GloryGloryManUtd

I agree with VigorousMastication, and while I can see how the books are an okay introduction into fantasy, most fans of the genre should be able to see what a travesty they are. Unoriginal characters, creatures and lore, god-awful dialogue and plot, and just general writing that is decent at best. Of course, the fact that it looks like Paolini went through his manuscript and used the synonym feature in Microsoft Word to change every single word doesn't help the cause at all. And did anyone else notice that the mythology of the dwarves in Eldest is ripped almost unchanged from the Lord of the Rings? If you haven't, do a little reading into both and you'll see what I mean.

As a self-professed fan of fantasy and science fiction, these books make me want to cry, and also to hit Christopher Paolini for creating something that too many people will believe sets the standard for good fantasy. Newsflash: It doesn't, not by a long shot.

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alanmt

Eldest is making me cry also vampchik220, but not, I suspect, for the same reasons.

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FMK

I don't really see why it's such a big deal if it's cliched or not. If it's a good story, it's a good story; if it's a bad story, it's a bad story. Cliche has no impact on the writer's ability to tell a tale.

That being said, I think Inheritance deserves a failing grade. I liked it for a year or two, but after reading through it again, I couldn't understand why. I mean, I'll probably end up reading book three eventually, but only to see how the story ends. If it ends there; I read somewhere that there might be a fourth book, but I don't know if that's true.

Danzo

I enjoyed reading Eragon and Eldest (and I will enjoy reading the final two books; yes, two!)... and I don't understand all of the criticism. Many people cite the fact that it's similar to Star Wars and Lord of the Rings ('cliched') when they say that they dislike the books but when I read that I feel as though they're implying that they disliked Star Wars and Lord of the Rings... Many of the themes and ideas in the series are unoriginal, and I understand how that could warrant criticism, but not disliking the books. I think people should give better reasons.

Go Christopher!

ClancyBoy

I'm just happy you young people are reading.

Taste and discretion can come later. Just think of them as two things you can look forward to.

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Mr Sci Fi

The one thing that ticked me off about Eragon is that it didn't go anywhere. It's just about getting from Point A to Point B. The fact that I've seen this formula before from George Lucas, I kind of figured out exactly how the characters would get there. And I was correct.

Just exchange the Death Star with a damp dungeon, and Tatooine with random Lord of the Rings inspired geography. I suppose Light Sabers become Dragons and the "Force" becomes "Elven Magic" as well. Oh, Elven Magic. Original.

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Pardot Kynes

Read four authors Title Series, then tell me CP didn't rip off more talented writers.

Anne McCaffrey
JRR Tolkien
Robert Silverburg
Terry Brooks

CP's books are decent children's lit, but they will never compete in the minds and hearts of the Reader's Audience. They will never be a treasure found on a used bookstore shelf, where someone reunites with an old friend after long years apart. They will never have the glory of foxing, they will never have the musty odor of a book well worn, well read, and well loved. They will forever be second rate Fantasy, written by a potentially First Rate writer. I look forward to what he writes when he has more experience, and the editors in charge of his work don't rob it of life and joy.

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PianoGirl

Aaaahhh! I can't believe you guys don't like these books!!!!! They are ssoooo good! I can agree that Eldest wan't as good as Eragon but still!! I love paolini!

PianoGirl

Aaahhhh! I can't believe you guys don't like these books! They are sooo the best!! I can agree that Eldest wasn't as good as Eragon but I can't wait for the third one to come out!!!

PianoGirl

Srry about the extra post! I am such a dolt when it comes to computers!!

PianoGirl

Umm, Pardot Kynes, I havent read all of those books you mentioned but I have read Tolkiens books. CP never even read Lord of the Rings so he can't have copied them.

Just Me

Paolini is nothing more than a mediocre teenage writer with an unoriginal plot who got his hands on a thesaurus. If it weren't for his connections (anyone notice that his book was published by Mommy's and Daddy's company?) I doubt he'd have been published in the first place.

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*Angel

it has a enjoyable story for when your bored, or got nothing better. but i think the only reason why so many people love it is because it parallels so many familiar concepts from other stories,

i know in most fantasy, pure originality is hard to do well, and theres not much you can write that wont resemble something else in some way, but i mean he could of at least altered the details in some way so there would be some ability to doubt any connection. but no matter how you view it it's just Star Wars meets Lord of the Ring.

Krim

- spits juice all over the monitor. -

ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME. WHERE DO YOU PEOPLE GET YOUR FRIGGIN' INFORMATION? Did the same site say that Paolini is the reincarnation of Richard Nixon or something?

Well, the reason we don't like Paolini is because I believe most of us have read more than ten books in our lives. Take that comment however you want, but I really doubt you've done much reading.

Is it...is it..YES, IT IS TIME FOR ME TO POST MY BOOKSHELF, WHICH HAS GROWN MUCH LARGER AND EVILER. Books to me are like socks. I can buy a pack of a hundred and somehow, inexplicably, two months later I only have ten, and I have no clue where the rest could have gotten to.





As you may notice, Eldest is pinned by A Canticle for Lebowitz, Midnight Tides, Gardens of the Moon, Guards! Guards! and A Storm of Swords. I tried to negate its negative energies.

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"A terrible energy and strength began to grow in him. It grabbed his emotions and forged them into a solid bar of anger with one word stamped on it: revenge." - Eragon by Christopher Paolini, an international bestseller

kingajcice

I was once a fan of Harry Potter without ever thinking that any book would ever come along, no series could ever take away that Harry Potter had the best books ever.

Then I read Eragon, and I find it ten times better than any Harry Potter Book, including the seventh that has come out.

Eldest came out and I immediately read it of course, and it was even better than Eragon.

My list of best books ever goes...

1 - Eldest
2 - Eragon
3 - Harry Potter 7

Obviously I love the series.

I've heard the critics of course who hate the books for copying Star Wars and Lord Of The Rings, those critics are really crazy, and I will wait impatiently for Paulini's final book, Brisingr.

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