It is surely not great literature, but then great literature is generally greatly boring. It is a fantasy epic, and expectedly quite heavily borrowed from the paragon works in the field, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and probably many others which I do not know, and I guess neither would most of the people reading this blog. This brings us to an interesting point, I believe it would be a great adventure ride for anyone unfamiliar with the genre. Me personally, I say I still enjoyed it. The love of Christopher Paolini for those works is obvious, as he literally takes delight in following the various chapters of the story, of narrating the events happening around the characters. These do devolve to highly stereotyped stuff sometimes, like the depiction of the various races, the elve's niceties, the egg-headedness of dwarves etc etc. The sentence constructions are simplistic and conversations in general very sophomoric, and some moments repeated over and over(Roran kissing Katrina, Saphira comments arrogantly asserting ehr strength). Most characters even speak the same way. Paolini's inexperience is also noticeable, as the plots tend to be non-intertwined and story progresses separately from character to character(Arya hardly plays a role in Book 3).
But the plot does keep you guessing. Paolini does not build up suspense, but the way story evolves is not obvious. I loved the fact that we have an actual main character and are being told the story from the hero's point of view. We don't have a gang of heroes(or a fellowship), and neither are we barred from the main character's or even the dragon's thinking process( certain white wizards comes to mind). Although character development is not a particularly strong feature of the novels, like I still haven't quite figured out Arya/Orrin/Murtagh, but it does very well with Eragon/Saphira growth from adolescence, and Roran's development in Brisingr is specially worth noting. The paraphernalia of characters is small, but not unsatisfactory. Magic is developed well, as are the mind-extension and mind-control abilities. The world is described in suitable detail without being overwhelming. Depictions of supporting characters, like the herbalist Angela, werecats, the raven, are simplistic, but find a way to fit together.
The third book feel a little stretched out, and you tend to more than once, just glaze over the chapters. The ascension periods, first of Nasuada, then Orik, descriptions of the elvish/dwarvish world tend to be onerous, but I can't think of any fantasy novel not suffering from such episodes. It feels odd sometimes that a single tyrant has the whole population of Alagesia by their balls. Not the mention that all his minions, the Forsworn have already been killed by a single man, Brom, and that without his dragon.
To summarise, I believe the Inheritance cycle is a nice and not-so-light introduction to anyone new but interested in reading fantasy epics. Adept readers however, aren't missing much should they skip it. Without a doubt though, a great work for any guy who is just out of his teens.
I shall provide a closure with a list of incidents from LOTR and Star Wars, which might strike a familiar tone with readers of Eragon. I am in no position to judge the intended/coincidental nature of the parallels however.
Star Wars -
Jedi, the peacekeepers, killed.
Luke Skywalker living with his relatives.
ObiWan lurking nearby.
Message from Princess Leia.
Luke Skywalker's foster family killed.
Luke and ObiWan make a run for it.
ObiWan gives Luke a Jedi sword.
(End of Empire strikes back) Darth Vader: I am your father!!
A master Jedi(Yoda) in hiding.
Yoda keeps Luke's secret inheritance from him.
(Return of the Jedi) Eragon returns to Yoda
LOTR
Love story: Man and Elf
Name/Character similarities
Aragorn:Eragon
Arwen:Arya
Gandalf:Gladr
Naz'gul: Raz'zoc
This might be stretching it a bit:
Fellowship: Eragon's company of Elves
Saruman: Murtagh (Both were good, but joined the evil)
For more paranoia, check out tvtropes.
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2 comments:
The similarities between Star Wars and the Inheritance cycle are indeed striking. I noted that a few days back.
Your criticisms, in some part, are too harsh. The cycle isn't over yet!
As for trying to understand the mind of the White Wizard (or even the returning King), the lack of definitive information may have been deliberate on Tolkien's part. Narrating the epic tale from the point of view of the hobbits enhances the 'grand' feeling of the work (refer to Sam's first view of the oliphaunt).
Yes, we are onto the fourth book and still havn't had a glimpse of the king Galbatorix!
The stock characters and plot points in any fantasy are very regular, the elves, the power-source, etc, so I guess I might have been unfairly judgmental of the work.
And the White wizard might add mystic, but the aloofness from Dumbeldore in HP was plain annoying in some parts.
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