Timewaster's Guide Archive

Departments => Books => Topic started by: Miyabi on May 14, 2009, 07:56:33 AM

Title: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 14, 2009, 07:56:33 AM
So, I was at the book store today and I saw a thing with the Inheritance Cycle books displayed.  Thinking that maybe it was something to do with an announcement for the next book, I asked the clerk about it, she said she knew nothing.  I get home and decide to check his site.  His site hasn't been updated since NOVEMBER 2008! 

Now, I'm not a fan of his writing, but he is an amazing story-teller.  I love the story and the characters.  They are just extremely likable. 

I disliked the fact that there was a 3 year (or something like that) gap between Eldest and Brisingr.  The fact that his site doesn't even really mention the fourth book, other than to announce that there was a fake Facebook page about a title and cover-art.

How does he expect his fans to even WANT to read his books if he does absolutely nothing to communicate with them?  It's extremely irritating. [/rant]
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: FantasyAngel on May 14, 2009, 08:33:44 AM
I totally agree with you I too am waiting for the next Inheritance book and hate that there is absolutely no word on what is happening with it.  I have the same problem with Elizabeth Haydon and her War of the Known World books.  Not a word about when it will be out or even if she's writing it yet and her website has been shut down. 

Arghh it's so annoying.   That's why I admire writer's like Brandon who keep their fans in the loop so to speak about what's happening with their books.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 14, 2009, 02:32:13 PM
I agree Brandon really spoils us in this regard, it's the same way with Melaine Rawn. She started a trilogy and never finished it, next thing I see is a book with her name on it in the store and it's NOT the last book (Capital's Tower) of her trilogy she promised but a NEW one all together.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: ErikHolmes on May 14, 2009, 08:12:37 PM
I totally agree with you I too am waiting for the next Inheritance book and hate that there is absolutely no word on what is happening with it.  I have the same problem with Elizabeth Haydon and her War of the Known World books.  Not a word about when it will be out or even if she's writing it yet and her website has been shut down. 

LOL, I was just complaining to Silk the other day about Elizabeth Haydon. She leaves us with all of these things happening in her book, and its been years and I don't think anyone's even said if there WOULD be another book (for all I know, they just didn't sell well).

Personally, I think Elizabeth Haydon and George R. R. Martin must be dating  :D
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 14, 2009, 08:24:47 PM
OMG. I completly forgot about the next book!  :o I can see what happens when nothing happens and people don't undate. Jeez. November of 2008. That was ages ago.  :-\
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 14, 2009, 09:51:26 PM
Since Nov. 2008 I've forgotten who Paolini is...hmm, must not have been important.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 15, 2009, 04:17:55 AM
Frankly I'm surprised he even got three books out.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 15, 2009, 10:49:20 AM
I'm still curious if he's going to get book four out.  :-\ Well I guess the fact that he's 18-20 he's finishing school so maybe he'll start writing again.  ???
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: lemonpsi on May 15, 2009, 02:04:57 PM
Not really. His bio says that he was born in 1983, that would peg him as post-college.  Perhaps his college life just took over for a while. Pure speculation on my part!
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 15, 2009, 08:41:53 PM
Oh so it's going to be another5 years? That stinks. He's good writer too.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 16, 2009, 05:04:44 AM
Bastille, he may be a good story teller, but he's not a good writer.  I do however, enjoy his work.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 16, 2009, 01:22:16 PM
Ohhh. Okay. I'm still trying to find the difference between the two.  :-\ His work is fun to read though. Even if it's highly predictable.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 18, 2009, 08:18:34 PM
If I rip off Tolkien, Brooks, and Star Wars can I be a "good story-teller" too?
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 18, 2009, 09:18:02 PM
Yes! Do it!
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 18, 2009, 09:29:10 PM
I'll call it Lord of the Shannara Wars with Dragons! No one will know! MUAHAHAHAH!

And I will NEVER update my site.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 18, 2009, 11:45:32 PM
Ooh. Then you'll have angry fans screaming at your door to update your website!!! 
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 22, 2009, 03:30:24 PM
I don't know Brooks.  What did he take from Star Wars? o.O  I'm a pretty big Star Wars person and I didn't really see anything that was close enough to Star Wars to be considered "stolen".  Yes, I can see the Tolkien thing, but when you go into the world of Elves and Dwarves it's hard to not "steal" something from someone because it's been done sooooo many times over.

EDIT:  Now at the point that Murtag kills  . . . uhm, I forget his name . . . and takes control and gets his own "apprentice", that would be very Star Wars like.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 23, 2009, 01:01:50 PM
I can't think of anything Brooks stole from Star Wars and I HAVE read his books. Paloini on the other hand practically took the Star Wars script and just changed the names. Okay that's an exaggeration but really when Eragon's uncle started giving him a speech on Life Lessons I was like "Dude your going to die next chapter aren't you?". I mean you could literaly make a checklist here:

1) Got father's sword? Check
2) Father was Evil? Check
3) Raised by Uncle? Check
4) Uncle killed sending Hero on Quest? Check

and so on. The only refreshing thing was Eragon having a brother to do his own thing.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Inquisitor on May 24, 2009, 12:26:24 AM
That and the fact that his father wasn't really evil.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 24, 2009, 08:24:45 PM
He doesn't have his father's sword, his father wasn't evil.  He was raised by his uncle and his uncle did die though, but seriously, the parental figures die a LOT in fantasy.

Your proof fails to convince me he stole from Star Wars.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 24, 2009, 11:09:28 PM
That red sword wasn't his fathers? I thought it was.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Reaves on May 25, 2009, 01:41:44 AM
Maybe Shard hasn't read the third book. But really, Eragon is just Star Wars plus dragons.


Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 25, 2009, 03:03:17 AM
That red sword wasn't his fathers? I thought it was.
If you haven't read the third book just leave it at Morzan is not his father.

Reaves - OK, you have ONE parallelism to Star Wars . . . . how does that make it Star Wars plus dragons?
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Inquisitor on May 25, 2009, 03:19:30 AM
Actually, there are a lot of parallels, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Reaves on May 25, 2009, 03:25:34 AM
Alright, I'll lay it out for you.

There is a young farmboy dreaming of adventure, living with his uncle on the outskirts of the Empire. An aged, mysterious storyteller informs him that once, the land was protected by heroes, guardians who used magic to defend it. This young hero learns that his father was once one of these warriors, as was the mysterious storyteller; and he can become one as well.
But- oh, no! Our young hero returns to his farm to find it in ruins and his uncle killed, by no less than the forces of the evil Empire. He swears vengeance against this Empire and its dastardly Emperor, leaving his homeland to travel with the old storyteller. This storyteller gives his life for our young farm boy, protecting him from an attack. Along the way, he rescues a princess from the Empire and joins the Rebels, leading them against a last-minute attack on their hidden base.
In Volume Two, our hero discovers that his father was actually the Emperor's right-hand man, his most trusted servant: his apprentice, if you will. He also learns that he has a long-lost twin.
He discovers that the late storyteller's plan was to further his training with the last surviving magic user, a former teacher. This aged and crippled man lives the life of a hermit in the forest, but is still able to teach our young hero much. However, at the last minute our hero decides to complete his training later and save his friends, vowing to return.

I could go on, but there wouldn't be much point. Eragon is Star Wars. I read the first two books and really enjoyed them. It was only after I read the third one and was incredibly disappointed that I began to actually analyze the story and realized how familiar it really was.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 25, 2009, 03:36:10 AM
OK, I guess when you point them all out it makes more sense. :\

I guess I just loved Star Wars and comparing it to this series seemed really dumb to me so I never did it because Star Wars was so amazing that Eragon couldn't compare.

Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: ErikHolmes on May 25, 2009, 06:19:33 AM
Well, I wouldn't think too badly of Eragon because of how it follows the Star Wars storyline. Hell, I have a program called Dramatica Pro that basically walks you threw how to build your story along the same lines as Star Wars. My understanding is a lot of its based off of Joseph Cambell's book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

IMO, the fact that he can take something like Star Wars, change it up, put a different face on it, etc. And not have everyone realize that's what he did is the sign on a good storyteller, not a bad one.



Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 25, 2009, 01:32:14 PM
I haven't read the third book and I thought Eragon's father's name started with a B or a G. Its been awhile.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 25, 2009, 03:39:25 PM
The third books holds allot. You might want to pick it up.  ;)
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 25, 2009, 06:50:59 PM
It wasn't so much that the First book (I haven't read the second either actually) seemed like Star Wars but that it was incredibly predictable and there were no real suprises. Except that the brother has something interesting and different to do at least.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 25, 2009, 07:40:35 PM
It really is predictable, but the characters are rather enjoyable.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 25, 2009, 09:25:09 PM
Wait Star Wars or Eragon?
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Miyabi on May 25, 2009, 09:43:29 PM
Both really, but I mean Eragon.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Bastille on May 25, 2009, 10:51:53 PM
I agree with you then.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Faster Master St. Pastor on May 27, 2009, 03:18:37 PM
Well to be fair, the reason Star Wars is so predictable is because of the culture.  When it first came out, no one knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father.  Eragon is predictable because it IS Star Wars, in far too many ways. 

Also, the magic system comes far too close to Ursala K. Leguin's in the Earthsea Trilogy.  Really the list of infractions against Poalini is far too long, and by no means do I have the energy to restate them.  Anti-Shurtugal.com is slightly fanatic, but mostly logical in their assessment. 

As for me, I feel Poalini has no merit as an author, and should do something else.  However, I will be giving him another shot in the future, simply to see if he has matured as an author at all.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Reaves on May 27, 2009, 09:30:13 PM
Personally I don't have anything against Paolini. He has his flaws, (of which there are many, granted) but he also has his merits. I find it very hard to connect much of Star Wars' plot to his third book. Of course, that may be because almost nothing happened in that book, but hey.
His magic system...I didn't immediately connect it to the Earthsea trilogy. Its been too long since I've read it for me to tell if they are similar.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Faster Master St. Pastor on May 27, 2009, 11:30:33 PM
Basically its in an ancient language and based off of names.  Nutshell version of course.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: The Jade Knight on May 28, 2009, 04:07:57 AM
Well to be fair, the reason Star Wars is so predictable is because of the culture.  When it first came out, no one knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father. 

Well, part of the reason Star Wars is so predictable is because it's written to fit the tropes perfectly—George Lucas specifically based the plot off the archetypes in The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Faster Master St. Pastor on May 29, 2009, 12:27:34 AM
Ah, good point, I had forgotten that was the case.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 29, 2009, 05:41:03 PM
It just seems sad that Paolini doesn't try to vary away from that formula. It's not all that fun to read when you can predict the next action of every character, there's no mystery or suspense.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: FantasyAngel on May 29, 2009, 10:14:10 PM
It just seems sad that Paolini doesn't try to vary away from that formula. It's not all that fun to read when you can predict the next action of every character, there's no mystery or suspense.

Maybe not in the books but there's certainly mystery and suspense in between the books.  The lack of information given about the release of the next one leaves you wondering too much.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Faster Master St. Pastor on May 29, 2009, 11:09:59 PM
Exactly; its actually a brilliant ploy.  Sort of a book within a book!
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: Shard on May 30, 2009, 12:07:45 PM
It just seems sad that Paolini doesn't try to vary away from that formula. It's not all that fun to read when you can predict the next action of every character, there's no mystery or suspense.

Maybe not in the books but there's certainly mystery and suspense in between the books.  The lack of information given about the release of the next one leaves you wondering too much.

Yeah but having that lady in the first book basically outlining his life to come was really overboard.
Title: Re: I am very annoyed with Paolini
Post by: FantasyAngel on May 30, 2009, 08:04:18 PM
Yeah I have to say I'm not a fan of that sort of thing as I find it spoils the story.  It tells you what is going to happen and all that's left out is a few miner details such as names.  I like a book that keeps you guessing and wondering.