What do you guys think of the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini? I've read all three books more than one time, and I love them!
A lot of people have said that he stole stuff from Tolkien and Star Wars, but I didn't really think so. Most fantasy stories have elves, dwarves, and humans in them, and the farther into the series you get, the less similar the plot is to Star Wars. That's just my opinion, anyway.
The only thing that bothers me a little bit is the magic in his stories, since he never really says where it comes from.
What do you think?

Oh, he does say where magic comes from! It's the energy stored in everyone. It's just a way of using that to the fullest potential. (Of course there's sorcery and all, but that's defined as coming from spirits, so, it makes sense.)

I, have read all three of the Inheritance trilogy, and Eragon and Eldest are basically spoofs (in my humble opinion ) of LotR and STWRS. However, add Brisingr, and it gets a lot better.

The plot is interesting, and the characters are MOSTLY believable, however...

I don't think the books are really good for anyone without a firmly grounded world view, to read. He dabbles in so many grey areas, that unless you're constantly looking at things through a Biblical lense, you're going to get really confused in his muddled ideas. Especially when it comes to the elves, and Eragon's trying to figure out the ethics of magic users.

I liked Eldest the best, and Eragon second, but I found Brisingr and parts of Eldest to be long and tiring. I do think he has great characters, escpecially my favorites, Roran and Murtagh. I don't like Eragon, but I won't get into an argument about that.

I agree that it has absolutely no Biblical background, and the magic I still find hard to source. I find the power from magic an uncanny excuse for their human weakness. I noticed several times when Eragon or one of the elves commented that they had to find "the basic good in people", a philosophy that is obviously anti-biblical.
I do agree that the series copies LotR themes and even themes from the CoN.

In my humblest opinion, they're worth reading but they're nothing to rave about. I think they're good, but lack the sincerity and depth of Tolkein and Lewis. Plus, they aren't biblically based and the worldview is not Christian based.

The problem with the series is that they actually do explore some black areas. The Elves constantly emphasize that there is no god, or gods, and the Eldest also contains an inappropriate scene, which is at least not portrayed as inappropriate, and may even have been portrayed as appropriate.

Not to sound like a broken record, but it doesn't glorify Christ, and I highly doubt that fact pleases Him.

I agree. While they are entertaining, they lack a biblical worldview.

I do like most of his characters. I love Saphira. Eragon's okay, but don't even get me started on Arya!

I do agree that you shouldn't read them unless you are pretty grounded, because he does explore a lot of gray areas, and it can get confusing at times.

And now that I think about it, there were a couple of inappropriate scenes in Eldest. Those bothered me especially because I know a few younger kids (as in like 10) that have read the series.

I wouldn't say that it is overtly decided there is no God though. Because, in Brisingr, the dwarves obviously believe in gods. And one appears during the corronation. I'd say it's more pantheistic really.

And What??? Inappropriate scene in Eldest? Somehow I missed it. If it had Roran in it, then I probably skimmed past it. I didn't really read any of the parts that had him in it.

There was a rather detailed description of Oromis bathing while Eragon was there. And then there were the dancers during the blood-oath celebration that weren't exactly modest.

Really? I must have missed that too. Mindy - don't you like Roran?

No. I don't like Roran. I have no idea why Paolini stuck him in there. In my very humble opinion, I wish he'd get killed by an Urgal. LOL!

And I guess I really did miss a lot cause I don't remember any of those things. *shrugs* (Although, guaranteed it's been a while since I read Eldest)

Why don't you like Roran? He was my second favorite character! Next to the ever-infamous Murtagh...

I don't think he has ANY personality at all. Although that's just my $0.02.

He's all "I must avenge my father" and "KATRINA!" and just...I don't like him. He's flat.

I do like Murtagh though.

I know what you mean, but he's also so loyal and brave and manly. Murtagh's amazing.

Loyal? Maybe. Brave? More of a show off. He doesn't have any fear to overcome so I don't think he's that brave. Manly? Uh...not my definition of a man.

LOL! But yeah. I think that anyone who reads the series should like Murtagh. At least as a character, if you don't agree with his moral choices.

He's really loyal to Katrina, Eragon and what's her name. He follows his morals and what he's loyal to no matter what it costs him. Of course he has fear! He has the fear of losing his family, and he fights to protect them. I think he's manly, I don't know what you think is missing...lol.

Yeah, Murtagh's amazing. I also turn out like him in character tests...

Well, I'm sorry. I guess I just find him completely useless.

I turned out like...*grimace* Well, I don't think I'll tell you who I turned out like, because it's rather embarrassing.

But my Daddy turned out like Sapphira, and for ONCE the quiz was completely correct.

Your dad's like Sapphira...that's funny! I'm a lot like Murtagh (quiet, can be sullen, and amazing cool). Are you sure you can't tell me? PM me and tell me!

I'm probably like Sapphira the most... but a character quiz said I was most like Brom.
I definitely prefer Sapphira!!!

Brom's okay...Murtagh's the best, though. That's cool, PotK.

Murtagh is pretty cool. I hope he becomes good again in the last book!

I've read the books, too. Actually, they were what inspired me to become start writing, even though I was only thirteen at the time (well, it did seem awfully young then), so the books hold a special place for me. As books go, I don't think that they were very well written. They won't become classics. However, as first books published by a guy who started them when he was sixteen, I think they are amazing works. Eragon is my favorite of the three, although I liked Brisingr, too. I didn't really care for Eldest at all. I thought there were way too many unnecessary details (such as the inappropriate scenes afore mentioned, which, yes, I do remember. Sadly). I'm not sure who my favorite characters are. I do like Arya (although I think Paolini should develop her character a bit more; right now, she's a little too flat), after all, I dressed up as her for All Hallow's Eve. But I like Sapphira a lot, too. I did like Eragon in the first book, but after that, he got too...something. I'll have to make up a word to describe it, but I didn't like him quite as much. And yeah, Murtagh's cool. Who doesn't like him? I also like Jeod's wife, Helen. I really felt for her. I can't wait until he publishes the next book! He should do NaNoWriMo and get it done faster. That is my opinion.

I liked Arya in Eragon, but her character seemed to get worse in the other two books (especially Eldest). Christopher Paolini just needs to work on her character a little bit.
Eragon was my favorite, then Brisingr and Eldest. The only thing I didn't care for in Brisingr was the time he spent with the dwarves. I thought it was a little bit drawn out and boring, but that's just my opinion!
But I basically agree with Elestar that the books are good, but not classics.

I think Paolini's writing is getting better actually. Eragon was ok. Eldest unfortunately had a lot of Roran in it...so that ruined the book for me. And then Brisingr is my favorite. Nothing in appropriate, no swear words (I don't think.) The only criticism is that I like the antags better than the protags.

I love Murtagh!!!
I hope nothing happens to him in the next book. *biting figernails* I really do like the Inheritance books, even though Eragon can be somwhat of a baby sometimes. Roran's awesome. So is Brom. Sapphira is the coolest.
Ana

Ditto. Murtagh supplies most of the emotion in the story for me.

I think his style got better with each book, but I like the plot the most in Eragon and Brisingr.

Yeah Eldest was a bit long!

The books were very entertaining, but I will admit that they were not classics.

I was not impressed with the spoof on Star Wars in the first book. I mean, Eragon was totally Luke and Brom was obviously Obi Wan. My favorite character is probably Saphira. Arya would have been my favorite, but she was too cliché: the tough but beautiful princess who acts more like a boy and doesn't show much emotion.

Eldest was pretty boring to me, as was the Two Towers in the LotR series. (I guess the second book is the most boring to me.) I wasn't nuts about Roran; he seemed kind of, well, boring. That's why I usually skip over the parts with him.

It seemed like the author got suggestive in Brisingr. And the dwarves were so uninteresting, I almost skipped those chapters. The one thing that I did like was the twist with Eragon's father, but then again, there was too much adultery.

I sure hope the fourth book gets better; I hope it leans away from these, er, distractions and has a better plot line.

Oh, and on the movie based off of "Eragon": I don't think they'll be able to make the next movies; they killed the wrong characters, made Brom too weird, gave Arya the wrong hair color, etc. If you have read the books and you need a good laugh, watch the movie. It is pitiful.

To sum it up: The books were OK: very entertaining but not classics.

I know what you mean. The relationships that Selena had through her life didn't sit well with me, but in the world that Paolini's created where there's no clear code of ethics, what can you expect? *sigh*

I totally agree. I wasn't able to finish Brisingr because it got too slow and boring and I picked up more interesting books and forgot all about it. They're decent stories, Paolini just can't keep the tension up.

I am having a great time reading this topic. Opinions are flying back and forth and back and forth and back and forth . . . you get the idea.

But anyway, I was considering reading the Eragon books, simply because I am out of reading material (wanna know how many times I've read Lord of the Rings?), and I am curious about these books. My mother is a little wary of magic and dragons (she read a horrific series growing up), but she said I could try these.

What are the recommendations for a new reader? And would you recommend these books to someone?

I hesitate to recommend them. You would probably find them interesting, but...every book is an investment, and unless there is really nothing really better to read I would say don't waste your time.

On the other hand, the books raise interesting questions about ethics and morality, which have sparked many...discussions between me and my friends.

If you're ok with what could be considered 'objectionable' content, then read Ted Dekker's Martyr's Series. They're about as clean as the Inheritance Cycle, but they are from a Christian perspective.

(there's my long-winded two cents)

Thanks Mindy, that helps.

I am not sure whether or not I will read the books after all, however, most of my friends, Christian and nonchristian, read them. So I will think about it. It depends.

Again, thanks for the $0.02!

I enjoyed reading most of it, but I would only recommend them to my friends who are strong Christians, and would recognize what isn't holy, noble, pure, or right.

I was going to read these books, but decided not to because of all of the telepathy stuff (and there might have been another reason that I can't remember). Now I think I might look at them. I'm still trying to decide, but all the magic and stuff doesn't really bother me.

Why does telepathy bother you?
Just wondering!

Well, at the time it seemed weird. I can't read Harry Potter because of the magic stuff either (although I play Zelda, so I don't quite get that one :P)
I really don't have a problem with it any more. I don't even really remember my reasoning behind not reading these books at the time.

lol

I would say that it's OK to read them if you are a strong, firmly grounded Christian who can distinguish between truth and lies (and undefined "morals", with which the series abounds.) I read the books a few times, and now I am reading them to try and figure out why they are so popular.

If you're hoping to be enlightened by reading the books, look elsewhere.

My opinion:

I like the Inheritance Cycle. Eragon is my favorite, then Brisingr, and then Eldest. Like other people have said, Eldest, more so than the other two contains some inappropriate elements that I did dislike.

The thing for me with this series is that when you read them, you have to know that they aren't made up of very original ideas.....for example, the plot of Eragon pretty much mirrors that of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Also, obviously, the world and creatures are like that of Lord of the Rings, although even Tolkien had borrowed from other legends and writers before him. Funny thing to me, Paolini kind of copied/borrowed/plagiarized right out of Beowulf.......the name Hrothgar is taken straight from that story, actually. So when I read these books, i just had to kinda read them for fun and not much else.

Also, I probably wouldn't recommend them for new Christians..........just because of some of the elements that seem to cross into the grey areas.......

As for my favorite characters, Eragon definitely isn't my favorite and Arya gets on my nerves. I like Murtagh and I do like Roran......the sections about him kept me going through Eldest and some of Brisingr........

Just my opinions..........
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So how is the language in these books? I try to avoid most bad language (to an extent... milder words are okay) in books.

I might have missed something, but I'm pretty sure there isn't any bad language.

Alright, thanks

For the language they don't really say the bad words. Mr. Paolini just mentions that "He cursed under his breath"

Well, actually, in the last two books, there is a fair amount of swearing. A few times they use fairly strong curse words, etc, although thankfully it is usually the bad guys. It isn't excesive by any means, but it is there.

Oh really??? I must not have noticed
Elisabeth
Sorry Arias I was wrong!!

I looked back through Eragon, and I did notice some swearing that I didn't notice before.

I did really enjoy the Inheritance series.

I know it's kind of unavoidable in fantasy novels, the thing that always bothers me is the fact that the main charachter is always chosen for something. This may be just me, but I would enjoy it more from the point of Murtaugh.

Rain, you just gave me a great writing idea. THANKS! XD

Oh, and I agree with you.

I like to rant. I also like to make random commentary on stuff as I go along. My family is all tired of listening to me, so I don't get to do it very often. But I'm finally read the somewhat infamous (to my impression) Eragon. I've heard sooo much about it, I simply had to know what the big deal was, or wasn't. I'm have the urge to ramble.

So does anyone mind if I create this thread and rather than doing an actual review when I'm done, like I'm supposed to, I make the random comments that I find running around in my brain with no way out? Kind of like... a mini blog?