eragon an me

Phoenix_Flyer · Mar 28, 2008 4:53 PM

I don't think the film can be fixed, nor will they make a second. They made too much of a pigs' ear of the first one. They would have to be mad to continue.

Winged Beast · Apr 06, 2008 11:47 AM

I've read Eragon and Eldest and they're really good. Didn't really like the movie though.

Sparkz · Apr 06, 2008 12:24 PM

SpyroGirl101 wrote:

I have never read it. Don't kill me, but to tell the truth, I don't like dragons. Only the dragons on Spyro.

i like all dragons but yikes why do you just like dragonso n spyro cause they talk lol?

Ayumi_the_Dark_Wolf · Apr 06, 2008 12:37 PM

remember baby saphira? she was so cute! i wish.......wait nvm....still she is so cute as a baby! :3

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 07, 2008 8:16 AM

That was really the only good thing about the Eragon film, Saphira. But they used most of their budget on her and although shes awesome, it left little or no money for working on the looks of the other characters. The Urgals for instance, I always imagined them as more, animal-like. With big horns (as it said in the book, there were a pair of Urgal Horns above the door to the pub in Carvahall. Also the dwarves bows were made of Urgal horn as stated in Eldest) and a bit more furry.

TheManiacOnWheels · Apr 07, 2008 8:29 AM

I love the Inheritance series! (I don't exactly understand what you mean by it rips off nearly every book you like Razz...not that I've read many of them... the only thing I've heard people compare it to is Star Wars, and that isn't so great...I can compare it to the Dragonriders of Pern series-which is awesome too...or what I've read of it is- in that the dragons choose their riders and share a mental bond...but I don't find that makes it bad...) The main reason I read it is the dragons, and the plot is pretty good...(In my opinion)
Anyways, I still can't wait for Brisingr...

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 07, 2008 12:50 PM

Aye, 5 months to go.... Have you read the synopsis and the extract from Brinsingr yet Maniac?

Razz · Apr 07, 2008 12:54 PM

Let's not forget Lord of the Rings, the Earthsea books, Bruce Coville (he ripped a scene out of "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" nearly word for word *fumes*), and lord only knows what else. >(

Saphira is the only thing I like about the Inheritance books, and even she's not enough to keep me reading what with having no personality at all and being little more than a car with wings. The accidental porn that's all over the series is entertaining, though, and highly disturbing. big_smile

Baby Saphira and the RffTrax version of the movie made it all better. Especially the RiffTrax version. big_smile And "Eragon: the Other Movie" (look for it on YouTube; I will try to post a link soon).

And I have to say, since reading things I hate gives me ideas, I grudgingly thank Paolini for ignoring many good thoughts that helped me create an entire world setting (Anne McCaffrey and her offensive books helped, too). big_smile

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 07, 2008 1:22 PM

As I said earlier, there are a lot of books nowadays that have ripped off some ideas from others. There aren't that many original ideas in fantasy anymore.... In saying that though I have never been hugely impressed by Star Wars. LOTR on the other hand was in a league all of its own, no books can be compared to it in my opinion as Tolkein put so much of himself into it. Inheritance doesn't have as much depth to it as LOTR, nor as much originality as Star Wars, after all dragons are a popular subject and have been for hundreds of years. But its unoriginality in some respects doesn't mean it doesn't have a uniqueness about it (note made up language, thats the only similarity to which I can compare LOTR, Tolkein also made up languages for his story). The Lion King was based on Macbeth and The Lion King 2 was loosely based on Romeo and Julliet, noone slapped Disney on the wrist for it. Tolkein (at least his descendants), George Lucas and the others who have written things similar haven't sued Paolini for the similarities so they must not see it as exactly the same. Why is everyone moaning then? It wouldn't have gotten popular if it didn't have a uniqueness about it enough to draw in an audience. And Razz, you are entitled to your own opinion, but if you can't bear to read the other books then why call Saphira a car with wings? sad Her character has been developed since the first book.

Razz · Apr 07, 2008 11:44 PM

Stop saying that there are no new ideas under the sun! That is such bull. I've had better ideas than Paolini in my sleep and I know of one unpublished author who is incredibly original and didn't rip off anyone for her stories (MCA Hogarth). Did Naomi Novik rip off anyone for her Temeraire books? No. Anne McCaffrey? She created the dragon riding genre (if it can be called such). There are millions of ideas we can't even conceive of waiting to be thought. And even if there was nothing new under the sun, there are thousands of ways to rethink old ideas into something that no one has seen before. Paolini didn't think of anything new, he didn't even re-imagine old ideas, he just ripped off the same tired epic formula we've used since the days of the Vikings (but he really took all of his cues from Tolkien and just pretended he'd put even a tenth of the work JRR did into his poorly-realized yarn).

It wouldn't have gotten popular if it didn't have a uniqueness about it enough to draw in an audience.

Yes, it would have and it did. Paolini's parents are rich. They have their own publishing house and they were the original publishers of Eragon. Since the Paolini kids are home schooled, they had time to tour and promote the ever-living snot out of that book, which they did. This, in turn, got the attention of a larger publisher. Seeing an easy profit for a book that was already being marketed, they glommed onto it and pimped out Paolini for all he was worth, claiming him to be some sort of boy genius (conveniently forgetting that it took him four years to rip off his betters and that he didn't finish the first book until he was nineteen). The plain truth is that his family bought that book into publication and, once the Inheritance tril--cycle is over, he's not likely to see his name in print again (unless a miracle of some sort happens which, for his sake, I hope it does because he has potential).

And Razz, you are entitled to your own opinion, but if you can't bear to read the other books then why call Saphira a car with wings? Frown Her character has been developed since the first book.

That...made no sense at all. I'm not the only one who thinks she's got no personality. I call Saphira a car with wings because she is. Has anyone else noticed that she's only around when it's convenient to the plot? Apparently not. And I will read Eldest eventually, I just haven't gotten around to it yet (it's not exactly on my priorities list).

As for Paolini not being sued... Chances are most of the people he's ripped off either don't know they're ripped off, are too big and could care less, or are too small-time to be able to do anything about it (Bruce Coville, for instance). Paolini says he is paying "homage" to his favorite writers as a way to weasel out of admitting to plagiarism. And thanks to him, other writers are assuming they can do the same. Fortunately, it's not working out for them. One author has taken her plagiarizer to court and won.

As for Disney ripping off Romeo and Juliet... Who's going to sue them? Good ol' Bill has been dead for centuries and his plays are in the public domain. Now if only Clare Bell was big time enough to call Disney out for ripping off her books in TLK2... (Read Ratha's Creature. You might notice a couple similarities.)

Look, I don't think less of anyone for liking Paolini, but don't tell me he's a good writer or make excuses for him. That's fine if you like him. Heaven knows there isn't much good to read coming out of the fantasy genre these days. But don't try to tell me he's original or good because it's not going to work. I've read his work; at best it's boring and at least it's not as offensive as some authors, but there's only one author I like less than Paolini and nothing you can say will change that.

TheManiacOnWheels · Apr 08, 2008 9:53 AM

To Phoenix Flyer: ...I've read the excerpt of the third chapter, but I don't know about the sypnosis.

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 08, 2008 12:13 PM

I wasn't trying to change your mind Razz, all of your points are valid and likely true. I don't think I said at any point that you were wrong, I was just putting my opinion on their arguments across. A lot of the points I made weren't from things you said (except the car with wings bit), they were from things I've read elsewhere when researching information on the third book. I also did say at one point that Paolini wasn't as good-a-writer as Tolkein or many of the others (though not in so many words), I like his books because its a fantasy about dragons, I like his take on some aspects of magic and mythical creatures.
And ManiacOnWheels, type Eragon into a search engine and it should come up with a website called Shur'tugal on the first few pages. The synopsis is on there.

Razz · Apr 08, 2008 7:46 PM

Sorry to get all crazy-bitey with you, Phoenix Flyer. I almost got into a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred fight with a used book seller about this series and she brought up the same points you did, except that she was defending the series with them (I had to leave the store after she said something along the lines of "Well, so what if he's stealing? He hasn't been caught, so it must be okay", I was SO furious). I must've been associating your comments with hers, so I apologize.

My best friend likes the Inheritance cycle because it's a fantasy book with a dragon it. And I admit that I made it as far as I did just for Saphira. She at least has a smidge more personality than Anne McCaffrey's dragons (at least enough to suggest disturbing things to Eragon big_smile ).

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 08, 2008 7:57 PM

No matter everyone is entitled to their own opinion wink . Aye, I loved some of the comments she makes to him. I am gonna make a weird comment now and say it must be hard to concentrate with someone else in your mind speaking, both for Eragon and Saphira.

Rurikredwolf · Apr 10, 2008 12:47 AM

Ummm as for the lady that Razz was talking too....so what if you don't get caught? Stealing is wrong, so yeah. And if it is very similar to something, I do kinda count it as stealing. But, if he borrowed ELEMENTS from each series, I think people would like it a hell of a lot more. Personally, I hate Eragon the character, but I love Saphira since she actually gets hurt and doesn't recover in the next chapter or so. And her personality is awesome, and I can compare myself to her at certain moments.

This is why I choose not to write a fantasy book, but a horror and somewhat humor book.

Razz · Apr 10, 2008 12:25 PM

Eragon would be a much better book without Eragon. big_smile I liked Brom, too.

I do write fantasy, but what I do with it can hardly be considered cliche. I like to take old ideas and tip them over to see what falls out and what they look like upside down. big_smile (One of my dragon stories is all about how much it would stink to be a real dragon rider, sharing your head space with a creature who is not only much larger than you but who hates you for forcing her to live when she's got the dragon equivalent of a terminal illness).

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 10, 2008 12:28 PM

Hehehe not a bad idea. I've got a fanfiction story as well, I made it up years ago but way back then it was slightly different (I didn't use dragons in my original idea). But its changed as I've gotten older and improved it. I really need to write my ideas down.

Rurikredwolf · Apr 10, 2008 9:06 PM

Yes, Brom was awesome, but he pulled an Obiwan and got killed.

Razz · Apr 10, 2008 9:38 PM

Well, he is the Obi Wan of Eragon, so... big_smile

Rurikredwolf · Apr 10, 2008 9:47 PM

Point taken tongue . Still, it seems kinda suish to meet a god...and then probably get something from him/her. Why not just write a book on Saphira?

Razz · Apr 10, 2008 9:51 PM

Of course it's Sue-ish. Eragon is the biggest Gary Stu since Wesley Crusher. I mean, just look at him: is an awesome wizard without trying, gets to be a special dragon rider, is super good with weapons without really trying, everyone loves him even though he's obnoxious, learned to read in about two weeks, keeps surviving despite his best efforts to die by doing something stupid, etc, etc.

Rurikredwolf · Apr 10, 2008 10:02 PM

It took me three years to get used to my sword. (Mostly becuase I had to keep switching arms when my right one went rebellious). Yeah....I have the sudden urge to sever their links and make Saphira free.

The only fanfics I can stand of the series are the ones made by 'Given-Inside'. He was the one who inspired me to write.

Razz · Apr 10, 2008 11:11 PM

I wrote one brief Eragon fanfic (never got it past the zero draft stage) about why she choose Eragon when he wasn't the rider meant for her. I'll just post it here under a spoiler tag. big_smile

▼Hidden text

Simple Mistakes

She was aware of the exchange as it happened, though she did not understand it. The elves had come to speak with her mother to acquire an egg for the Shur'tugal, the dragon riders. She listened from within her egg, curious. Vervada and the elves spoke much and it was decided that she was to be their dragon.

The last time she heard her mother's voice, the great dragon was speaking the words of an ancient spell, part of the treaty between dragon kind and the elves to ensure peace between them. A heavy weariness settled over her and she drifted into deep sleep.

Her dreams stretched on for an eternity. Filled with voices, words of wisdom and casual conversation, the feeling of motion and her entire world being passed from one hand to another.

Not long after the spell was cast, something troubled her sleep. Dreams became nightmares, filled with screams and the death of her own people. Now her egg had stilled, placed where no one could touch it, where she would be safe.

She was unsettled. There was something here, where ever she was, that pressed against her mind, urged her to wake, but another something told her to continue her rest.

Vaguely, she sensed that something had gone wrong, but there was nothing she could do, so she slept on.

Hands brushed against her egg and once more her dreams shifted. Time had passed and the world was somehow very different. She dreamed of constant motion and became familiar with those who carried her. She was still searching for something, someone that she felt she knew. Always she felt a strange disconnect deep in her heart, a sort of despair.

'Perhaps,' she thought, 'it is too late for me?'

The world went on as she dreamed. Always moving, never still.

Her dreams were shattered.

The surge of magic and the sudden, violent movement jarred her from her rest completely. The spell was broken and fading. She was alone and the world was cold.

Someone, an unfamiliar boy, lifted her egg and she felt the world moving more fully than she had ever felt it before. He took no great care of her and she was jostled and knocked about uncomfortably. She tried to sleep, but the constant movement and the feeling of utter wrongness kept her awake, haunted.

Now she was searching in earnest. The spell had been shattered and time was passing for her once more. Passing too quickly. There were others nearby, she felt their minds brush against hers as the reckless boy carried her through a village.

One mind in particular she felt as if she knew. She reached out to tickle his dreams. 'Hello? Do I know you?'

In his meager home, Brom woke from an unsettling dream of his own.

The careless boy, fool that he was, eventually set her down. She was grateful for the cessation of motion, but she felt lonely. There were two others near her, an old man and his son. She wanted them to come nearer, to touch the edge of her world; perhaps they were what she sought.

But they stayed away and she remained truly awake, growing, her world becoming ever smaller, more cramped. Soon, she would have to leave. And if she did not find what she sought, she would break free of her prison only to die. Or worse. The realizations frightened her.

At last, after a thousand years of dreaming, the dragon could wait no longer. On a moonlit night, she burst forth from her tiny world, so lately become a prison, to see that same careless boy staring in shock and amazement at her.

"Not a stone," he whispered. "An egg!"

The hatchling glared at him. Of course it had been an egg. What else was it supposed to be? Stupid, careless boy.

Already she could feel the magic of the spell pulling on her. An ache was rapidly growing deep in her mind and it would only get worse. She had perhaps an hour, maybe less, to find what she was looking for before the spell killed her. Now that she was free, she could feel the others in the house. The man and his son were too old and she could not reach the others in the village in time.

The boy was inching closer, his hand outstretched. She wanted to bite him, to hiss at him and frighten him away. He was not right for her, not what she was looking for. The pain was growing quickly. She was going to die...

Her decision was made for her and the dragonet reached out and touched the boy's hand with her nose. The spell leapt from her to him and a small part of her cried out in mourning. Before she slipped into unconsciousness, the dragon knew she would loose everything now.

On the day Eragon came to her with a name, she had her last free thought. His mind had slowly been overtaking her own, pushing out the personality that was and forcing her into a new mold. Most dragons spoke to their riders just days after hatching, but she had fought the connection since it had been forged. Now the struggle was nearly over. Soon, she would have nothing of herself left.

He was trying to name her, spilling out names she had heard before. Some of them she even remembered having met while in the egg. When he mentioned "Saphira", her heart lifted. She remembered Saphira...and the man. Brom, wasn't it?

'Idiot boy,' something deep and far away murmured in the back of her mind. 'You can't even give me my own name. Instead you must steal it?'

But that thought was very far away. Even the memory of the name's former owner was slipping, leaving only a vague familiarity. She'd been thinking of something, hadn't she? Perhaps if she kept the name close, she would remember again.

'Saphira...I think I like that name...'

***

As King Galbatorix lay dying, Zar'Roc pinning him to the dirt, he felt something brush against his mind.

'You,' Saphira whispered. 'It was...I was looking...for you...'

Tears welled up in the king's eyes, not of pain, but of grief.

'I couldn't find you, something was wrong...' the dragon continued, struggling to speak, as if the thoughts were hard to come by. 'Why didn't you wait for me?'

"What have I done?" Galbatorix croaked.

In that moment, he knew. Taking Shruikan had been a mistake. Whether the Shur'tugal would have given him the egg or not, if he had just waited... The blue had been meant for him. His tears mixed with his blood and he died.

Eragon would never know why Saphira had cried out then. She herself did not know why.

I keep hoping there's a loophole in that whole "if the rider dies, so does the dragon" nonsense. Maybe if Saphira kills Eragon, she'll live. big_smile

Rurikredwolf · Apr 11, 2008 12:09 AM

That was good! And I would pay to see that.

MAybe I should do it.....

ontels · Apr 15, 2008 9:43 AM

I dont think the charicter eragon is that bad I mean do remember youv got to be a cut above the rest to be a dragon rider

#51 Mar 28, 2008 4:53 PM

Re: eragon an me

#52 Apr 06, 2008 11:47 AM

Re: eragon an me

#53 Apr 06, 2008 12:24 PM

Re: eragon an me

#54 Apr 06, 2008 12:37 PM

Re: eragon an me

#55 Apr 07, 2008 8:16 AM

Re: eragon an me

#56 Apr 07, 2008 8:29 AM

Re: eragon an me

#57 Apr 07, 2008 12:50 PM

Re: eragon an me

#58 Apr 07, 2008 12:54 PM

Re: eragon an me

#59 Apr 07, 2008 1:22 PM

Re: eragon an me

#60 Apr 07, 2008 11:44 PM

Re: eragon an me

#61 Apr 08, 2008 9:53 AM

Re: eragon an me

#62 Apr 08, 2008 12:13 PM

Re: eragon an me

#63 Apr 08, 2008 7:46 PM

Re: eragon an me

#64 Apr 08, 2008 7:57 PM

Re: eragon an me

#65 Apr 10, 2008 12:47 AM

Re: eragon an me

#66 Apr 10, 2008 12:25 PM

Re: eragon an me

#67 Apr 10, 2008 12:28 PM

Re: eragon an me

#68 Apr 10, 2008 9:06 PM

Re: eragon an me

#69 Apr 10, 2008 9:38 PM

Re: eragon an me

#70 Apr 10, 2008 9:47 PM

Re: eragon an me

#71 Apr 10, 2008 9:51 PM

Re: eragon an me

#72 Apr 10, 2008 10:02 PM

Re: eragon an me

#73 Apr 10, 2008 11:11 PM

Re: eragon an me

#74 Apr 11, 2008 12:09 AM

Re: eragon an me

#75 Apr 15, 2008 9:43 AM

Re: eragon an me

Board footer