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Eragon

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Eragon
File:Eragon.jpg
AuthorChristopher Paolini
Cover artistJohn Jude Palencar
PublisherAlfred A. Knopf
Publication date
August 26, 2003
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback) and audio-CD
Pages544 (hardcover edition)
ISBNISBN 0375826688 (hardcover edition) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
Followed byEldest 

Eragon is a novel written by Christopher Paolini and is the first book of the Inheritance trilogy. It was originally self-published by the author before being picked up by Alfred A. Knopf, after which it became a publishing success and a New York Times Bestseller. Eragon's sequel is Eldest, and there are rumours that the third book in the series is going to be called Empire, though there is no official name yet. 


WARNING: THIS BOOK SUCKS. DO NOT READ UNLESS COMPLETE IDIOT. IF YOU ALREADY READ IT, I PITY YOU.


The Ancient Language

The Ancient Language, also referred to as the Language of Power, is the Elven language in the book that enables certain people to use magic. Because of the nature of the language, it is impossible to lie but one can lead mislead as elves show in abundance. Eragon uses it many times in the book. The Ancient language is based on Old Norse and Icelandic.

Critical reaction

There has been much criticism of Eragon, regarding everything from word usage to the marketing techniques (critics deride the labelling of the author as a "prodigy" or "wunderkind"). The book's most frequent criticism is that it uses far too many clichés. Paolini employs stock characters, such as Elves, Dwarves, and a pseudo-orcish race known as Urgals, complete with an elite sect known as the Kull, comparable to Saruman's uruk-hai. Many believe that it is a marvel that Eragon is on bookshelves since the fact of the matter is that the publisher of the book was the author's parents. However, after seeing the success of Eragon, Alfred A. Knopf bought the book rights from the Paolinis.

Reviews

Reviews of Eragon were mixed, although more solidly positive than the reviews of the book's sequel, Eldest. KLIATT found the book "exceptional", and Children's Literature said Paolini's "eye and ear for detail, especially in describing the natural world, are topnotch". VOYA's response was more balanced between praise and mild critique, saying,

"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."

School Library Journal, while noting correctly that the book would garner many fans, added that it "does not approach the depth, uniqueness, or mastery of J. R. R. Tolkien's works, and sometimes the magic solutions are just too convenient for getting out of difficult situations."

Derivative nature of the books

There has been much debate over whether incorporating Elves and Dwarves similar to Tolkien's is derivative or respectful. It has also been pointed out that many names in Eragon resemble those in Tolkien's work, including

  • Arya - Arwen, Arda
  • Ardwen - Arwen
  • Isenstar - Isengard
  • Mithrim - mithril
  • Eragon - Aragorn (but also almost identical to "dragon")
  • Angrenost - Angrenost, the Sindarin name for Isengard
  • Morgothal - Morgoth
  • Elessari - Elessar
  • Furnost - Fornost
  • Hadarac Desert - Harad Desert
  • Melian - Melian
  • Vanilor - Valinor
  • Eridor - Eriador
  • Imiladris - Imladris
  • Undin - Fundin

Additionally, Paolini's Beor mountains are named based on the word "Beorn", which is another word for bear. In The Hobbit, there is a character known as Beorn, who has the ability to transform into a bear. There is a character named Beor in Tolkien's Silmarillion. On the map of Alagaësia, the spelling of the place name Melian is identical to the name of the character Melian the Maia of Tolkien's The Silmarillion. The Grey Folk, said to be the first few magical beings resemble the Sindarin, who are the Grey Elves. The 'Lonely Mountain' Utgard in Eragon is thought to be based on the Lonely Mountain Erebor of the Lord of the Rings. These are a few examples of what is believed to be a wider occurrence.

Yet another criticism is that the plot closely resembles that of the original Star Wars saga. Characters are also similar, down to Brom who is supposedly the last of his order. Brom's sacrifice to save Eragon resembles that of Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars. The beginning is also extremely similar: A servant of an evil emperor attacks, with an army at his disposal, a convoy bearing an object of power to a rebellion against the Empire. The servant captures the convoy and its leader, but the leader (a princess, no less) sends the object away in hopes that it will fall into the hands of a wise old wizard, who is the last of his kind. The object is found by a poor farm boy, whose family (not parents but uncle) is killed as a result, leaving him nothing to stay behind for. He joins the wizard on a quest, as well as a rogue who has no love for the "empire". They save the princess, then the three flee to rebels. This could be used to describe the first Star Wars movie, and no one would know the difference. In Eldest, the farmboy leaves the rebels after they have just fought a costly battle, to train with a wise old hermit in a forest. He trains and undergoes a life changing experience, and later participates in another great battle. He duels with an enemy, and learns a terrible secret about his family (Father/Brother and Father). As well as this, the colours of the three dragon eggs, red, blue and green, are similar to the main colours of lightsabers.

Some people also refer to the famous fantasy novel, Earthsea. Earthsea's concept of magic, that there is a ultimate language that all beings are based on, and magic can be conjured by uttering those language, is repeated in Eragon.

Additionally, the bond between dragon and human is similar to the one between demon and human in His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman.

Paolini countered remarks of this sort by stating that most fantasy is derivative, and that Star Wars has heavy ties to Buck Rogers and Dune. Furthermore, he also believed Tolkien to echo a famous Norse myth about a ring that made a dwarf invisible, made popular by Richard Wagner's epic opera series "Der Ring des Nibelungen", or "Ring of the Nibelung," despite the fact that Tolkien himself once said; "Both rings were round and there the resemblance ceased."

Much of the similarity may be due to the Heroes journey or Monomyth. Many stories follow much the same pattern, the difference being in the details of what occurs during each successive step--thus giving a work originality; in this regard Eragon copies virtually the exact details (only putting them in a medieval setting instead of Science-fantasy one) of Star Wars and the like instead of coming up with different scenarios for each of the steps (see also: derivative [1]).

Movie

Fox 2000 (division of 20th Century Fox) recently bought the rights to Eragon and are making the book into a movie. Such stars as Jeremy Irons and Sienna Guillory have starring roles in this movie. The movie also has an estimated budget of $100 million. The film is directed by Stefen Fangmeier, who did the effects for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004). The movie is planned to be released on the 15th of December, 2006.

References

See also

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