Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2)
by Christopher Paolini
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Book Reviews of Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2)
Book Review: It didn't get better...
Summary: 2 Stars
Before I start my review of this atrocity, I would like to say that I really enjoyed Eragon. Despite the childish and inconsistant dialogue and language, it was fast paced, fairly original (though the overall plot reaked of Star Wars A New Hope), and difficult to put down.
Eldest, on the other hand, was a complete flop in many, many ways. I had expected it to get better since the author had gotten more experience. I was dead wrong.
First of all, the overall story line was extrodinarily boring. Not only is this book unable to stand alone, but like it's predicessor, the similarities between Star Wars and Inheritance are unbearably gruesome. FOr instance, the journey to the elves forest took over a hundred pages, and nothing happened! I was so bored I could barely pick it up again. Some of the scenes with the elves were interesting, while others were down right bad. LIke the meeting with queen Izlansadi. I can't see how these elves could have lived for hundreds, and maybe thousands of years, and not grow up! For a moment, I thought Aragorn, whoops I mean Eragon, was visiting the Keeblers and not Lothlorien, once again, whoops! I mean Ellesmera.
Second, would be the writing. It was so childish and unreal I wanted to puke. Inconsistant, stunted, and completely unbelieveable, I was laughing at the nonsense that poured forth as I continued to read. The "romantic" scenes with Arya were laughing horrible. I mean "This flower is so beautiful." "As are you!" (I'm on the floor, I laughing so hard!) Some of the dialogue with Oromis (clone of yoda), was fairly interesting, though the whole argument over "Don't eat the cute, little bunnies!" was way over the top. ANd "AYE". OH MY GOSH THAT WAS SOOOOOO ANNOYING!!!!!!! I WANTED TO BURN THE BOOK!!! (But sadly it was library property) Nobody in there right mind would use the word "Aye", even in a book like this, an eighth of the amount Paolini used that accursed expression. Now every time I hear it, I cannot help but chuckle and think of Eldest.
Third, I would address some of Paolini's ideals. When Gladr teaches Eragon and Saphira that life of both the flesh and the spirit dies upon being killed, I groaned inwardly. By stating this, in my eyes, Paolini has basically defeated the purpose for which he has written this entire book. If everything just ends at death, than really what is the point of being noble or good? If it all just ends than whatever we do in this life is forfeit, it's nothing. The world is full of proof that there is intelligent design and that someday we WILL be judged by our actions. Get some videos by Kent Hovind and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Next, the characters.
Eragon: The wise Shadeslayer. Once again I can't stop laughing. I'm serious, our chihuahua is smarter than that dunce, and she can't even tell "sit" from "roll over".
Saphira: She was never among my favorite characters. This book has only made me dislike her more.
Arya: Three words, CLone of Arwen. So was so perfect and pretty, it made me sick. Paolini probably doesn't meet many girls.
Nasuada: Clone of Eowyn. ONce again, all Paolini's female characters are so unreal it's not even funny.
Oromis: SUrprisingly, despite some usual lessons he teaches, I did kind of like this character. He had a good sense of fatherly mentorship that made him generally likeable. He is the main reason this review got two stars.
Roran: Idiot. His so called "great speach" was horrid and sounded like something I would have written for the first drafts of my own book when I was eleven. I'm serious, this guy has mental intellect of of guinea pig (and not even a special, mutated, radiated one at that.) At first I liked what Paolin did with him. In fact his story was starting to get better than Eragon's. But he was so self centered, closed minded, and oblivious when he made the ridiculous speach to desert Carvahall, that I now loath him. BUt it was great fun when he punched Eragon. WHish I could have been there to lend a fist or bludgeon or something.
Gladr: This was one of those characters Paolini created out of necessity for another dragon. He was so lame, boring, and idiotic I HATED him.
Angela and Solembum: They were pretty much the only good, interesting characters in the story. ANother reason Paolini got two stars.
Murtaugh: I'll just say that he was better in the first book
Scenes. Some of these were actually pretty decent and somewhat reminiscent of the first book. I liked the part with the "Boar's eye pass" as well as some of the training in Ellesmera. Vanir was a cool character, mostly because he was the only elf that acted like a real person would. Katrina's capture I found interesting, but Roran's story went downhill from there.
The whole "I am your brother and Morzan is your father" scene with Murtaugh was lame. If Paolini must pirate, at least have him do it with SOME originality and interest. I mean, "Just kill yourself for the greater good". Like I said Eragon is not the brightest star in the sky... hmmm, it must run in the family, though Murtaugh seemed to have gotten off a bit easy.
Lastly, the overall content. I have probably made my point quite clear by what I've said before, but I just wanted to mention a few things. Despite it's location in the bookstore, I would be slow to call this a children's book. Not because of violence, but for other reasons. LIke one scene where Oromis and Eragon are washing in a stream and Paolini get's a little too involved when describing the elf. ANd during the "Blood Oath ceremony" I was very surprised when the two elfin women disrobed. Not a good thing for children.
Really, please read this book at your own risk. THe first was very good. Just read that one and leave this series alone. I will read the third one just to see what horrors Paolini concocts up next.
Book Review: Not the writing of a genius
Summary: 3 Stars
Well for the record let me say that I one of those people who will drop everything and read a book for two days straight without sleep. I enjoyed reading Eragon and I found the fact that he is a young author admirable. Sure it just screamed Lord Of The Rings in some parts but it was something new. The elves and creatures like urgals/orcs can be forgivenother authors have used them.Which doesn't make it right but at least it wasn't that obvious that he was copying his "favorite authors"
I practically ran to the store to buy Eldest I was expecting a book even better that Eragon. Basically a plesant, long read but not the work of a genius. And it's a good thing I hadn't expected a genius.
I took me two days to read the book.The firt time I read this book(keep in mind I read most of it between 1 and 7 in the morning) I liked it a lot one might say. Since my mind wasn't functioning to well I didn't see some things comming. At my first read I found that Rorans story was more interesting than Eragons most of the time. I found the switch annoying when it accualy got to something interesting like that most dramatic part of the book. It was another rider.
There is only one way to describe Eragon, pathetic. He falls in love with Arya. Is there a problem with that? No. (sarcasm) It's only that she is older than his great great great grandmother would be, she's an elf ( and as many things show humans and elves are a bad combination),a princess, a better warrior, still isn't over her previous love, oh and then there is the fact that she is compleatly uninterested in Eragon. this is the "true love strong enough to outlast empires" I think Paolinin was very tired when he wrote this. He either meant this is love strong enough to destoy empires or he confused the names and meant Nausada which is way more logical and fits the criteria. She isn't bad looking she's of noble birth and she's powerfull. Oh and lets see she is a human and her relationship with Eragon could accualy cause an interesting conflict that could be realistic.
Although I didn't expect Eragon to become a super hero that can waltz in and squash Galbatrox (how is it you spell his name) I was hopping he wouldn't be a pathetic sissy who can't fight with Murtagh for five seconds without getting magically trapped by him. I mean hello Eragon is trained by the great Oromis and Murtagh who up untill now knew next to nothing about magic can overpower Eragon with the flick of his finger.
Saphira who was strangely wise for her age( this was a plus because at least she wasn't acting like a pathetic fool unlike Eragon) now does what I had prayed she wouldn't she starts acting like a love struck puppy acting flirty and attempting to catch the attention of an older dragon who is her teacher. Blahhh. Simply gross. It's like a sixth grader flirting with their teacher. Very disturbing. And then Eragon becomes all wise and basically says your acting like a fool while doing exacly the same thing.
Paolini please don't try to sweep us of our feet with your poetry. "Under the moon, the white moon, Lies a pool, a flat silver pool. This is supposed to be an elf's poem? A poem written by an elf who is supposed to be the master of writing poetry? It sound like a nursery rhyme to me....
Half the book could probably be removed. His stay in the elven land is full of his pathetic attempts to impress Arya, his masters lecture and "wisdom" and watching ants. Do we care about every elf at the ceremony? Do we need ten pages of info on it? No. Write down what's important and cut the unneeded details. A small introduction saying that Eragon is going to the celebration say that there are many types of elves some look more like animals blablabla no need talk about the food for two hours,you already said that they are vegetarians so they are eating plants and berries. The part when he is turned into an elf comes and move on.
Some parts are silly and have no reason for being in the book. I reread the part which talks about the bet the dwarves made on how many toes a human has and found no hiddden meaning. Also thanks for the info that an elf has no hair in any part of his/her body. I really wanted that image of Eragon watching a naked old elf washing himself. Is it me or is this disturbing? Elva has a terrible curse and Eragon just basically goes woopsie sorry about that while Saphire goes hey don't get so angry he only ruined your life and caused you so much suffering. Same with the start of the book Ajihad dies and then a person goes like woppsie daisy we are going to have some problems because of that. Then the dwarves along with Saphira and Eragon go get drunk right before his funeral.The Inheritance of what pathetic behavior?
It's a nice little copy of starwars to.
I would mostly blame the editor but Paolini is just as or if possible more pathetic than Eragon. Giving advice about life and love. Boy your not married and I doubt you have ever been in love.And you really aren't a person who can give advice about life since you aren't even close to being old enough to give advice about life.Please your not a young Tolkien. So stop bragging go to college and take some writng classes. Paolinis writing does have potential he just needs to learn how to be inspired and not copy, and how to make his characters a bit more realistic. He also needs a new editor.
I pray that in the third book Paolini will come to his senses and stop having Eragon run around like a pathetic fool. Unfourtunatly I suspect he will have Arya go you know what? i changed my mind your my true love.
Book Review: Epic only in length
Summary: 1 Stars
Like its predecessor, Eldest is riddled with overused plots, wooden characters, bad dialogue, and writing that ranges from barely tolerable to over-the-top ridiculous.
The author was obviously even more (painfully) aware of having an audience this time. He has said, "In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf." I can see the striving, but I do not see that he succeeded, because every bit of this tome is carefully constructed to the point where it is painful, forced, and completely not authentic. The author forgets that the point of language is to communicate, not to stand on a stage and perform, making the words themselves the art rather than letting them take their rightful place as a backdrop to story and character.
He thinks he is being colorful, but what needs to be colorful is the storytelling, the descriptions, the dialogue. Not how many varied permutations of "said" you can use. Dressing language up just to decorate indicates a basic misunderstanding of the whole point of language. His problem is that he concentrates so much on making his prose elegant that he doesn't understand that prose's job is to be elegant enough to be invisible. The whole time, we are hearing HIS voice, HIS voice; not a character's voice and not a seamless, well-spun offstage narrator's voice. Always, always he is talking to the reader, presenting, arranging, portraying. The author should stop trying for elegance and beauty and start trying to tell a story. We shouldn't be admiring your voice so much as we should be admiring what that voice is saying. Sure the voice should be pleasant, but when that eclipses everything else and becomes the reason to speak, someone has misplaced their priorities.
For instance, if someone is crying, my first thought would be on wanting to know more about the emotion causing the crying. What is the person crying about? What is that emotion doing to them? What is that like? But Paolini switches gears at that point to talk about "tears like liquid diamonds." When someone is crying, I do not want their tears described so much as I want to feel their anguish. This is what I mean when I say he uses his description in the wrong spots. Often.
Describing what the person's tears look like on the outside causes us, the readers, to naturally pull out of the character's personal hell and into a world where their tears are art. I can't appreciate someone's sorrow if the story is too busy admiring their tears.
There are some plot issues and apparent inconsistencies, especially with regards to the system of magic used in the book. It's internally inconsistent. Sometimes just saying a word without even knowing what it means can cause the appropriate change (such as causing fire with a word without knowing it is the magical word for "fire," or laying a curse instead of a blessing because of one misused word). But other times characters claim that the words aren't as important as the intent. It makes sense, though, that a book that pulled its influences from so many different places would also get its wires crossed regarding what the rules of physics actually are.
Like its predecessor, it's predictable because it's following the Hero's Journey story outline, and therefore just about every supposed revelation is actually just the next logical piece of the puzzle that was cut out and immortalized before the author was born. Every character has a particular story role and "type," and there are very few characters that seem to have their own personalities that we haven't seen before in a hundred fantasy novels. The book has a character named Angela who is pretty unusual. Although Angela is actually based on Paolini's sister. (Want to guess his sister's name? It begins with "A." And ends with "ngela.")
My favorite examples of bad narration and/or dialogue:
"For gray-eyed Destiny now weaves apace, the first resounding note of war echoes across the land."
"Rubies wrought into his golden helm glowing dully like flecks of hot iron." I've got to say I'm getting frustrated with every description requiring at least one hackneyed simile.
"Together they waited, though for what, Eragon knew not." Can't you just say "Eragon didn't know"?
"Slippers flashing beneath her dress, like mice darting from a hole."
"The dawnless morning. . . . "
"Keep your thoughts to thyself."
"He closed his eyes and sank into the warm dusk that separates consciousness and sleep, where reality bends and sways to the winds of thought, and where creativity blossoms in its freedom from boundaries and all things are possible." (Please, Chris, stop trying so hard!)
"Hair as black as a forgotten pool." I think I'd like to go on record as saying that being forgotten does not make water black. I bet there's tons of pools around that have been forgotten and nevertheless are not black. What exactly does this simile mean?
"Silent as the night." Has he ever been in the night?
"They were grim-faced and said little, for words only emphasized their insignificance in that bare and empty land." How? How do words emphasize insignificance?
"'Aye,' Orik agreed."
"Draw thy sword and guard its edge as your first master taught you."
And one compliment for the book:
The cover's nice. Good job, John Jude Palencar!
Book Review: Excellent inspite of its "faults."
Summary: 4 Stars
The Short Version: If you feel like losing yourself in an easy to read, fantastical tale with easily relatable characters, pick up and read Eragon and Eldest. Though flawed (what book isn't?) and derivative (what fantasy isn't?), it is thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable. As reader of every type of book from adolescent fantasy to classic philosophy, I look forward to the conclusion of Inheritance, as well as Paolini's future efforts.
The Long Version: As unorthodox as this may be, I would like to first quote from a review on the first book of the Inheritance Trilogy, Eragon:
"I didn't find the story any more derivative than any epic fantasy tale will surely be in the wake of the grand sire of the genre, Lord of the Rings, and the story had enough uniqueness of its own to entertain. I haven't read Eldest yet, but I hope Paolini builds on what he's written here. If he does, I can't wait to read it.
Gregory Bernard Banks, author"
I quote this here because this person's words exactly sum up my feeling regarding Inheritance overall clearly derivative, but engrossing and enjoyable nonetheless.
One thing that is important to remember when considering Eldest is that, unlike some other series (Harry Potter for instance), Inheritance is a much more intimately linked trilogy. Meaning, as a stand along book, one might consider it to be lacking in certain areas; or, how some have criticized, focused too earnestly on character history, Eragon's training as a Rider, the history of Alagaësia, etc. However, if we take the book in context, as part of a larger whole, then those "faults," if they are indeed faults, have very little weight.
There were several interesting aspects in Eldest that I haven't seen detailed yet, specifically, the Elves' emphasis on Logic over feeling to ensure correct moral thinking, and the Elves' clearly dismissive attitude towards religion. These two sections in particular I found were interesting and clearly original, but I think that sections like this, which breath life into the series are exactly the "meaningless" or "boring" portions of the book that people railing against.
Regardless of the few, necessary and well placed battles, Eldest contains much less action than Eragon. Basically, because in Eragon, the titular character is usually chasing or fleeing something, and, overall, is entirely unsure of what his direction in life will be. In this sequel, however, his path is set and rather well defined, so he only has to follow it--which means less fleeing, less chasing, less sudden and unexpected action, and more self-exploration, more learning about the world of Alagaësia, and what it means to be a Rider. Knowledge that, I'm sure, will come in handy for the final installment of this trilogy (in which case the path is again, uncertain, and readers can expect a great deal of fast paced action).
One other aspect of the book which I found unexpected--and that added a bit of human element--was the level of intrigue and mistrust among the leadership of the "good guys" of the series. While I cannot go into detail without risking a major spoiler, I will say that, I liked that fact that Paolini didn't delve into a lot of unrealistic noble action on the part of the Varden. The people involved, including the other leaders, are very wary of other people's intentions, and often it is obvious that they are acting out of very selfish intentions.
Also, a last note of praise, was the sudden alliances and sacrifices made in the course of war. And the acknowledgment of the fact that, though their intentions may be noble, the protagonists of this story could very easily mimic the actions of the evil King Galbatorix. In addition to that, the knowledge that their actions will cause suffering to a great many people.
There are, of course, a few minor faults and one fault that I consider to be major (though it could be corrected in book 3). Occasionally, as in his first book, Paolini sprinkles in a few phrases in seemingly archaic language. Not that the fantasy genre isn't full of such language, but he uses them in such a way as to seem suddenly forced and contrived. So, instead of giving the ideas expressed by them the poignancy and impact that I am certain was his intention, it makes them silly. This of course, is only my opinion on the matter, and this occasional flaw shouldn't hamper someone's enjoyment of the novel unless they have resigned themselves to the pinnacle of snobbery.
The major flaw, which I hope is expounded upon and thus corrected in the coming book, is the shameless use of a deus ex machina, about which I will not reveal specifics because I would rather not spoil the plot. For those of you unaware of that term, it is the use of a sudden plot device that solves a whole host of problems and fixes a whole lot of plot holes in a single instance. Sometimes, it's funny, sometimes, it's excellently explained. However, in Eldest, there is virtually no precedent set in the book to accommodate the instance in question. And, in turn, the incident is then used to wrap up a whole host of issues that Eragon had been struggling to overcome. The only redeeming aspect is that,, at the end of the book, it's made clear that what was a cure-all in this book will not be in the next. My biggest hope, in this regard, is that some of time will be spent explaining the exact nature of the event, how and why it happened, so that it doesn't seem like such a lazy or sudden way out.
Book Review: Eragon=Star Wars. Paolini Gets Too Much Credit
Summary: 1 Stars
You'd think that someone who's making so much money could come up with his own storyline, but no. Paolini went and ripped the entire thing (at least so far) off of Star Wars.
Let's take a look at the two books that are out. First, Eragon. Young kid, virtually no clue who his parents are, raised by his Aunt and Uncle (Paolini even refers to him as "farmboy" a couple of times). Suddenly, his home is destroyed-by servants of an evil Empire no less-killing his uncle (his aunt is already dead). Angry, this kid decides to run after his uncle's killers, but not before enlisting the help of a wise old man. And by the way, did I mention that Eragon (read: "Luke") is going to be the first of a new generation in a mystical order of magic users known as the Riders (read: "Jedi") and just happens to obtain a mystical creature (read: "weapon") that just happens to be the same color as Luke's lightsaber? Coincidence? I think not.
Moving on, the farmboy and the old man set off on their journey, during which Eragon learns the ways of the Force . . . I mean . . . uh . . . Riders. There we go. Let's focus in on one of their sword fights. Eragon is using a virtually indestructible sword spelled with an energy barrier around it (hmmm, sound familiar?). Eventually the old man dies (in defense of the farmboy's life no less) before he gets a chance to meet the beautiful woman (princess, as we find out in Eldest) who just happens to be locked up in an Imperial prison where she is being tortured for information on the whereabouts of something crucial to the empire's plan which she was taking to a group of rebels and which she, in desperation, sent off to a remote region (because she was ambushed by Imperials) where it is stumbled upon by said farmboy.
Anyway, the old man dies, and we find out that he, Brom (read: "Ben Kenobi"), is in fact a member of this ancient magical race known as the Jedi . . . uh . . . Riders. (Ben? Brom?-huh, even their names are similar).
Now, back to the princess. Eragon, with the aid of a "rogue" adventurer, manages to break her out of this prison, despite the many Imperials, and escape on the back of a flying beast (read: "Millennium Falcon"). This princess manages to convince them to join the Rebel Alli-the Varden. To speed things up, I'll skip everything leading up to the final battle itself. Eragon is fighting Durza (read: "Death Star), and he, Eragon, is in the enemy's sights, about to be killed, when suddenly his dragon (the "Millennium Falcon" as I said) flies in from above, distracting his enemy and giving Eragon time to plunge his weapon in to Death Star Durza's only weak spot, which in turn causes Durza to explode, quite literally. While unconscious, Eragon hears a voice saying, "Come to [the Dagobah System] Ellesmera and learn the ways of the [Force] Rider" (or something to that extent). Some other stuff happens, including the praising of the farmboy and the rogue.
End book 1.
Begin book 2.
Stuff happens, people die. Eragon goes off to a jungle--er--forest to train with a very, very old Rider (read: "Jedi Master") who is a "cripple" (just like cane-using Yoda). Much time passes. All of a sudden, Eragon has a vision that his friends (including the princess) are in danger. He leaves to go help them, but not before he promises to return and complete his training.
Let's skip ahead to the final battle. Eragon gets into an epic sword fight with another magic user/Rider person, who clearly out-classes him and who has a red dragon (again, read: "lightsaber"). Eragon loses, but not before the dramatic (or not so dramatic in Paolini's case) revelation scene. To put it in to familiar dialogue structure:
Murtagh: "Eragon, I am your brother!"
Eragon: "No, that's impossible."
Murtagh: "Of course it's possible. We have the same mother. And the same father, who, by the way, was a Rider before he turned to the dark side, betrayed and killed all the other riders he could find, joined the Empire thus becoming the evil emperor(who is also a rider)'s right hand man, and established himself as one of the most feared and evil men in the galaxy-er-world. Oh, and by the way, that's daddy's sword that you've been using all this time. Give it to me. Now if you want a weapon, go make your own . . . er."
Eragon: "Nooo! You don't have to do this. You're still good inside. Come back to the Good Side!"
Murtagh: "No."
Eragon: "Okay. Bye then."
Murtagh: "Bye."
[Exit Murtagh]
Some more stuff happens and then Eragon, when talking to his cousin (one of the author's few additions to his basic Star Wars plot), says pretty much word for word, "Search your feelings, you know it to be true." I mean, seriously, how can Paolini get away with plagiarism as obvious as that?
Here's another little thing that I noticed: the Riders' swords all have some gem attached to them that gives them some power. As some of the more ardent Star Wars fans will know, the whole reason that lightsabers are as they are is the gem inside them that serves as the core (the focusing crystal as it's called).
So thus ends the first two installments of the rip-off trilogy (whose titles could very well be "Eragon Episode IV: A New Rider" and "Eragon Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back"). I wouldn't be at all surprised if the third book is called Eragon Episode VI: Return of the Rider. I mean, COME ON!
Anyway, think what you like, but give him no more credit than he deserves, which, in my opinion, is almost none.