Three Things that are good about Eragon

[ultramega10]

 Okay, time for something different.

 

I’ve noticed a particularly negative vibe going through Anti-shurtugal Reborn lately. And while critical thinking can do wonders, it can also blind you to things that are good. So I’ve decided to give everyone a challenge to help give a sense of positivity.

 

I’d like each of you to think of three things that Eragon gets right. I’ll start us off.

 

1: Murtagh.

Murtagh is definitely the best character in the entire series for several reasons. First, he’s one of the few people to give a logical counterpoint to the ‘good vs. evil’ plotline. Also, he is not be portrayed as EVIIIL for it. He’s also three-dimensional, having a multilayered personality. And he has a character arc that makes at least some logical sense.

Also, he is one of the few characters in the series I can unironically classify as a badass. Mostly because he isn’t constantly being showed with stuff and still manages to beat up Eragon.

 

2: The sense of fun

If there was one thing that was really, genuinely good about the original Eragon, it was a solid sense of fun. Paolini was clearly enjoying writing the book, and so, if you weren’t too critical, it was possible to get swept up in it. The story manages to cover a whole bunch of different kinds of adventures and places. Yes, they all fall to pieces if gazed at with greater understanding. But for a twelve-year-old doing some reading, it was entertaining.

 

3: Tracking the Ra’zac

This good thing requires some clarification. The Ra’zac arc ends anticlimactically here, but I do believe that the buildup to it was well done. Garrow being killed off was cliched, but it worked as a motivation. And I liked that Eragon did genuinely seem to be motivated to avenge Garrow somewhat. Rather than simply being an excuse to go on adventures. Granted, Eragon does seem to forget him later, but in the first book, it is a decent motivation.

There are also a lot of interesting parts of the story during the hunt for the Ra’zac. The time with Jeod allows Paolini to give some genuine worldbuilding. Most of what we know about the Empire comes from Eragon and Brom’s time with Jeod. It also gave us some context for the rise of the Empire. Meanwhile, the way they tracked down the Ra’zac through oil shipments was an original thing. You don’t usually see that kind of thing in mediocre fantasy novels.

 

 

Anyway, those are what I could come up with after long hours of thought. Much of our focus on this board seems to be how the series could have been made better. If we can isolate the parts that are done well, we have half our answer.

Night Travels of the Elven Vampire

[torylltales]

The inestimable Epistler showed me this spork/review of a hilariously bad vanity-published novel called Night Travels of the Elven Vampire:

 

https://crevette.livejournal.com/113659.html


After reading a little bit, I decided to check the book;s Amazon reviews to see what other people thought about it, and this glorious review turned up:

LaVerne Ross

2.0 out of 5 stars

September 9, 2004

Verified Purchase

I wont go into the lack of promised editing, of a certain publisher. Other authors have reviewed this book, and liked it, in spite of any editing problem. I wont say something said isn't right...(editing) there is nothing wrong with the story itself. IT is FANTASY, not a BIO. Anyone else wrote this and nothing would be said. A lot of flack over a novelette, stalking a novelist all over the net, to belittle the work, and attempt to hurt feelings. Getting a big laugh at this authors expense. Getting family and friends of a certain fanfic group to attack constantly, pretending to be honest readers, when in fact these have not bought the book, I know how many were sold, and since all used the same book...you get the picture. I would have made a lot of money off these "reviewers" if they had bought it. Probably about $25.

I would say there is something wrong with a group who acts in this fashion, you can not like something without going to such extent. Obesessed sounds about right. Why is this?

A writer can't make everyone reader happy, and that is fine. I have written other books, coming out next year, including this one rewritten, edited. This book is not available, and it was my choice. I don't want anyone to buy it either, wait for the new version. As an author I believe in my writing, as any author does. But personal attacks that really have nothing to do with the book, well that isn't nice at all. The comments show the reviewers don't really know the book at all. The story itself.

 

Yes: the author posted an Amazon review to defend themselves from the critics and sporkers.

And gave their own book 2 stars.