don't think that a billion dollars is a done deal.

(A little back on topic - its a done deal "Dragon" won't get a billion. There have been so many books over the years that people have said will usurp HP. None of them have panned out.)

But we've got another five movies to go, too. Think of all that tacky merchandise! JKR gets a cut from all of that too. :)

I agree with you, though. JKR would be very fortunate indeed to make a billion dollars.
Besides, monetary reward isn't indicative of quality. There are plenty of people with money to burn out there.

That being said, good for Christopher Paolini for writing a book that's doing so well. I don't understand why people are so protective of HP, it can't be number one forever.

[sscourtney]

I've never heard of that book before...I only read what people said at Amazon.com...If it's simmilar to Tolkien's work I'm sure I'll like it :)
But it's irrational calling the book "better than HP".They fit in different rancks and JK wrote 5 HP books,while this is only 1st book...
Have to read it though :D

[Cat]

But it's irrational calling the book "better than HP".They fit in different rancks and JK wrote 5 HP books,while this is only 1st book...

Is that 'different ranks'? Because I don't understand how books can have a ranking system.

But I agree that it is irrational to call the book "better than HP", because books are an art form with skill measured by opinion, and not even sales can factually determine how good or bad a book is.

I agree with rotsiepots that there is no need to defensive. I'm sure we don't all like the Harry Potter series just because it sells well. I would be proud to call myself a fan if I was the only person in the world who liked them...

[dobby_rocks]

I have not read Erogan however the other night i saw it at the book store, and i read the inside flap its going to be triology. I plan on getting it sometime it sounds like it will be a good read

[hesdead-dealwithit]

I agree with rotsiepots that there is no need to defensive. I'm sure we don't all like the Harry Potter series just because it sells well. I would be proud to call myself a fan if I was the only person in the world who liked them...
But you're not. Nor am I. We all are fans of the most popular fictional book(s) in the history of the world, so we can't claim that we would like it if it was nothing, even if we would. Now, if you are a diehard fan of some obscure novel that's been out of print for 63 years, that isn't on any of the Internet sites or in any of the bookstores, then you can say you like the book despite its sales. After all, even if your passion for HP is pure, you have to admit you take a little pride in the 200 million sold or the "richer-than-the-queen" (even though it's not true), even if the pride is not for yourself but for JKR.

[WeasleyIsOurKing]

True that - it's my stuck up, self important American self coming through.

I think we've all let our little self-important American come through. :)

I think that this new book is currently outselling the first four books, but as a whole, it will probably come nowhere near to the millions and millions of copies of Harry Potter books that have been sold.

[Cat]

But you're not. Nor am I. We all are fans of the most popular fictional book(s) in the history of the world, so we can't claim that we would like it if it was nothing, even if we would. Now, if you are a diehard fan of some obscure novel that's been out of print for 63 years, that isn't on any of the Internet sites or in any of the bookstores, then you can say you like the book despite its sales. After all, even if your passion for HP is pure, you have to admit you take a little pride in the 200 million sold or the "richer-than-the-queen" (even though it's not true), even if the pride is not for yourself but for JKR.

I'm pleased for Ms Rowling, it's good when authors do well, but it doesn't make me more proud to be a fan. I have no idea of the book sales, or of J. K. Rowling's earnings, and I had even less of an idea when I first read the books. I was clueless to the magnitude of it all!

Being alone in something doesn't make me less proud or more. I know my own mind and attitudes towards things.

But that's off-topic. I was only saying that book sales do not measure the quality of the book, for better or for worse. You just have to read something and judge for yourself.

[Alastor D]

That's right. You can't measure the quality of a book or any other piece of art. Sales numbers do of course tell something of the popularity of the book. Wether the popularity of that Eragon will last for some years or not remains to be seen.

[dumbleedore]

I think in order to judge whether or not a book has become more successful than HP, you have to look at the surronding factors.

There are 11, 000+ members here at CoS. Most of us own two of each book. Thats 110, 000 copies of the book sold just on this forum. And it hardly makes a dent in the millions upon millions that have been sold.

The surronding factors for the HP series is it's fanbase. 11, 000 members here: my town only has 20, 000 people living in it. The fan base for HP will keep growing stronger and stronger and I doubt will ever stop growing. Once the books are all out, places like CoS will still operate, with us discussing 'I can't believe we missed that!' and theorizing on what happened to the characters after the final page.

The only way that another series of books could overtake HP in the popularity stakes (i'm not talking about sales and all that) is if it builds up a fan base as strong as HP. I mean, I have spent about $500 on HP. This is all five books twice. This is a DVD and VHS of both movies. This is my tickets into the movies (even though my movie tickets are only $6). And I think that most people here have spent about the same. And 11, 000 people spending $500... that's a lot of money...

And I don't think this post makes any sense at all, I was kinda letting it just come out.

[Picko]

Of course books are going to outsell Harry Potter from time to time, it's impossible for the books to remain at the top forever. What has set Harry Potter apart from most books however is it's consistancy. The series is able to stay towards the top for such a long time, whenever sales begin to decline a little a new book or a movie will come along to kick start sales again. Any book that wants to be compared sales wise to HP must be able to do this, a few big weeks at the top doesn't mean a thing.

[Virtuousdream]

Before someone can decide what's the best piece of literature above the rest, time is a crucial factro. For all we know someone else could come along and beat Harry Potter in a few decades. I mean, look at Tolkein. Surely his books are not greater than Harry Potter? They are still known today, still as popular and has just had one of the best darn films of all time adapted from his books.

Harry Potter is still, after all, new. Who knows what will happen? I havm't heard of the books, but I might investigate and good luck to him if it does do better than Harry Potter! It's not the success of the book, it is the book itself that's important.

[haycheng]

It sure sound like a god book. I think I will pick it up. (still have to reread Lord of the Ring. Also want to try some classic such as old man and the sea)

It is difficult to meassure a book or an piece of art. HP is a good book but it has yet stand the test of time. It is hyper right now, and I admire certain ability of JKR. Yet, to me it is still lack something I want to find in a great book.

It is wrong to meassure a book by the best selling list. If you really want to talk about how popular a book is, the Bible beat them all. It is certainly a great book though.

[Marina]

A good book isn't going to stay at the top of the charts forever, and it being shunted aside doesn't mean that another is better than it or that it's gotten worse. It's still the same book - just a different chart.

And I don't think anybody can really say any book is better than another, or that any book is going to replace another - every book is individual and good in it's own right, and there's no order to define them ... oh there are charts and things, but they only say how well a book is selling at that particular moment.

Honestly, I'd never heard of this book! I just read about it in that link ... it sounds good! Not something I'd read, because I don't like serious fantasy, but it still sounds good.
I agree with Dedalus-pride comes before a fall as Aesop says. :agree:

[lorna]

Every publishing house these days seems to advertise their new writers/books as the next Rowling/Harry Potter.
It doesn't mean anything to me.
What does mean something to me is whether I enjoy reading the book
or I think "that's a few hours of my life I'll never get back" and the book winds up being donated to the second hand book store.
That will never happen to my Harry Potter books.

To anyone who reads this new book, let us know if it's a keeper or not.
I think more of the opinions of most of the posters here than I do some best sellers list.

[Prof.Aze]

Eragon won't stay in the charts long... Wait for the release of the two more books of Ms. Rowling then they have to gawk when it reaches the no. 1 best seller of the world... :lol: That is impossible but nothing is impossible right? Then it will have to happen.

[Amy Lee]

For what it's worth, I've read Eragon, and I liked it.
It was an interesting and entertaining read and left me wanting the next installment.

I can't say it was better than Harry Potter. But it is an impressive first novel for someone of Mr. Paolini's (sp?) age. And it's worth a once through while your waiting for book 6.

[Katze]

Note: Eragon is now #12 on Amazon.

I'm not sure why it's even important how well it does or doesn't do in comparison to HP. HP is great, we know that. Rowling found a way to sell to the masses. In time, there will be another person who will do the same. It isn't an insult to anyone if someone prefers another story over HP.

There are a few books that I like better than HP. When the series is done, while the books will remain on my shelves, I look forward to the next story that captures my interest to the HP degree.

I've ordered Eragon and expect it in the mail in a few days. I'm not much of a fantasy reader - I prefer sci-fi, but a good fantasy book is always welcome in my collection. If the the first is good, I'll look forward to the second. And good for Christopher and to his success!

[Hpmons]

Is it a when? How about an if. I think she has about a quarter of a billion right now, but five sevenths of her books have been published already! She's only got two left. I know that sales on the first five haven't stopped, nor will they stop, but I don't think that a billion dollars is a done deal.
She had 240 million in April. Now book 5s out, she'll get LOADS more. Then you have got book 6 and 7, which will be even more hyped up than book 5. Then you have got films 3-7; of which she gets a certain percentage of it. Then you have got the merchandise. And since book 6 & 7 will be more expensive (because they will be bigger, ignore the fact JKR says they wont, shes only drafted things so far...), she'll get even more money. And then she'll probably get a bit more randomly, through more countries wanting it translated, etc.

And Im an optimist anyway. "When" sounds much better than "if" :)

Id read Eragon if I ever saw it in shops, but i never have. It doesnt sound that interesting to me. It sounds a bit too...Something...Like there is too much information and imagination crammed into the book, with no space to breathe.

[Furienna]

Id read Eragon if I ever saw it in shops, but i never have. It doesnt sound that interesting to me. It sounds a bit too...Something...Like there is too much information and imagination crammed into the book, with no space to breathe.

HUH?

[ominous]

I ordered this book by the Internet today. It will take 10 or more days for them to deliver it to me.
Anyway I'll read it and tell you guys what it is like.

:D :D

[ominous]

Oh! this guy seems to be a genius. Much similar to J.K. Rowling herself.
Let's wait and see if he is a real blue-chip.

:evil:

DRAGON TALES
An Essay by Christopher Paolini on Becoming a Writer

I have visions of lizards. Not just little rock lizards, or even something as big as an alligator—no, I see gigantic, majestic flying dragons. I have visions of them all the time, whether in the shower, sitting on the couch, or riding in the car. The problem with seeing dragons is that they tend to take over your mind. And once that happens, you can go a little crazy. Which is probably why I became a published author at eighteen.

My novel Eragon is a fantasy story, the first in the trilogy Inheritance. It is the story of a young man who unwittingly becomes linked with a brilliant-blue dragon, Saphira, and inherits the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders, who were once peacemakers in the land. The tyrannical King Galbatorix, however, has no intention of letting a Rider challenge his authority, and his dark servants murder Eragon’s family. Bereft of his home, Eragon and Saphira embark on a quest for vengeance—one that soon embroils them in an epic battle between good and evil.

It took me about a year to write the first draft, then another to revise it properly—because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing in the beginning—and finally, a third year to complete the editing and prepare the book for publication. In addition to actually writing the manuscript, for the original publication I also illustrated the book-cover and drew the interior maps. That was possible only because I originally chose to publish with print-on-demand, which gives authors more creative freedom to shape the book’s “package” than they would otherwise have.

How was I able to accomplish all this? Let me tell you a story:
"I hate to read!" cried the little boy obstinately. "I don’t see why I have to learn this, I’m never going to use it." That’s what I said nearly fifteen years ago when Mom was teaching me how to read. Back then I knew that reading wasn’t part of my world and I knew that it was just a waste of time. Mom was patient, though, and carefully guided me until I could read simple words. Then she took me to the library.

It’s easy to write those words now, but they cannot convey how that single event changed my life. In the library, hidden in the children’s section, was a series of short mystery novels. Attracted by their covers, I took one home and read it eagerly. I discovered another world, peopled with interesting characters facing compelling situations. In fact, I still remember what the book was about; it involved tomato sauce being mistaken for blood! From then on, I’ve been in love with the written word. Instead of toys, my room is filled with books. They’re piled under my bed, on the floor, by my pillow, and overflow into the rest of the house. When we go into town, the only places I want to visit are the libraries, bookstores, and occasionally an art museum.


But it hasn’t stopped there. I enjoy stories so much that I took the next step and started writing them myself. I read college-level courses on the subject, teaching myself about everything from plot structure to descriptions. All of this culminated four years ago, when I sat down and outlined the plot for a trilogy of books. For weeks, I struggled to figure out every detail. Then, with everything ready, I began to write.
Don’t let me make this sound too easy, though. Everything I did was only possible because my parents were dedicated and loving enough to homeschool my sister and me. My mother, a former Montessori teacher and author of several children’s books, took the time to instruct us every day. Aside from textbook lessons, she had us perform many exercises designed to stimulate our creativity. Even at a young age I enjoyed writing short stories and poems.

It’s strange; although I had a strong interest in books and stories, it never occurred to me that I might actually be a professional writer one day. All I really wanted to do was share the epics floating around in my head with other people—writing was just something I had to master in order to make those sagas reality.

Once my first draft of Eragon was finished, I had to learn how to write properly. That may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s not. The first step in writing my book was a purely creative phase. After that, however, came the grind of editing the manuscript into readable material. It was there that I learned how to produce graceful and grammatical prose. Doing is the best way to learn, but it helps to read the rules first. In my case, I wish I had learned more about grammar before writing Eragon—it would have saved me an enormous amount of time spent fixing easily-avoidable mistakes throughout a gigantic manuscript!

One of my favorite scenes from the book is when my hero Eragon dives into a vast lake on his dragon Saphira. It always strikes me as an enchanting moment. Here is a short excerpt from this section:

The water hit Eragon like an icy wall, knocking out his breath and almost tearing him off Saphira. He held on tightly as she swam to the surface. With three strokes of her feet, she breached it and sent a burst of shimmering water toward the sky. Eragon gasped and shook his hair as Saphira slithered across the lake, using her tail as a rudder.

Ready?

Eragon nodded and took a deep breath, tightening his arms. This time they slid gently under the water. They could see for yards through the unclouded liquid. Saphira twisted and turned in fantastic shapes, slipping through the water like an eel. Eragon felt as if he were riding a sea serpent of legend.

Just as his lungs started to cry for air, Saphira arched her back and pointed her head upward. An explosion of droplets haloed them as she leapt into the air, wings snapping open. With two powerful flaps she gained altitude.

When I graduated from high school at fifteen, I had planned to go to college. I even applied to Reed College for entrance in August 2001 and was accepted. However, if I had gone I wouldn’t have been able to promote Eragon. Now I have the chance to share my book with the rest of the world, and I hope that everyone can enjoy this story and its many wonders. All I want to do is help you, the reader, experience the drama and beauty contained within these pages.

Right now, I’m working full-time on appearances and book signings for Eragon. It’s an exciting, new experience, totally different from anything I’ve done before. Also, I’m writing the screenplay for Eragon and I’ve started the next book in the trilogy, Eldest, which promises to be even better than the first. . . .

If all goes well, I’ll still be seeing dragons for many years.

[Furienna]

Well, next year, I will be a published writer too. I hope...

[ominous]

I've sent three Korean publishers e-mails asking whether they have intention of releasing the Korean version of Eragon.
Two of them replied to me that they didn't have any intention of doing that and the last one haven't expressed its opinion yet. :rasp:
But I'm sure they will change their stand if Eragon movie is released in the U.S.

[Discordia]

I have read Earagorn and the way I see it is that there are 2 ways you can go about this book. You'll either love it or hate. I loved it. It's a mix of Harry Potter and LOTR with a twist of Dragon Heart. I thought it was amazing and it was defintely something to sink my teeth into while I wait for HP book 6. Here's the synopsis from Barnesandnoble:

From Our EditorsThe Barnes & Noble Review
Teen author Christopher Paolini breathes fire into the realm of fantasy -- whisking readers to a world of dragons, magic, and legends -- in his first impressive entry in the Inheritance trilogy. Following in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Goodkind, Paolini recounts the harrowing adventure of Eragon, a peasant boy who one day discovers a strange rock that happens to be a lost, coveted dragon's egg. Eragon finds himself raising the highly intelligent creature (which he names Saphira) and bonds with her both mentally and soulfully, but after a team of marauders sent by the land's conniving ruler destroys his family home and kills his uncle, the boy sets out to hone his skills as a Rider and claim his vengeance. Paolini pays meticulous attention to detail and to the characters' actions in the book, letting readers travel eagerly with the young hero along every step of his journey. Sure to sit memorably with lovers of the genre and worthy of every bit of praise it gets, Paolini's foray into fantasy writing will transfix and entertain. Shana Taylor

AnnotationIn Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

From the PublisherWhen Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands....

From The CriticsThe New York Times
Eragon is filled with nightmare moments, dreams, visions. It never falters in its velocity. Its plot is episodic rather than climactic; it is clearly part of a larger work. The 500-plus pages race past. I found myself dreaming about it at night, and reaching for it as soon as I woke. Like countless other readers, I am waiting to see what happens next, with wonder, with admiration and with hope. As Eragon's dragon tells him, ''All will be well, little one.'' — Liz Rosenberg

Midwest Book Review
Eragon by science fiction and fantasy enthusiast Christopher Paolini is a vigorously written high fantasy epic of Eragon, a young man armed with a mythic red sword, accompanied by a beautiful dragon companion named Saphira, and the recipient of Brom's old storyteller wisdom. Our hero is drawn into a complex, interwoven saga of a fantastic land with a cruel and ruthless king. Legacies etched in stars and dreams guide his steps in this enchanting adventure. Eragon is highly recommended for dedicated fantasy enthusiasts.

Publisher's Weekly
In the first volume in Paolini's planned Inheritance trilogy, 15-year-old Eragon discovers an odd blue gemstone while exploring an infamous stretch of forest. It is a dragon egg, fated to hatch in his care. Eragon quickly develops a psychic connection with the female dragon that emerges, whom he names Saphira ("His emotions were completely open to her mind, and she understood him better than anyone else"). Eragon narrowly escapes doom with Saphira's help, but the uncle who raised him is killed, setting up a robust revenge/adventure tale. The scope quickly expands: Eragon turns out to be the first of a new generation of Riders, a lodge of legendary dragon-riding warriors killed by the evil King Galbatorix. As a result, he becomes the focal point in a war between Galbatorix's forces and the resistance efforts of the Varden. Paolini, who was 15 years old himself when he began this book, takes the near-archetypes of fantasy fiction and makes them fresh and enjoyable, chiefly through a crisp narrative and a likable hero. He carries a substantial Tolkien influence-fanciful spellings of geographical names, the use of landscape as character, as well as the scale and structure of the story itself. But his use of language dispenses with the floral, pastoral touch in favor of more direct prose. The likeness does not end there: the volume opens with a detailed map of Paolini's world, and ends with a glossary and pronunciation guide for his invented language. An auspicious beginning to both career and series. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Christopher Moning
I don't know what you were up to at age 15, but it is a good bet that you weren't penning 500-page fantasy novels. But that is the age that Christopher Paolini began writing the first volume in his fantasy series, the "Inheritance" trilogy. When young Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he doesn't realize that he has just taken the first step in becoming a Dragon Rider. After the egg hatches, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, begin an adventure that includes all the classic elements of myth-the death of a loved one; a harrowing journey; an elderly mentor; a seemingly indestructible enemy. Sprinkle in a little romance and you have the makings of a classic story. It is remarkable that young Paolini has been able to mold the pieces together in a mature and cohesive narrative. His eye and ear for detail, especially in describing the natural world, are topnotch. Paolini's world of Alagaesia is complex and beautiful, no doubt owing to Tolkien and a host of other fantasy authors that Paolini draws upon. Eragon and Saphira relate to one another not as master and pet, but as equals, with both human and dragon possessing strengths and weaknesses. The bottom line is that the "Inheritance" series has all the markings of a best selling juggernaut-a likeable hero, an entertaining storyline, and above all, a unique authorship legend that will captivate his audience. 2003 (orig. 2002), Knopf, Ages 12 to 16.

VOYA - Heather Hepler 0375826688
A promising new author finds his literary legs in this engaging story about a man and his destiny. Focused on finding enough food to get through the colder months, Eragon almost passes up the mysterious blue stone, but he reasons that perhaps it might at least be worth something in trade. Slipping the stone into his pack, he has no idea that the iridescent blue object is actually a rare and coveted dragon egg. Eragon's adventures begin as the egg hatches, disclosing a brilliant blue dragon and revealing his fate as a Rider. It quickly becomes obvious that Eragon's life is not to remain exclusively his own, as many forces attempt to manipulate his power and influence. Forced to leave his home by the destruction of his house and the death of his uncle, Eragon travels at first for revenge, but his quest turns, leaving him looking for answers instead of blood. On his journey, Eragon is instructed in the harsh reality of violence, the subtleties of magic, the beauty of the written word, and perhaps true love. The book jacket reveals that the eighteen-year-old author pens this book as the first installment in the Inheritance Trilogy. Overwritten action sequences and occasionally forced dialogue do not detract too much from the interesting and entertaining tale. Now and then losing its direction and sometimes a bit immature in style, Paolini's debut novel will make readers long for the second volume in hopes of finding both Eragon and the writing a bit more polished. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Knopf, 407p,

[Silverlance]

I've read Eragon. I liked it. It's a good read. It did not evoke the love that Harry Potter does. I Love HP. But I think my love of HP has grown with each book. So, Maybe that will happen with Eragon, too. I will certainly read the subsequent books.

On the idea of "liking a book even if it wasn't popular": I think popularity definitely effects us. We're social animals susceptible to each other's opinions. That's not to say we don't think for ourselves, but it's hard to escape the gravitational pull. Here's the thing: publisher's know this. HP's popularity has had positive effects on everyone else's sales. An article in a magazine can give out partial facts in order to create an aura of popularity. To say a bookis outselling HP may be true in one way, untrue in others. As long as it's partially true, and also stated with partial clarity, it's not a lie. It's a marketing tool employed by publishers to create a buzz. And it works.

So, hats off to Paolini for achieving well deserved popularity and recognition. Another thing to mention, he self published the book before Alfred A Knopff got hold of it. Another stellar achievement. Paolini is an inspiration.

[jennymac]

i'm reading it right now and it really does seem like a great book. it's supposed to be the first of a trilogy. i like that the author self published the book and has promoted it himself. that was a lot of dedication on his and his family's part and i congratulate them.

anyway, i doubt that it will be as big of a seller as HP, but it certainly is wonderful and deserves high praise. i highly recommend it (at least so far, as i haven't finished it yet.)

i hope they do a good job on the movie.

[Tim the Wiz]

I'm writing several completely original books at the moment. None of them are fantasy, but thats one thing I could never write -- fantasy genre books. You need imagination, vividness, a dream, the ability to be completely artistic and creative all the time ...

I'm not like that, I seem to be writing more Crime, War, Horror and Mystery ...

So when I see someone able to write Fantasy as good as that, maybe several years older than me ... I still get shivers of amazement. Because if you can publish fantasy at that age, you're every bit a great author as Rowling, Emily Rodda, Tamora Pierce and maybe even half the author of Tolkien. (Seriously there is no greater author)

[Gryffindor4]

I have read Eragon and it was really good. Check out eragon.ca for more info. :evil:

[Tane]

I think every book has its own fan-base and perhaps Eragon will make its way to the top but I heard of some very talented young Chinese writers making there mark. If I remember correctly they where of high school age and had plenty of time on there side.

[OrlisGrape]

My sister has this book. I heard it was crawling up the charts to HP so I decided to check it out. IT SUCKS! I thought it would live up to the hype. And its like a meter thick. He's a wannabe writer and he's not good at it. All he did was take J.R.R Toilken and J.K Rowling and ball them up and put it in his own words. I recommend NOT to read it. HP RULZ ALL THE WAY!

[Nymphadora*]

Actually...i don't know whether to disagree or agree with that statement because funny enough, i just started reading Eragon today, having finsihed all the Chronicles of Narnia and finished the last of C.S Lewis' series, The Last Battle. (I'm a sucker for books now that i'm on March Break:)) Anyways, Eragon is turning out to be pretty good so far. Like every book, i'm giving it a chance. It's fictiscous and sort of reminds you a lot of The Lord of the Rings, but so far, it's new world that has been newly imagined and adapted by Christopher Paolini is quite impressive, creating a world, and a new heritage and new languages and terms. I'll continue reading it and venture on through it's pages. Although, Harry POtter will always hold a special place in my mind.:D

[Nycade]

It surprises me that Eragon outsold HP... it is, I suppose, somewhat understandable, since the publisher seems to be doing a LOT of marketing for Eragon. I wasn't sure whether it was good or not, though, so thanks everyone for your reviews! I think I'll probably get it from the library or when it's in paperback... I don't like buying hardbacks very much unless I know and like the author.

[Abhishek]

Sounds interesting. Might look into it. The reviews are great too. I find it interesting that the HP books are still at such a high position in the charts. Eragon outsold the first 4 HP Books but these books have been at a high position for quite a big chunk of time. And the fact that outselling such relatively older books is considered big, shows the popularity of the HP books. The fifth one is stelli selling better though. anyway, I couldn't care less for book sales much as i could caren't less for game sales or box office earnings. None of those are indicative of quality.

[Furienna]

No, it's not.

[LumosSoleil]

Umm....the first installment of the trilogy is out and they're already making a movie? How stupid is that? I mean it's just sad that all these big distributing film companies want is $$$$. I can understand the whole adapting the HP books thing because it's like 7 books and the movies were 3 books behind when the first movie was released. Even with that much headstart, the movies are catching up with the books.

This is only 3 books and they're already adapting the first and only book that is presently sitting on the shelves of bookstores? I don't want to sound rude, but I just think the film-makers should at least wait til the whole trilogy is complete before adapting them. Btw, is this turning into a movie thing a rumor or is it true?

[LewsTherin]

I think it's good that HP has some competition. JKR seemed to get a little lazy with HP5, so maybe now she'll her lift her game and get HP back to the level it was with HP3. Besides, HP is not going to stay at the top forever. It's not that good. This Eregon sounds like it could become a classic - if the comparisons to LotR are well founded.

[Kaonashi]

I read Eragorn, and it was pretty tasty. The older gent did remind me a bit of Gandalf and you can tell the author was definitely influenced by certain books. That doesn't make it bad, however.

[Furienna]

LumosSeil: Yes, they should have waited until the whole trilogy is out.

Lewtherin: What do you mean JKR got lazy with OOTP? And if you don't think HP is that good, what are you doing at these forums?

[fantasyfan]

I read the book and loved. Of course I didn't like it more than Harry Potter but it's definately one of the best books I've read. I'd highly recommend it for anyone wanting a good, long read.

[LewsTherin]

Lewtherin: What do you mean JKR got lazy with OOTP? And if you don't think HP is that good, what are you doing at these forums?
I just thought that OotP was not up to the standard of PoA, which I believe to be the best book out of the series. As for your second question: look at how long I've been a member of these forums. If I did not think HP was good, I would not have been here that long. HP is good, but there other series like LotR and WoT which are better.

[Furienna]

Fantasyfan: Maybe I will read it if I can find it over here in Sweden.

LewsTherin: OK, POA is my favorite too, but it doesn't make the other books bad.

[LewsTherin]

LewsTherin: OK, POA is my favorite too, but it doesn't make the other books bad.
I never said they were bad, just not up to the standard of PoA. I think the other books are good, in fact, I think HP is probably the best childrens fantasy available at the moment (with the exception of LotR). We'll just have to wait and see if Eragon joins it on those heady heights.

[veinsofglass]

I saw that book in Asda for £6.99 and I was going to buy it but wasn't too sure. I think I'm gonna have to now *lol*

[Katze]

I read Eragorn, and it was pretty tasty. The older gent did remind me a bit of Gandalf and you can tell the author was definitely influenced by certain books. That doesn't make it bad, however.

I think writing is a lot like art. You usually start off mimicing other artists/writers, and over time you develop your own style.

I have the book on my shelves, but haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I've heard nothing but good reviews. While readers can certainly see the influence of other authors in his writing, he will eventually develop his own style. I think it's wonderful that we'll actually get a chance to see his development, since he's been published in such an early stage of his career.

[Furienna]

I think writing is a lot like art. You usually start off mimicing other artists/writers, and over time you develop your own style.
:::
While readers can certainly see the influence of other authors in his writing, he will eventually develop his own style.

I dont know, I would just DIE if someone came up to say to me "Hey, you must have been influenced in your book by this and that and him and her". Although the book I'm going to write contains influences from other books and TV shows and real events as well as personal experiences and views and my own ideas for the plot, I'm making it so little alike my influences as possible, so I don't make it too easy for people to recognize it. But of course, that could just be me.

[Buckbeak]

I bought the book a few weeks ago because i liked the look of the cover, yes i know the saying 'never trust a book by its cover' well at the time i had nothing else to go by, i had never heard of any reviews on it or anything. Anyway i haven't read it yet, still got a mountain of books that i got for christmas to get through yet, but if it is as good as you say it i might start it next.

[MaynardIsReal12]

Eragon is amazing. The talent that this kid has just blows my mind. I'd say that the book had me, overall, more absorbed in it then Harry Potter. It's one of those books where you can just pick it up, read it, and end up wanting more and more. Honestly you have to give this kid some credit. He is a magnifacent writer,not only because he is 17, but everything that this kkd can handle (press, book singings, writing of the next book) is increible. Read the book.

[Gryffindor4]

First, the writing in Eragon is really good. Very well paced, very good descriptions, and not tied up in Middle Earth style complicated sentences. There are some times when Christopher's (author) pen gets away from him and he attempts LotR style rants, but that only happens like 2,3 times. The idea of a Dragon Rider the way Christopher written it is very orginal and the plot is not a copy cat of LotR or HP. Riders have magical abilities which they use through the Ancient Language (which is totally original) and there are sorceror's (who can become evil Shades if they allow the evil spirits to control them willingly or not), wizards/witches, and magicians. Unlike HP, we get lots of action with magic and Eragon ends up killing lots of Urgals, Kulls, and one human with it. J.K. Rowling deprives us of fighting with magic. This book has lots of action with lots of dialogue and it's around 500 pages are very easy to get through. It has alot of Western movie style and influence and action. There are parts where Christopher did get directly from LotR and i didnt notice them until i read LotR which i did right after Eragon. There is a part where they are being chased to a Dwarf mountain by Urgalls along a river just like in the Fellowship book (except it was wolves). The position of Alagaesia and the knowledge of the people are like that of Middle Earth. The big battle at the end is just like the battle at Helm's gate except some changes. There are some other minor likenesses, but you can easily over look them. Eragon book 1 is still a better read than the Fellowship and has pretty much nothing in common with HP. I like the fact that the Elves are permanent citizens of Alagaesia unlike the Middle Earth elves and there is so much info he gives us in this book unlike Tolkien. Also another big problem i have is that we tend to hear Eragon's thoughts twice. Through the narrrator we can guess his thoughts, but then we see them in italic letters directly and this is annoying. It gives me the feeling that Christopher thinks we never had human contact, so other people's emotions must be written instead of just guessed. I dont need to hear his thoughts because i already know what he is thinking. Eragon is still great and you need to get it NOW. If you dont want to buy it, then get it from the Library.
Also there are some cool Eragon fan sites out there like eragon.ca where i go by Vrael the dead Dragon Rider leader.

[moon shadow]

It's hard for me to say . . . personally I love both books. Yet, as someone else stated, every book is an individual. They are like snow flakes . . . beautiful and unique in their own special way. I have only read part of Eragon and I must say, it is beautiful! I love the way Paolini narrates the story . . . it's quite passionate (in a way). Books are an art . . . they have a way of touching a person . . . and whatever that feeling is it cannot be explained. You know, I live in the same State as the author does. From what I've read, he sounds like he grew up as a genius. Maybe the "give away" is the fact that he graduated from high school at age fifteen. Here's something interesting: in my local newspaper, someone is searching for one of the original manuscripts in paperback of Eragon and they are offering $1,000 for whoever can find it and deliver it to them. Keep in mind, that the author (who lives in Montana, USA) originally had his book published locally, until his mother descided to take the publishing of the book up an notch. But, anyway, I can't say that Eragon is better than Harry Potter, though I would say that I never felt so thrilled to read a book.

[Tane]

Today I picked up the book at my local store and was in half minds of buying due to getting into the story from the first paragraph. Actually I did not want to put it down but decided that I would have to wait till my next wage packet before getting it.

Any book that grabs you from the first page has my attention and not really sales, the strangest thing is that my sister did the exact same thing today even though we were apart and in different stores. Every time I have been to the bookstore I have picked that book up so something must be telling me to buy the thing I just have not got around to it yet.

[swishandflick]

I'm on page fifty--and its a great book! In my opinion it resembles The Lord of the Rings much more so than Harry Potter. It has the accessibility of Harry Potter but the mythological terrain type aspects of Lord of the Rings. I was really impressed once I found out that this was all written by a seventeen year old. Amazing work, not quite Harry Potter...but hp will always "hold a special place in my heart."

[jordmundt6]

Of course it does, it's supposed to. The prologue had me hooked though. How many pages is it with 60 chapters 600, 700, 1000, more? I thought the site said 600, but that seems kinda light for a 60 chapter book.

[la_ginny]

I bought the book this weekend, I've read about the first hundred pages. Unlike the others of you who were hooked in the first few pages, I wasn't. I guess I was reading with a higher standard and sharper eye for plot and structure, knowing the book was written by a 17-year-old. But I have to admit, now I'm hooked. I stopped comparing it to LOTR and HP, and imagining the kid as some sort of copycat (which is what I was doing at first), and now it has really become a page turner. It stands on its own feet, and flies with its own scaly wings, lol.

[Tane]

Of course it does, it's supposed to. The prologue had me hooked though. How many pages is it with 60 chapters 600, 700, 1000, more? I thought the site said 600, but that seems kinda light for a 60 chapter book.

I agree with swishandflick that it is more Lord of the Rings in style but at the same time has its own special quality.

It is the first in a series of books and I feel that it has huge potential. For a seventeen year old it is a real accomplishment.

It states at the back that the next book will be called Eldest though no date has been released. I think Christopher Paolini was right to publish the book now because it was something that someone else might have written and published before him if he had not. J.K.Rowling had opened up an area in fantasy writing by producing GoF and the Twizard Tournament.

[Gryffindor4]

There is a movie being made for this book by Fox. Also a game rpg by Fox. This book is part of a trilogy (not series) and i think the next book eldest will be released at the end of 2005 with the movie. They originally planned for a release at the beginning of 2005, but business politics changed their plans to make more money along with the movie. Also has 497 pages. :evil:

[swishandflick]

Griffindor4, I like your signature! I snuck some ancient language stuff in at the bottom about Dragon Riders. I still haven't finished the book...but its going very well so far. Brom reminds me alot of DD, but there aren't really many similarities. Eragon is where Harry should be, mentally, to compete in battle. I wish I had more time to read it :) .

[loony4moony]

Arrrrgh...I'm in two minds of whether to read this book or not. Actually, the main reason I'm hesitating (I'm being brutally honest with myself here) is that I'm madly jealous of this Christopher Paolini guy for getting published so young. Ah well, that's just me with my literary delusions... :D

Also, weirdly enough, that kind of fantasy sometimes irritates me. The odd thing is that I write the whole 'dragons and castles' kind of genre myself, so I don't know why I find it irritating to read. (I don't mean HP or LOTR kind of fantasy, I mean more Tamora Pierce style, for those of you who've read her). I don't know...it really depends how well-written the story is. If you can see straight through the gaps in the author's invention, that's annoying.

To be fair, I ought to give Eragon a go and not pre-judge it because of my own grudge against succesful young writers. :grumble:

About the whole 'better than Harry Potter' thing- it annoys me how bookshops always try selling books by labelling them 'the next Harry Potter' etc. Why does everything have to be compared? Can't a book just be good in its own right? If they're not careful, they're just going to make people who dislike HP loathe it even more.

[Tane]

No you can't really compare it to Harry Potter I mean the story talks about Leveling forests with firewall spells and there is no wand waving to be seen. I also think the elves and Dwarfs use elemental magic a lot more which suits there nature and way of thinking in myth.

Um part of my post about the number of chapters has gone missing and page number references. Anyway in the British version there are as you say 497 pages but the language translation in the back takes it to 505 pages.

At the moment I can't see the Harry Potter style in there, more LotR's than anything else. I do feel that the plot might be a little too predictable but I have not really read enough to truly gauge this opinion though I feel it is more of an action fantasy book than mythology and twisting plot style but I could be wrong. It does have plenty of pace and there is less repetitive wording in the story.

[Furienna]

About the whole 'better than Harry Potter' thing- it annoys me how bookshops always try selling books by labelling them 'the next Harry Potter' etc. Why does everything have to be compared? Can't a book just be good in its own right?

Totally agree with you there. I also agree with you on that being jealous because he was published at such a young age. Though I've written books in like over ten years, I haven't been published yet (haven't tried yet either though, but I will) But then, a 20-year-old writer is considered a young writer too. Heck, my sister's friend was called a young writer when she published her book, and she was 30. But really, how good the book is should matter more than how young the writer is.

[jordmundt6]

Rowling caught lightning in a bottle. And then she did it again. And again. And again. And again. The way her series sells is different than almost any children's book pheonomenon in recent memory (20 years maybe more) so they're always trying to hype other books hoping they can duplicate it. What the heck?! 60 chapters and only 528 pages? That's an average of less than 10 pages a chapter. Oh well. It looks very interesting. I may buy it over break. I get a whole week tor relax before I have to start class prepping again.

[Earendil]

I've just finished Eragon, and I enjoyed it immensely. As with almost any book, it'll take me a few readings before I really love it (I've already started to re-read it), but I found it to be innovative and entertaining, if not flawless. It's left me with a lot of questions, and I felt the clarity to be slightly lacking towards the conclusion, but it's unrealistic to expect any novel to be flawless. If anything, the level of quality of Eragon is even more impressive, given the author's young age.

Once I read through it again I'm sure I'll have a more complete assessment, but as of now I'm content with strongly recommending it to anyone who has yet to pick it up. :tu: If you're worried about the alleged "rip-off" of Harry Potter, I honestly didn't notice many similar elements between Paolini's world and Rowling's, other than the basic elements that are common to almost any fantasty/sci-fi genre novel.

[FloydTheBarber]

Many of my friends have read it...I still haven't. I want to read it though, the story sounds interesting. And I had no clue it out-sold Harry Potter. Looks like JK has a competition.

[Larry Potter]

Just from reading reviews, I REALLY want to read this book now. Books from medieval times, or times of like LOTR or even the way Harry Potter has it, (since they use dragons iand other elements in their stories), catch me some how. Like the King Arthur days and all that. I LOVE those kind of stories. Myths, and Gods, or whatever. I love it. And this book sounds just right.

The reason HP will be so wonderful, because it doesn't only have a great plot and story, it makes us feel as if we are part of the trio, (Harry Ron, and Hermoione) and the other characters in the book. It's like we take a feeling for them also, and when a book makes you see what's happening, feel what's happening, and being effected by what's happening, then that is a good book my friends, and Harry Potter does it PERFECTLY. I mean, with all it's elements it has, we use them as everyday things now. From Muggles, to Dementors, to Quidditch. These aren't just elements of the book. They are now a part of us. A part of our everyday life. And that's saying a lot. HP It's very powerful book of friendship, story and character development, and description. I love it.

I am also going to go to college for writing children's literature. I hope to be a writer myself someday too. But I am REALLY looking forward to reading this book now.

HP and Eragon sequals to look forward to. COOOOL

[Meain]

I read Eragon awhile ago, i think its GREAT! Solumbum is cool! And i cant wait for Eldest!!! WHY DO SEQUELS HAVE TO TAKE SO LONG????? WHY, I ASK YOU??? I also cant wait for the 6th book of HP, surprisingly *cough,cough*
I always get so tense the few days before a book from my favourite series is going to be released. I remember when i got the 5th of HP, i stayed up till two in the moring reading it. Its my fav so far!

[Earendil]

Anyone have any clue as to when Eldest is supposed to be released?

[VelvetSkies]

Don't know when Eldest will come out. I do hope it's soon. Eragon was a wonderfully well-written book. I'm not sure if I like it more than Harry Potter or not, though. It's definitely on my top five! :cool:

[dementorgurl28]

I loved the book Eragon because it was written so well...I can't wait until the Eldest comes out...and I also heard that they are going to make a movie out of Eragon and it's going to come out in 2005. I believe that Eragon and Harry Potter tie for being the best book on my favorite books list.

[SiriuslyBria]

Totally agree with you there. I also agree with you on that being jealous because he was published at such a young age. Though I've written books in like over ten years, I haven't been published yet (haven't tried yet either though, but I will) But then, a 20-year-old writer is considered a young writer too. Heck, my sister's friend was called a young writer when she published her book, and she was 30. But really, how good the book is should matter more than how young the writer is.

It's like quanty vs quality. What's more important? To me, it's the quality. I also agree with everyone who has shown dislike in the phrase "the next Harry Potter." As a Star Wars fan, I hear the same thing only Star Wars. Can't something stand on it's own and be accepted as original? Must everything always be compared another and described as the "next best" whatever?

Anyway. I have seen the cover of Eargon and read/heard about Eragon. It sounds interesting. I'll probably read it one of these days... I won't rush though at it's only the first book out so far. ;)

[Furienna]

It's like quanty vs quality. What's more important? To me, it's the quality. I also agree with everyone who has shown dislike in the phrase "the next Harry Potter." As a Star Wars fan, I hear the same thing only Star Wars. Can't something stand on it's own and be accepted as original? Must everything always be compared another and described as the "next best" whatever?
I haven't read this book, I doubt it even has come to Sweden or Europe for that matter yet, but from what I've heard, "Eragon" sounds more like a new LOTR than a new HP. But really, you're right, everything has to be good in its own right.

[Pilum]

I enjoyed Eragon too. Nice enough read but I'm willing to bet I can predict which books Mr. Paolini has on his shelves at home. And Gryffindor4, I'm afraid I've got to call you on the "originality of a dragon and its rider". Do a search for Anne McCaffrey's Pern books. She's been writing them since the 70's.

[HannahStarr]

I haven't read Eragon, mainly because I took one look at the size of it and said, "No way." :lol: However, two of my friends are OBSESSED with it, and one of my friends actually read it in less than a week! It boggles my mind that the auther is only 20 years old, graduated high school at age 15, and wrote a book such as this one!

Anyway, I'll probably get around to reading it, but it just doesn't appeal to me at the moment. :shrug:

[HarryLass]

I don't know. I picked it up about a week ago, and I'm regretting spending money on it. Maybe my English class is turning me into a "book snob", but getting through the first few pages were agony. He has no transitions, uses cliches and is generally unimaginative in his sentence structure. He may be a genius when it comes to plots, but I think he's really bad at making the words flow. And then there's little to no character descriptions, but extended, detailed descriptions of the weapons and such.

I'll use the first sentence as an example (if that's legal?):
Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world.

Wow. Wind. And smells. And night. Special. That could be any place. The purpose of an opening sentence is to grab the reader and make you want to read (and buy!) the book. This just made me want to get perfume called "Eau de World Change."

AHHH! I AM a book snob!

[Gryffindor4]

Getting through the first few pages were easy. It was getting through the first few (till he FINALLY LEFT) of Fellowship of the Rings was torture. The writing is one of the best things about the book because it is so direct and smooth. Also to the one who mentioned the Dragon Rider of Pern which i believe is about this sort of space matter that comes to this different world. I meant that it was original with the ideal of the Dragon Rider using magic, but i now know that is really just like the Jedi. :evil:

[Furienna]

I'll use the first sentence as an example (if that's legal?):
Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world.

Wow. Wind. And smells. And night. Special. That could be any place. The purpose of an opening sentence is to grab the reader and make you want to read (and buy!) the book. This just made me want to get perfume called "Eau de World Change."

AHHH! I AM a book snob!
OK, Harrylass, we know that you didn't like the book, but why are you getting down on the opening line? It's maybe more poetic than anything, but I like it. So how would you open a book? And really, judging a book by its opening line is like judging it by its cover. Your first impression might be right, but it doesn't have to be so. And I'm not talking only about "Eragon" but about books in general. And if you're such a book snob, is it snobbish to read HP?

[Discordia]

Well I disagree with HarryLass who say Paolini's book had no flow. If one can say that about Eragon than I think people have been spending too much time on Harry Potter and not exploring all the other books out there in the world. Well actually I do agree that in some parts I did fell like it was a bit chopy but it was easier to read than say Lord of the Rings becasue unlike in LOTR I didn't want to put the book down after the first few chapters. I'm normally a very fast reader but it took all the will power with in me not to quit reading that book and I still haven't even finished the Two Towers. Eragon seems less Harry Potter and less Star Wars than people are making it out to be becasue for starters we really don't know what's going to happen, who's in love with who, who's related to who, and so forth and so forth. Yet the whole thing with elves and the evil Galbatorix does remind me a lot of LOTR but I like the book as a whole. To me Eragon seems slightly mature that Harry since he's had to deal with so much in a sorter amount of time and he was forced to grow up quicker.

Oh, and if anyone needs to take a break from Star Wars, LOTR, or Harry Potter read the Chronicles of Dune becasue those are amazing books.

[Furienna]

OK, this is off topic, but I have to say this. Harry sure has had to deal with a lot of things in a short amount of time and he seems to be a mature boy for his age in all of the five books. Just make a comparison with Harry and James or Harry and Ron. I don't know what Eragon goes through, not having read the book, but he can't possibly have had it worse than Harry.

Back on topic, I agree with you however on that "Eragon" sounds most like LOTR than anything else.

[Patrice]

i get ya. i think its funny how people think outselling harry potter books is an achievement. its like how long have they all been out? when that book has been out for as long as the HP books are, lets see how its selling - if it is at all.

[Discordia]

OK, this is off topic, but I have to say this. Harry sure has had to deal with a lot of things in a short amount of time and he seems to be a mature boy for his age in all of the five books. Just make a comparison with Harry and James or Harry and Ron. I don't know what Eragon goes through, not having read the book, but he can't possibly have had it worse than Harry.
YOu have no idea. Well I do agree that Harry has had to deal with a lot in the past 5 years but Eragon is different. Eragon really does have a lot more to deal with than Harry does and in a shorter(A WAY shorter amount of time). His responsibilty is slightly heavier on his soulders and he's experienced slightly more than Harry has. Harry has life worse of emotionally but Eragon has had it even more worse of physically.

[Gryffindor4]

Patrice, lots of fantasy books have outsold HP. It is just that HP is the first ever book to sell millions the day and days after it comes out. Eragon has to go through ALOT of pain physically and emotionally. Also the only thing he has in common with Harry is that they both can use magic. :evil:

[Furienna]

I still don't believe anybody can have had it worse than Harry. Just as bad, yes maybe, but not worse.

[Discordia]

Well I think that unless you've read Eragon than you really can't compare it to Harry Potter.

With Ergaon he's slightly more mature than Harry is and he's had a whole lot more responsibilty forced onto him at an older age than Harry did but he had a hell of a lot less time to really grow into his abilites than Harry did so he was essentially forced to grow up faster. As a result of that he's also had to undure worse pain physically and mentally because the world that Eragon grows up in is more dangerous than Harry's and his life is a little bit more threaghtened by the forces swirlign around him.

[HpFreak726]

i thought eragon was really good. i can't wait til the next book and the movie come out

[Nundu]

I have read the book, but I think Harry Potter is much better. Eragorn is a little more complicated and mature, and it's a tad medievel too. Harry Potter has a more realistic plot, and Harry has to grow within the books and have less time to overcome obstacles. Meh, that's just me though.

[Dark Penguin]

I've read Eragon as well. Not as good as JKR, but still a very interesting book. It's the first in a trilogy, and I eagerly await the next installment.

[Genesis Blue]

I love Eragon. I borrowed it from my friend (it was her Christmas present from me). Now I want to buy it.

I'll admit, I'm a little jealous that Chris got published so young. He graduated high school at 15, started writing Eragon at 16, and got it published at 19. So lucky....

[Grærium]

That's a good book there, I get the galley for Eldest when it comes out, too. :D HP is MUCH better than it though.

[jordmundt6]

Here's a question though. Why does he like weapon metaphors and similes so much--or is that just to set the tone in his introduction?

[SecretAgent]

I tried reading Eragon, but it was far too Tolkien-esque for my minute attention span of five seconds.. :D I need books that are written in simple terms without all of the confusing back-story and odd names. I suppose that's why I like Harry Potter, and enjoyed the His Dark Materials series.. they both take place in our world.. or in HDM's case, a world parallel to ours. I guess I can visualize them better, and am far less confused. I really don't like those books with all that "And Zaburoth the Silurzlakian elf made his journey to find the sword of Ganathuras that was placed deep in the Stone of Szedular, far in the Fridislathian Mountains." I mean.. good grief, I spend 99% of the time reading those books trying to figure out WHAT the book's about!

[tabygrint]

I saw that book and wanted to buy it but I don't have any moolah.

[Genesis Blue]

I tried reading Eragon, but it was far too Tolkien-esque for my minute attention span of five seconds.. :D I need books that are written in simple terms without all of the confusing back-story and odd names.

Heh, heh, that's okay.



I know not all people would be able to read Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. (Speaking of which, I should re-read it sometime).

[publicenemy1]

Well, I never heard of the book before but I'll definatly pick it up now, sounds interesting.

[Nymphadora*]

ooc- Oh, by the way, Publicenemy1, i LOVE your signature! I just saw Kill Bill on Saturday night and i loved it! :lol:


I read Eragon. I thought it was amazing. Most people don't bother reading because they think it's a copy of the genius ideas of Tolkien and think it won't ever be as good as Harry Potter. Well, the truth is that it is very well written, and i'm taking pity on it, since some feel that certain way.:) It's a good story, and very adventurous. A little like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, but has a different vibe and style. It does take place in another world, yet, it has it's own accomplishments and and wonderful parts that differentiate it from Tolkien's line of work. I thought Eragon was great, and can't wait for Eldest, the second book in the trilogy to come out. As well, some people who have read Eragon think the ending wasn't satisfactory because it left readers hanging. Well, hello! It is a trilogy and it's obviously not going to finish in the first book. I've tried telling my friend that for ages after she finished Eragon, but she still doens't agree with me. The ending is meant to do that, because it creates more ties with the readers and invites them to come and read the next book.

I think it is fair in saying that Eragon is just about equal to Harry Potter. Most people think that Harry Potter is better, however, that may be because we've come to know the Harry Potter story for so long over the years. We've grown to know the characters and develop the stories in our minds over and over again. So enevitably, we are much more accustomed to the world of Harry Potter.

[Sweetie]

Hmm. I'm not big into dragons, so I don't think I'll be reading that one...

[Morbidosity]

I bought 'Eragon' a couple months ago and read it. It was a decent read, decent considering that it was written by a fifteen-year-old boy. But I felt that it borrowed too heavily from LOTR in several places (examples: the elves being very Tolkienesque, tall, graceful, use primarily archery to fight, Arya the Elven princess who very strongly resembled Arwen, Brom resembling a cross between a Bilbo/Gandalf-like figure, Murtagh the warrior/ranger very strongly resembling Aragorn, just to name a few).

The map of Alagaesia even bore a slight resemblance to Tolkien's map of Middle-earth.

Obviously Tolkien influenced the young writer, but I think the writer borrowed far too much from Tolkien.

Overall, it was a decent book, but not the best. Even if it has outsold HP, I don't believe it is a better book quality-wise than HP. But that's just my opinion.

~*Morbidosity*~

[Bleikli]

I've never read the book, but I did get
a chance to meet Christopher Paolini at
Costco (very exciting I know), but from
what he told me about the book, it didn't
seem too interesting to me.But I don't
know, I might like it if I read it though.

[HarryLass]

I'll use the first sentence as an example (if that's legal?):
Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world.

Wow. Wind. And smells. And night. Special. That could be any place. The purpose of an opening sentence is to grab the reader and make you want to read (and buy!) the book. This just made me want to get perfume called "Eau de World Change."

AHHH! I AM a book snob!
OK, Harrylass, we know that you didn't like the book, but why are you getting down on the opening line? It's maybe more poetic than anything, but I like it. So how would you open a book? And really, judging a book by its opening line is like judging it by its cover. Your first impression might be right, but it doesn't have to be so. And I'm not talking only about "Eragon" but about books in general. And if you're such a book snob, is it snobbish to read HP?

Ah, what I miss in two months. Stupid computer gliches.

I didn't mean to "get down" on the opening line. It just was boring and uninteresting and I was pointing it out. It was also a way of proving my point without spoiling the book for anyone. I had also read well into it at that point, so I did not judge it solely on the opening line but on problems I saw throughout. Paolini himself said in the closing credits that it was very hard for him to come up with a decent opening, so I'm not bashing him unprovokedly. It may just be one of his weaknesses as a writer.

As to Harry Potter being a snobbish book, book snob 'elite' such as Harold Bloom won't touch it. I think HP has an equal balance of good story and good storytelling and therefore is immune to most of the problems I have with Eragon, like flow, transitions, and pacing. To me it seemed like Paolini was more interested in getting the story told than in telling it well. Therefore, it irks me, and probably will continue to do so for a long time.

The story itself was not bad, yet it seemed like the standard fantasy-adventure type deal. It also seemed like wish-fullfillment. I mean, when you read the description of the main character (lost my copy sorry) doesn't it seem to look suspiciously like the author's picture on the back flap? And then he (the character) gets lean and muscular and generally studly by training every day. And then he meets a beautiful, athletic woman who seems to like him because of his exquisite training. I don't blame him for wanting all those things, but putting it in a book doesn't seem to be prudent.

[jordmundt6]

Okay the idea that Bloom is elite is completely ridiculous but--that's a completely different subject.

You think the structure and pacing are bad? Hmm--I thought there were good characters in a pretty good story, for the most part, and the pacing was okay.

We're left with some obvious threads for the next book while he takes at least the next two years to write it:


Here are just a few of my guesses and I guess I'll stick them in Spoilertext (or maybe not):

1. Murtaugh becoming a King's Rider and Eragon having to face him in spite of their friendship kinda jumps out at me here.

2. Eragon's heritage--I have a sneaking suspicion that Brom was more than "like a father" to the young hero based on Brom's fate "to love a woman and thus cause her undoing" and Selena's parallel story.

3. So we'd have history repeating itself--blood brothers Brom and Morzan became titanic enemies and it looks like their sons (Eragon and Murtaugh) are following the same paths.

4. The stayed vengeance on the Ra'zacs.

5. Possibly a reckoning with or at that black gate--can't remember the name they give those peaks, is it Helgrind?

6. The probable treachery of the nameless Twins (talk about an about-face for a reader used to the Gred & Forge, Samneric variety.

7. The love dilemma. Eragon is fated to love a princess. So far we have only one declared candidate--Nassada, Princess of the Varden who is Ajihad's daughter. But then there's Arya--what position does she hold?

[FluffyMundungus]

OK here's a question- is the Amazon best seller's list cumaltive...or is it the sales every week.

ok let me clear up my question: is the best sellers list the total sales of the book since it was published, or is it a week by week basis, or even month by month

[Mistress Lily]

I loved Eragon!It's not better than Harry Potter though.But all of you should read it.It's not only about dragons either.

[Resolute]

I've been meaning to pick up Eragon for a while now. Not really because I think it looks exceptionally interesting, but I am curious as to what a 17 year-old kid can do with the fantasy genre.

And its really not a matter of "is this kid better than rowling". Certainly there are many writers out there who are technically "better" than rowling, Guy Gavriel Kay for one (look him up), but Rowling has a very simple style, which makes her books much more readable than other Fantasy.

[Nymphadora*]

Yes, Rowling, although her books are exceedinly popular and very interesting and inspiring reads, there are other authors out there, who pocess the dream and perserverance to write, and who have the creative talent and goals. I agree, that the style of J.K's writing and plot are what make Harry Potter such a success, as well, as her ability to develop her characters well. Eragon, is a well writting story as well, with a continued plot and a feeling of suspense, that should probably be credited looked upon in a better and seemingly way, when compared to HP. It's still a story and a good one at that. ;)

[forgottentitan]

personally i've read eragon and the book isn't as deep or thought through as harry potter.

the shade though is rather cool but the urgals are takeoffs of orcs.

[Loony_Lupin]

I saw this book at walmart, I wanted to buy it, but alas, I had no money.

[elysium]

I agree that bestselling means nothing; people who buy the book mostly haven't read it yet, and so they buy it because it looks interesting, or like something they would want to read. It has no affect on whether or not they actually liked the book.

[SilverStar]

I loved Eragon. Very good book. Not better than HP, but very good, particularly if you like Lord of The Rings.

[Dark Penguin]

the shade though is rather cool but the urgals are takeoffs of orcs.


I made an extensive list on the similarities of Eragon and LoTR...

Urgals= Orcs
Other Urgals (forgot the name)= Uru-Kai (I know that's not spelled right...)
Arya= Arwen
Murtagh= Aragorn
Brom= Gandalf
Farthen Dur= Minas Tirith

[jordmundt6]

I think I may lift my spoilertags on my other response. The orc similarities I agree with, though these monstrous footsoldiers have their own look and their own dangers which are different from Orcs.

As for the Brom--Gandalf thing. I get a lot more of an Obi-Wan vibe than a Gandalf vibe from him. His dreams are dust, his great accomplishment in life was hunting down and killing the maniac who had been his best friend and he failed in all his other tasks. Although he was powerful and knowledgeable, he was not near-omniscient or near-omnipotent like Gandalf or Dumbledore. His student (partially through links with his dragon and partially on his own) was stronger than he was (or, probably, had ever been). Are you folks expecting Brom to jump out of his diamond casket in The Eldest and come back stronger and more inscrutable than ever? It just doesn't look like we're set up for that.

I maintain that Murtaugh--Aragorn is a TOTAL MISREAD of Murtaugh. Yes, he is running from a heritage that he can't escape, but there is a love of power and a mercilessness pulsing within him, defining him at his very core that don't exist in Aragorn. If you want to use labels--he's more an Anakin type but that description has just as many holes in it. He appears to be set up as a King's Rider, a friend who becomes a bitter foe--the last generation of riders bound to make the same mistakes its predecessors did. Morzan's son will be consumed by his evil (or close to it) and turn on his friend--Eragon, Brom's student (and possibly his son).

Arwen--Arya. This I can't really argue with. I will ask a question, though. Was Arwen a warrior princess, did she fight in any of the battles to save Middle Earth? There seems to be more of the warrior and less of the royal in Arya. The shared elements are fairly apparent, though.

[elysium]

I couldn't find the quote, but someone said they met Paolini at Costco. Aww, he had to pitch his book at Costco?? Isn't that one of those uber-cheap retail stores? Maybe he's not doing as well as we thought, hehe.

Not having access to a good library (*lives in very very small village*) and not having "sufficient funds" (ie, my parents don't seem to believe in allowance...)requires me to wait until the book comes out in paperback to buy it. I think I will, after reading what you all have wrote, but I'm doubtful as to whether I'll like it; Rowling and Robin McKinley are I think the only two fantasy writers I ever really really got into.

[SilverStar]

I saw the Deluxe Edition of Eragon in the store today, and as I liked the book, I had to check it out. Guess what's in there? An excerpt from Eldest, the second book. I had to read it. It's good, but there's a character death (I'm not telling who, owl me if you want to know) and I'm still shocked that Chris would give away a death from the next book!

[DelphicScorpion]

That book is the best!

http://s4.invisionfree.com/Inheritance (http://s4.invisionfree.com/Inheritance)

That is an Eragon site that I made.

[APoetsInstinct]

I just started reading Eragon and was wholly disappointed in everyone who has been saying how wonderful of a book it is. Harry Potter does have some faults, but all in all is a very well written set of books that introduces many new ideas and builds off well established ones. However, Eragon gives nothing to the literary community in an way, shape, or form. The characters are flat, static, and refuse to become believable throughout the book. Paulini's use of clumsy language and an AMAZING amount of useless metapher, simile, and adjectives makes navigating the book harder than it should be. All of the ideas explored in book have been done before in exactly the same ways but with much more tact and ease. In my opinion, the only reason that this book is doing so well is because Christopher Paulini's FATHER owns the publishing company that began publishing it and then sold it to Knoph when Knoph realized that it was doing well. However, the reason it did well was because it was a novelty written by a teenager, not because it was a good book. I don't recommend this book. <<preparing self for loads of hate mail>> ;)

[TheGreatest]

In a sense the Harry Potter <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=books&v=56">books</a> have been out-sold; but it depends what you are measuring. Whether you are measuring the number of <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=books&v=56">books</a> sold, the rank after one week, or the number of <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&v=56">people</a> who have read it in total...There are several things to measure.

Of course, when JKR becomes the first billionaire writer, it is another way to show that Harry Potter is the best!

Harry Potter is not the best.

[Rola]

I currently got this book out of my Library because it's meant to be really good. It's one long book. I havn't started it yet because I'm reading HP5 and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman so I don't have enough energy to sort out which plot line belongs to what book in my tiny little head hehe.

[hannah82090]

I've never read the book but a lot of comments were made about it. In the internet it said that the author of the book has no talent in making up names and that his book is like great books that were crammed altogether.
I have no comment about it so people who likes it: Please don't get mad at me. I'm just saying what I read in the internet.

[SilverStar]

I really enjoyed Eragon. :tu:

[DelphicScorpion]

The internet is wrong if that is what it says. Eragon is one of the best books I have ever read. And I have read quite a few.

[Spirit]

I'm reading Eragon right now, and I think that it is a very good book. If it really has outsold Harry Potter, then I'm disappointed about that. But it is a good book. At lest I think that it is.

[Shadowed]

Heh, I just finished reading Eragon about a week ago. I thought it was awesomely good, and I cannot wait until the second book in the trilogy comes out. ;)

[LuvHP_001]

Any book selling more than HP this decade? Good luck!

D*** right!

[Windham]

I just started reading Eragon and was wholly disappointed in everyone who has been saying how wonderful of a book it is. Harry Potter does have some faults, but all in all is a very well written set of books that introduces many new ideas and builds off well established ones. However, Eragon gives nothing to the literary community in an way, shape, or form. The characters are flat, static, and refuse to become believable throughout the book. Paulini's use of clumsy language and an AMAZING amount of useless metapher, simile, and adjectives makes navigating the book harder than it should be. All of the ideas explored in book have been done before in exactly the same ways but with much more tact and ease. In my opinion, the only reason that this book is doing so well is because Christopher Paulini's FATHER owns the publishing company that began publishing it and then sold it to Knoph when Knoph realized that it was doing well. However, the reason it did well was because it was a novelty written by a teenager, not because it was a good book. I don't recommend this book. <<preparing self for loads of hate mail>> ;)

Finally, a person I can absolutely agree with! I loathe Eragon. Well-written? I don't think so. His wording may be direct, but smooth it is not. From his writing and then his interviews, it becomes apparent to me that he's far more of a genius in his own mind than in reality.

And APoetsInstinct is right on the mark in saying that this book would've never been published were it not guaranteed success by virtue of its author being a media novelty. Christopher Paolini did not sell this book because of its quality. His parents published it, and then a publisher picked it up for the marketing possibilities. It's so indulgent, the whole scenario.

Boring writing I could forgive if the author were not so obviously full of himself. But the book is wholly unoriginal. There's not an idea, a character, or a plot point in the whole thing that I can't immediately say, "That's from LotR. That's from Wheel of Time. That's from HP." and so on. Paolini shouldn't be praised for aping every fantasy writer who's come before when there are loads of better authors than he who can't even get published.

[HarryLass]

Amen! Well said. Though I must be diplomatic and say that he's probably not a bad writer, being 15 when he wrote it. I'd just say he hasn't developed enough to separate the creations from his own mind from those of his mentors given new personas. He also has not seen enough of people to lampoon them spectacularly or give them due honor in his books. Other than that, I agree, especially after rereading the book again to see if criticism holds up.

(Prepares to be emailed by the author and/or fans and being politely yet severley chastized, then thinks the better of preparation and decides to simply dive into the shadows :scared: )

[padfoot4567]

WHAT?! I had to read that book for school! It was okay, but it had a weak plot and had just started to get interesting like 200 pages into it!


I CAN'T BELIEVE IT OUT SOLD HARRY POTTER!

[Furienna]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT OUT SOLD HARRY POTTER!Don't worry. It hasn't sold more than HP. It just ended up higher in the charts once when HP had allready been there for a while.

[SilverStar]

Heh, I just finished reading Eragon about a week ago. I thought it was awesomely good, and I cannot wait until the second book in the trilogy comes out. ;)

:agree: Me too.

[Discordia]

Lol, the books are great and they are certainly something to read while you wait for Harry Potter.

[ammy_asakura]

An interesting book, but I think it was only published because Paolini's father ran a publishing company. The storyline is basically LotR meets Star Wars. I liked it, but it's obvious that it was written by a 15 year old. Not the best example of fantasy I've ever seen.

[Holly_Black16]

It's on my to read list. I'm writing a lot right now (trilogy, ten book + screenplay).

[woop]

OK, I started reading it on Friday. I think it's complete ****, but I'm interested in finding out what happens. Does it ever get any good? I also got on Paolini's website. He sounds like an arrogant twit. He reminds me soooooo much of Percy.
Writing is the heart and soul of my being. It is the means through which I bring my stories to life. There is nothing like putting words on a page and knowing that they will summon certain emotions and reactions from the reader. In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf.
As a writer, I find this passage offensive. Chris, I have no doubt that writing is the heart and soul of your being, or that you want to be Tolkein or whomever. But, frankly, anyone who puts something like that on his website is revealing himself to be someone in serious danger of being seduced by the allure of his own arrogance. Chris, you tell an interesting story, but there is nothing lyrical about your writing. Plus, Beowulf is lame, especially compared to anything by Tolkein or CS Lewis or JK Rowling. Honestly, I've never understood people's fascination with that story.

Well, I'm about a quarter of the way through it. I'm going to finish it just because I hate starting books and not finishing them. Plus, it's not a bad book. The story's good. I'll post again when I'm done.

If you're interested in being underwhelmed, here's the link to his site:

http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/eragon/christopherpaolini.htm

bah humbug! :td: :no: :no:

[HarryLass]

It seems like people either love this book or hate it. Since so many people (myself included) have been attacking it point by point, would someone come to it's defense similarly? I have seen people say they like it, but on what basis? What I mean to say is: what about Eragon do people like if they enjoy it? Since I developed my dislike of the book since I started reading it, I would like to understand that perspective better. Is it the plot that people respond to? Characters? Description? Setting? Saphira and the mind-connection?

I would love to see some healthy discussion of this.

[Nymphadora*]

Well, i'm one of those who have read the book, and liked quite a lot. When i read a book, i don't automatically begin to critisize it, or compare it to other previous books i've read that may have been spectacular. I give the book a chance. What i liked about Eragon was the overall theme and plot of the novel. To me, Saphira woven together with Eragon's graduall education as a Rider, and the quest the go through, was appealing to me. As well as Saphira and Eragon's mind connection linking them together, was very interesting to me. Yes, there are connections to Lord of the Rings, i understand that, but we shouldn't be basing Eragon on how it's similar to other books, or how it compares to other books.

[Artemis Tyo]

I read Eragon and I do believe that Rowling may have competition. And he started writing it at age 15. He finnished highschool at age 15 and then started writeing Eragon. He is now 19.

[woop]

OK, I started reading it on Friday. I think it's complete ****, but I'm interested in finding out what happens. Does it ever get any good? I also got on Paolini's website. He sounds like an arrogant twit. He reminds me soooooo much of Percy.

As a writer, I find this passage offensive. Chris, I have no doubt that writing is the heart and soul of your being, or that you want to be Tolkein or whomever. But, frankly, anyone who puts something like that on his website is revealing himself to be someone in serious danger of being seduced by the allure of his own arrogance. Chris, you tell an interesting story, but there is nothing lyrical about your writing. Plus, Beowulf is lame, especially compared to anything by Tolkein or CS Lewis or JK Rowling. Honestly, I've never understood people's fascination with that story.

Well, I'm about a quarter of the way through it. I'm going to finish it just because I hate starting books and not finishing them. Plus, it's not a bad book. The story's good. I'll post again when I'm done.

If you're interested in being underwhelmed, here's the link to his site:

http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/eragon/christopherpaolini.htm

bah humbug! :td: :no: :no:

i'm almost done with Eragon. not quite a thumbs down anymore, but i still had a lot of problems with it.

[Rapunzel]

Well, i'm one of those who have read the book, and liked quite a lot. When i read a book, i don't automatically begin to critisize it, or compare it to other previous books i've read that may have been spectacular. I give the book a chance. What i liked about Eragon was the overall theme and plot of the novel. To me, Saphira woven together with Eragon's graduall education as a Rider, and the quest the go through, was appealing to me. As well as Saphira and Eragon's mind connection linking them together, was very interesting to me. Yes, there are connections to Lord of the Rings, i understand that, but we shouldn't be basing Eragon on how it's similar to other books, or how it compares to other books.

I haven't read this book. Is the "Rider" you're talking about someone who rides a dragon? And do the dragon and the rider have a mind connection? If that's what you meant, I wouldn't compare it with LoTR, but there is a fantasy series I definitely would link it with!

[SilverStar]

I haven't read this book. Is the "Rider" you're talking about someone who rides a dragon? And do the dragon and the rider have a mind connection? If that's what you meant, I wouldn't compare it with LoTR, but there is a fantasy series I definitely would link it with!

Yes, he is a dragon rider, and yes they have a mind connection.

[Rapunzel]

Yes, he is a dragon rider, and yes they have a mind connection.

Hmmmm, you ever read Anne McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern series?

[SilverStar]

No, although people have compared it to that series and think he may be copying. But people think JK is copying, too, so...

[Rapunzel]

I've been a fan of the Pern series for years, so I don't know if I would be able to read Eragon without comparing and judging. The only person I've heard JKR accused of copying is Tolkien, and having read both of their works, I personally don't see the similarities to base that accusation on.

[SilverStar]

Paolini is very similar to Tolkien as well.

There's only one way for you to know, read it!

[dobby_rocks]

I am currently reading the book i have maybe 15 chapters to go, and hope to finish in the next week or 2. The book is awsome, im amazed that it was written when the author was 15. I cant wait for Eldest which is set to come out Aug 2005. I would recommed this book to people who like fantasy, i guess you could find some similartes between it and other Fantasy stories, but i think thats the case in any Fantasy, you just have enjoy each as their own. This is a kid who enjoyed fantasy that he decide to write his own

They are set to make a moive which is slated for 2005 sometime, i think it will more likely be 2006, since no cast or crew has even been annocued. Filming has not started. Id think it take ast leas 11 months to film

[Holly is Short]

Overall he is okay but his writting style makes me want to sleep. He'll get better the more he writes. Of course I'm homeschooled too so...and I am writing a book...but anyway...
To me his writing is kind of clumsy. He inspired me to continue to write (cause I had really bad writers block!) Its nice to see kids like me write books like that!

[bookfreak_lilly]

I LOVE ERAGON!!!!! THOSE BOOKS ROCK!!!!!!!! Really, they do. I don't think he's better than Rowling. They're pretty equal. ONE OF MY FRIENDS READ ERAGON AND DIDN'T LIKE IT BECAUSE IT WAS TO VIOLENT!!!!! COME ON! To violent? No more than LoTR!

[Holly is Short]

Equal? Not by far! Thats just me! I love Murtagh...

[Nymphadora*]

lol, i love Murtagh as well. But i really like Arya. She's a kick butt sort of girl, plus she's an elf and i like her mysterious quality. Very sad when Brom died.:(

[Holly is Short]

Ehhh? I actually don't like Arya. She feels like a copy of Arwen from LotR. But don't mind me!

[Nymphadora*]

Yeah, i thought the same as well. She is really like her, but still, she's pretty cool. Angela is good too. I don't know why, but i found her interesting.

[Holly is Short]

Well angela is based on Chis's sisiter! Do you like Solembum? I think he's cute!

[Nymphadora*]

lol, yeah! He sort of reminds me of the cat in Alice in Wonderland. ( i read the book i while ago) but anyways, he's great. I'm really looking forward for when Eldest comes out. Hopefully it's soon.

[Holly is Short]

Uhhh...its for sure coming out in 2005! I can't wait either!

[Rosie Cotton]

I have thought about reading the Inheritance Trilogy, is it worth a read? My brothers, one of my sisters, and my mom have read it, but I want to know if it's worth my time to read it.

[house elf 13]

I think he writes pretty well for a teenager, but simply as an author I thought he was pretty bad. Clunky, uneven descriptions, clunky exposition, poor editing, and a lot of Tolkein-flavored place-names. That said, I think Eragon picked up some steam toward the end and I'm more hopeful about the second book. In part that's because he won't have had as much time to fall in love with it, which I think posed an editing problem in book 1.

[bookfreak_lilly]

AngelaROX!

[hermioneclone9]

I think he writes pretty well for a teenager, but simply as an author I thought he was pretty bad. Clunky, uneven descriptions, clunky exposition, poor editing, and a lot of Tolkein-flavored place-names. That said, I think Eragon picked up some steam toward the end and I'm more hopeful about the second book. In part that's because he won't have had as much time to fall in love with it, which I think posed an editing problem in book 1.

:agree: I just finished Eragon this morning and I really enjoyed it. The only issue that I had with it was that he was too inspired by Tolkien. His description of elves and dwarves are very similar to that in Tolkien's works. I loved Eragon, although he couldn't make it more of his own idea. I know that totally original ideas are very hard to come by nowadays, but he could have at least left Tolkien's works alone. The enemies/evil creatures in Eragon are called "Urgals." Way too close to Tolkien's "Orc" for me. Don't get me wrong, I think that Eragon is an awesome book, but he took way too many ideas from Tolkien. I am anxious, though, for the next book to come out!

[FredFancier]

I love Eragon. They remind me of a cross between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter (in writing style)
I love Solumbom (sp?) and Angela, and Ayra is one of my favorite characters! I think my faves are Eragon, Ayra, Saphira, Solumbom (sp?), Brom and Murtagh, then Angela

[house elf 13]

I am anxious, though, for the next book to come out!I'm looking forward to it, too (It's due to be released August 30, 2005). I'm very interested to see how his writing style evolves.

[EvilGirl0000006]

Yes, It's really good. I thought it was anyway.

[Kidgray]

I liked Eragon a lot. It did have some problems, but I still thought it was good, especially for a teenager. I really liked Solembum. He was my favorite. I can't wait for Eldest!

[EvilGirl0000006]

Yea, me too, thats gfonna be really good!I wonder whats gonna happen.

[Kneazle]

I read Eragon a few months ago, and, truthfully, I'm not really sure what I think about it. I enjoyed it, yes, but more for the story than the telling. It's impressive that Chris Paolini wrote it when he was only fifteen, but at times the narrative was a bit awkward. The characters are great, though. My favorites are Solembum, Murtagh, and Saphira. I'll certainly read Eldest when it comes out, to see what becomes of them, and I'm hopeful that it will be better than the first.

[EvilGirl0000006]

I like Murtagh too, I think in Eldest, he'll be a key person

[Kneazle]

Yes, I read that he would be in an interview! I hope it is so. I think it said that Eragon's cousin is coming back, too (I forget what his name is-- Roran, maybe?). Pretty promising.

[EvilGirl0000006]

Yes, his name was Roran, I wonder what he's going to do....Isn't he older than Eragon?

[latiem]

When you consider how young he was when he wrote it, and how descriptive the book is, like the languages, you have to give him a lot of credit.

And you can't compare Rowling to Paolini because they both have different writing styles, the themes are diiferent, you can't compare apples and oranges both are very diiferent.

[hermioneclone9]

When you consider how young he was when he wrote it, and how descriptive the book is, like the languages, you have to give him a lot of credit.

And you can't compare Rowling to Paolini because they both have different writing styles, the themes are diiferent, you can't compare apples and oranges both are very diiferent.

No, you cannot compare Rowling to Paolini, but you can compare Paolini to Tolkien. The themes are pretty much the same, yet slightly different. So it's like comparing tangerines and oranges.

[Holly is Short]

Uhhhh...you couldn't compare Paolini to Tolkien! Never! One was homeschooled (I am too) and the other was a Professor! One is an epic the other is written by a 15 year old! Chis' writing is eccellent for his age but he needs to get better. He will get better. I love Eragon so don't take my criticism the wrong way! :)

[Sejo]

I read that the writing phase of the second book is complete!! Eldest, the book's title, is 222,000 words long (before editing) while Eragon was only 159,000. The book is going to be published and distributed to bookstores in August of 2005, it'll be a great summer.

[swishandflick]

Wow...can't wait for 2005! Going to be alot of reading, but it'll all be fun. Don't know if it's standing in line at midnight worthy, but I'll definately buy it the next day!

[EvilGirl0000006]

I might stand in line at midnight, because I know it'll be a good read.

[bookfreak_lilly]

Well, Roran is the ELDEST, if you get what I mean... But Chris said there's going to be a red, menacing dragon on the cover of Eldest. I wonder who's it is? And a green one's supposed ot be on the third.

Yeah, 2005 is going to be a LOT of great reading. I mean, Artemis Fowl, Eragon and the Sixth Harry Potter book!!!

[EvilGirl0000006]

Well, maybe somebody else is going to be a RIDER....Ohhh, i hope something dosn't happen to saphiria

[bookfreak_lilly]

Something COULDN'T happen to Saphira, maybe she'll get hurt, but she DEFINETELEY won't die. That would be horrible! I would stop reading right away!

[EvilGirl0000006]

Lol, that'd be so said :( I hope she won't die..... Who Do u think Erogon will join?

[bookfreak_lilly]

Chris said he'll join the Elves. Don't know excactly when though. What do you think about the Beggar who is Whole?

[EvilGirl0000006]

I don't know really....

[xluvmonax]

I like Eragon but I admit it's nothing compared to Harry Potter or the original Lord of the Rings (too great). Though the elves wanting to be kept in peace and such is most likely like Tolkiens great ideas, but still LotR is just beyond reach no matter how much the magic and Eragon's world is similar. I like reading the book it's self but it's kinda slow. I did like the ending to the book and I will check the next book to it. I'm sure Eragon will either choose the good side or not any sides at all and stand on his own with whomever will back him up. My choice goes to that. The elve girl sure is awesome!

[EvilGirl0000006]

Yea, I like Arya, she's awsome! I think she is a important person in the book

[darcy736]

I just finished reading Eragon and thought it was pretty good! The story was entertaining but there has been one thing bothering me. In the battle at the end of the story, what happened to The Twins - weren't they supposed to be in the cave ready to help Eragon? Does anyone else find their absence suspicious?

[Dorian Myrrdin]

Eragon was a really good book. It's one of my favorites.

Anyway, did anyone know that they're making a movie out of Eragon?

[starxgazer]

I ordered this book by the Internet today. It will take 10 or more days for them to deliver it to me.
Anyway I'll read it and tell you guys what it is like.

:D :D

10 or more days?! Wow, I'm not that patient. :rotfl: I just ordered it off of Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com) on the 25 and it's going to be here tommorrow.

Anyways, I checked Eragon out at the library, and I am only 200 pgs into it, and I have to return it soon. So, I bought myself my own copy, since so far its been a great read.

Anyway, did anyone know that they're making a movie out of Eragon?

A MOVIE? :wow: Hmm.. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

[crouton]

I read Eragon, and thought it a remarkable feat for one so young. BUT......I think Paolini would make a better designer of computer games. The book read like one. The orphan hero gets a dragon, loses his home, finds a mentor, goes to the city, askes the herbalist questions, gets a sword, etc, etc, etc. Ad nauseum. I must admit I did get into the book later on, but don't think I will waste any money on the rest of the series. It seemed to me to be a bunch of cliches (the beautiful elf girl, oh, and our hero getting muscular in the forest! Of course he does everything well, and only needs to practice just a little) ACK!!!! Give me a break. Do not compare this book to HP or LoTR!!! NO COMPARISON!!! Saphira was the best character in the book, and she isn't human!!! I did like her quite alot.

[erynae]

I love Eragon! YOu know how there are meant to be two other dragon eggs? maybe they're the green and red one! I love Angela's thing about frogs and toads, lol. Has anybody read the Special Edition? It has the first chapter of the next book. There's a character death in it. Got any theories about what happens in Eldest and Empire? By the way, Paolini said that Brom would not return.

[EvilGirl0000006]

I think that Eragon will fall in love with Arya. Remember Angela's prediction?! It says that his love will be beautiful that nobody can compare, and that she will be of noble blood....isn't she a noble of the elves???

[11Leigh11]

I've read it, loved it, and am patiently waiting for the second book to come out.

[erynae]

We don't know if Arya is of noble blood, but I'm betting that she is, and I'm betting that Eragon does fall in love with her. Which leaves Murtagh. Nasuada? They probably would be a good match, they're both keen fighters and all.

[EvilGirl0000006]

Yea, i wonder how the 2nd book will start out. I think Murtagh will be captured and he'll escape. The he'll go with Eragon to finnish his "war"

[starxgazer]

I'm really hoping that Eragon will join the Varden. All though I'm not compleyley done with the first book. I'm at the part where he gets taken into the Varden with the Dwarfs. Around page 373 or so.

[erynae]

Yea, i wonder how the 2nd book will start out. I think Murtagh will be captured and he'll escape. The he'll go with Eragon to finnish his "war"

Get your hands on the Special Edition of Eragon. It contains a very extended version of the language reference, it has a pull-out map, a drawing of Eragon's sword by Paolini...and...:gasp:...the first chapter of the next book.

[SilverStar]

^ Yeah, I've read the first chapter. There's a character death. :whistle:

[bookfreak_lilly]

Did you know that Chris is going to be one of the guys who gets their head chopped off in the final battle in the movie??? I think that's cool.

[Holly is Short]

Someone tell me what happens in the "Special Edition?" Please? I bought the old one THAT COST 40.00! AND the new one has a chapter from Eldest and a pic of some sword....AND IT ONLY COSTS 20.00! ITS NOT FAIR!

Someone tell me please...I'm a bit upset...at CHRIS!....poo...:P