Inheritance Series

[Crabstick]

Hate me if you must, but I enjoyed Eragon and was equally as happy with Eldest. It's been a while coming, but Christopher Paolini has announced the 3rd book in the series will be out September. Titled Brisingr, there's not much known about the book except he's decided to kill off one of the main characters at the end.

Anyone else enjoy the first two books? Please don't talk about the fucking movie, we all know it sucked.

[Water-Sheerie]

I don't hate you...I hate the books, but not you.
I hate the way Paolini horribly raped such great books such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, LeGuin's EarthSea, and McCaffery's Pern series. Also Star Wars. I hate the way he then tried to pass if off as his own work. I fail to see how he could possibly be considered a 'brilliant young writer.' The books are clunky, boring, and full of purple prose. Eragon is a Gary Stue, with Arya as his Mary Sue. It's a fanfiction, and fanfictions should never be published (look at My Immortal.)
Not to mention, that people seem to think that he accomplished something wonderful. All he did was write a book (many young people do write), and had his parents publish it for him. He didn't have to go through the ordeal of sending out query letters to various agents and publishers, then getting rejection letters back. He got a free ride, for a shitty book.
Also, his age is used as this 'free pass' for why people should like the book. Age can't disguise a horrible book. He may have started the series as a teen, but he's not a teenager anymore...unless he is freakin' Peter Pan.
S.E. Hinton's books can stand alone, they don't need the fact that she published at a young age. Paolini's age seems to be the only reason he got this far...and it's not a very good reason.

[NVM]

I read the first two books a few years ago and enjoyed them at the moment.
But if I had to look back on the worst book I've ever read it'd probably be Eragon.
Granted the kid was only, like, 15 when he started the series but I still have the right criticize his plagiarism. And as Water-Sheerie mentioned, it's not even plagiarism, just boring fan-fiction.
Eragon is the worst excuse for a character ever and it's pretty sad when in Eldest, I was much more interested in his retarded brother's adventure on a quest to save his girlfriend which a bunch of whiny villagers. Then I'd be disappointed when i had to switch back to Eragon learning to use the Force with his master Yoda to fight the Emperor and Darth Murtagh while all this is taking place on Middle Earth.

[jewishjosh]

I did enjoy the first two, and I will read the third, but even immediately after reading them I looked back and realized that the plots were extremely dull and undeveloped. Nothing happens, the only rising action in the epic journey is a new battle to be fought and a new skill to be learned, or a setback. Tolkein did an excellent job in the Lord of the Rings series and others by incorporating tons of subplots - this is why Lost is so successful, with so many characters there are so many subplots and the story can drag on forever. All works of fantasy contain the same archetypal races: "I want the reader to relate to the good guy" humans, good guy elves, bad guy orcs, "fuck I don't fit in" dwarves, and mystic evil lords of the land. Christopher Paolini has really done nothing more than create his own Middle Earth.

I believe that Harry Potter is one of the least imaginative series ever written, but when you look at Eragon in light of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter seems creative by comparison.

[Crabstick]

Then I'd be disappointed when i had to switch back to Eragon learning to use the Force with his master Yoda to fight the Emperor and Darth Murtagh while all this is taking place on Middle Earth.

You forgot the whole Eragon-I'm-your-father deal

[INTUNEevolution]

Why the hate towards Eragon? You guys are acting like critics acclaimed this book as amazing literature that compels the reader with symbolism and plot twists.

The Inheritance Series serves one purpose and it does it well: it entertains children, without exhausting the reader intellectually. It was enjoyable to read, and that's all I wanted from it.

[Water-Sheerie]

Why the hate towards Eragon? You guys are acting like critics acclaimed this book as amazing literature that compels the reader with symbolism and plot twists.

The Inheritance Series serves one purpose and it does it well: it entertains children, without exhausting the reader intellectually. It was enjoyable to read, and that's all I wanted from it.

Look on the back of the books. "Will appeal to the legions of readers who have been capitavated by the Lord of the Rings trilogy." Others have claimed that this kid is the next 'Tolkien.'

A large source of the hate has been revealed. And yes, I do have copies of the book. A bad Christmas gift, the only reason I read the damn things in the first place.

Since when did children books have to be boring, plagarized crap? 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' and the 'Golden Compass' were full of symbolism, entertaining, and not simply filled with badly copied bits from other stories. Simply because a book is directed at children, doesn't mean the standards for good literature should be ignored.

[INTUNEevolution]

I disagree, I honestly do not care what children's book authors put in their novels, provided its not flat out theft of intellectual property. I really think that children's books have a completely different set of standards. People are dumb. Children are REALLY dumb. Just give them something to tide them over, they'll probably move on to Tolkien anyway :P

[Crabstick]

Since when did children books have to be boring, plagarized crap? 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' and the 'Golden Compass' were full of symbolism, entertaining, and not simply filled with badly copied bits from other stories. Simply because a book is directed at children, doesn't mean the standards for good literature should be ignored.

It's getting tough to write original fantasy. Between Tolkien, Eddings, Feist and Lewis, there's very little that one of their many books hasn't covered. There's so many things that could be called copies or cheap knock-offs, but the truth is when you consider who the characters are and what the fuck they're trying to do, there's not a whole lot a room left in the fantasy universe.

[Shaori]

Halfway through Eragon (or possibly before then, can't remember) I got bored. I got a sort of oh-my-god-isn't-it-over-yet feeling. But I have to finish any book I pick up, unless it's really, really bad. I wouldn't recommend the series to anyone, even small children. Even retarded small children. Then again, some of my friends worshiped it.

[Crabstick]

I wouldn't recommend the series to anyone, even small children. Even retarded small children. Then again, some of my friends worshiped it.

So your friends are extra retarded children?

[Shaori]

So your friends are extra retarded children?
Well, yes, but I first intended the two facts to be separate.

[Antisaint]

Inheritance is one of my guilty pleasures. I know it's terribly written (he uses "should of", for Christ's sake), and it's horribly ripped off, but for some reason I like it. The thing that pisses me off more than anything else in the book is that there is NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. None. Eragon gets a new power, woohoo. He still acts like the child he is, and his behavior never changes.

[Idioteque]

I'm in the same boat as Antisaint, it wasn't the best series ever. In fact, you guys are right, it is a ripoff of Lord of The Rings without the high drama. All the same, I do like the books a lot, simply because they are fun. Who says that every book you read has to be the next classic, sure, I do read a lot of those, but occasionally I like to chill out with a fun book.

[drpencil]

Even though the series is kinda crap, i'm going to have to finish it because i'm obsessive over these things. How many people here are going to have to do the same?

[Crabstick]

I'm gonna finish it, because I refuse to believe I spent 400 pages reading about his training and how awesome he became to finish on a note of him getting his ass beat. That's just fucked.

Also to see if he ends up tapping the elf.

[badumpbumpbump]

Also to see if he ends up tapping the elf.
The book's for kids.

-He plagiarized other series
-He didn't really make the characters very interesting
-He made this little shitty pointless sidestory that involves Eragon's brother (or whatever sibling)
+It still makes for a okay book.

[testiclize]

Personally, I thought the books were ok. Not great, just ok. They were pretty boring, and they were rip offs of Lord of the Rings, but Paolini (sp?) did a good job for a rip-off. I do own the books, i do intend to buy and read the rest, mostly for the reason Crabstick stated, I don't want to have wasted my time reading almost 1000 pages to not see it end.

[Cristo]

The fact that there are characters called Arya and Bronn pissed me off because they're clearly taken out of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and people don't fucking devalue the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series.

So that fact alone put me off the books, not to mention the poorly done movies and everyone else in here talking about how palgiarised it is.

It also copies Dragonlance.

"All the Dragons and Dragonriders are gone >: (


BUT THEY'RE BACK NOW YAY"

Also Crabstick, if you want something original - WoT.

I've never read anything that was so creative and original before, it's a pleasure to read.

[hollywood_maggot]

I don't know if it was because I was young and niave, or because it was actually alright, but I actually liked Eragon enough to join a forum about it. But when the next book came out...well it was the worst book I've ever read in my life. I struggled to finish it, which is a first (apart from books like Catch 22 which I'm yet to finish because its so darn boring, good, but boring and LotR). But yeah, no one can give the excuse that he is young - he shouldn't be published...OR a big hit. Now he'll keep writing trash because he thinks everyone likes it.

[Nightshayde]

I read the first two, and I'm not reading the last.
Cos halfway through the second one I thought to myself, "holy shit, this book sucks."
Honestly. o-o; There's no real message that hasn't already been covered in the many books that he partially plagarized, no character development, the setting is a new-age Middle Earth and it's just not involving.
"Eldest" is on the shelf right next to my head. It angers me, just looking at it, because it wasted a few days of my life I could have spent reading good books.

[qqquigley]

If you are really into the series (like me), you might be interested in going to:

http://www.shurtugal.com/?id=series/brisingr/theories

shurtugal is pretty much the official fan site for the Inheritance series, and this page has all sorts of theories about what will happen in the third (and fourth) book.

And to anyone who says that Eragon and is for children, or something suggesting that it is not a fully viable fantasy, read this page. You will be surprised by the complexity of the plot that this page tries to delve into.

If you don't get that, then don't hate because Eragon is an enjoyable read nonetheless.

[peasupplyco]

That Website had some rather interesting points..

[Meako]

Yes, I know that the Eragon books are not "original", and that they're not a very intelligent read. But sometimes you just want to sit down with a book that doesn't challenge your brain. Eragon and Eldest amused me, and I will read the next book so I can have a break from my school assigned books.

I'm tired of looking for symbolism!!! Just give me a god damn kids book!!

[CanadaEh]

Ok relax, I know I brought a thread back from august but for good reason: The 3rd book came out about a week ago and since I've heard some talk about the inheritance series in that shitty twilight topic I thought I'd ressurect this thread. I, of course, read the 3rd book and I believe it is much better written then eragon/ eldest and less plagerised. Eragon also changed his character in this book alot from a whiny little boy to a strong powerful man.

This book entertained me and isn't that what a book should do?
And this book has dwarves, who doesn't love little cute bearded dwarves.

[Scrotemeal]

Isn't it complete shit that its now the Inheritance CYCLE not TRILOGY. ARGH. This means I have to wait again to finish it.

But yeah, I went and bought it on the day it came out, and finished it a few days ago. Its better yeah, but its so frustrating. And it had a shitty ending.

BRISS-ing-gur.

[soak]

There are much more creative writers out there that get hardly any recognition, but some teenager writes a book that everyone agrees is practically a bunch of other peoples books and a huge amount of people still buy his books and he gets it turned into a movie.

[veveze]

I read the first two, I enjoyed them. Yes, they're kind of a rip off of LOTR and other fantasy realm books- but, you know what? Everything's a rip off now. The kid is young and he writes really well and I'm excited to see what he does in Brisinger. Should be getting it soon. Have no time to read it, but it'll be around.

[Frobes]

I thought the third one was the last one in the series. I was pumped to read the end and how it all ties together, but then it ended. With about 40 pages left I was trying to find a way for it to end but it couldn't, and now the trilogy is now a cycle. Blehhh!!!

[Ercoledi]

Wait...what do you mean by a 'cycle'? Do we go back and reread the first two books after reading the third? Or does this just mean Paolini can keep churning out literary toilet paper?

[CrystalFire]

Isn't it complete shit that its now the Inheritance CYCLE not TRILOGY. ARGH. This means I have to wait again to finish it.

i know how you feel ... im a fan of this series, and id waited over a year for this last book to come out, and then when i finally finish it it says some crap about 'this series will be continued in book 4' blah blah ... and im yelling in my head 'ARG YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!"
i wasnt happy...
But also by the sounds of it, Paolini didnt intend to have a 4th book until he realised he couldnt wrap it all up in the 3rd book, and kept introducing more unsolved mysteries. But now im going to push this to the back of my mind and wint bring it up for another 2 or 3 years when the other one is released..

[veveze]

I think I might just wait to read it at this rate. Was it even worth it?

[CrystalFire]

everyone has different opinions (obviously), but mine is this: if i were you i would read them, but dont be in any hurry to do so.
:)

[Crabstick]

But also by the sounds of it, Paolini didnt intend to have a 4th book until he realised he couldnt wrap it all up in the 3rd book, and kept introducing more unsolved mysteries.

That's generally a sign of bad writing. There's no point bringing in storylines if you can't wrap them up. Anyone can tell a good story in a long time, making it short is harder.

I'm still undecided on this book, especially if I have to wait another few years for the 'last' one.

[veveze]

Everyone's saying stuff about 'bad writing' but keep in mind this is a young kid (okay, so like, early twenties), and he's talented, but not experienced. I think that's a big problem with it. He has all these ideas rattling around his head and he wants to use all of them and he creates plot after new plot and then whooooops END OF BOOK. But I partly blame the publishers for not taking those new twists, shortening Brisinger and putting all that new stuff in the last book. If the writer doesn't catch it then the publisher should.

I still haven't read it, I'm just going off of what I've heard. I think I'm going to wait a couple months before the last books to come out to read this one. Since it doesn't seem to be as good as I expected it to be.

[The Muffin Man]

I think that the inheritance series started off dull, I was younger then and probably just intruiged by it. I had never really delved into too much other fantasy and now that I have I see it as wildly unoriginal. The second book was boring as fuck. And now the third is actually pretty good. Its a bit more in depth then the others and seems to have more substance. And after reading that Shurtugal website, the story seems to have a bit more depth then I thought.

No the books aren't anything spectacular, but they are a fun read.

[Cristo]

No the books aren't anything spectacular, but they are a fun read.

That's what Twilight fans say :ahe:

[Crabstick]

Everyone's saying stuff about 'bad writing' but keep in mind this is a young kid (okay, so like, early twenties), and he's talented, but not experienced. I think that's a big problem with it. He has all these ideas rattling around his head and he wants to use all of them and he creates plot after new plot and then whooooops END OF BOOK.

I didn't say he was a bad writer, I said it was a sign of bad writing. There's a difference.

At the end of book two, the setup was just right for things to get wrapped up in book three. If he's set himself up with too many plot and twists, writing book four is going to be a serious struggle for him.

[The Muffin Man]

That's what Twilight fans say :ahe:

Right, but twilight takes vampires and fucks them in the ass. Inheritance takes fantasy and copies it, theres a hell of a diffrerence.

At least there is depth in Inheritance and its not just a vaginal palooza.