Argon.... I think...

[Feena_bronze_rider]

I've been told to read a book called Argon... I think it is... called that. It's got a dragon on the cover..... written by some 16 or 19 year old kid... can't remember who wrote it though! can I get some help?

[Lily]

The book you are looking for is Eragon, by Christopher Paolini
It caused quite a splash when it was published a year or so ago, you should enjoy it

[Jax]

I think I heard that they were going to be making a movie of it :crazy: which I think is stupid for this new fella right out of nappies, without his sequel even out yet, when there're fantastic writers like Anne whose storylines are much better (don't get me wrong, I liked the book and am waiting for the next!)

Are we biased because we like Anne? :roll:

[Lily]

Yup! 100%!!!

[Beisla]

I think I heard that they were going to be making a movie of it :crazy: which I think is stupid for this new fella right out of nappies, without his sequel even out yet, when there're fantastic writers like Anne whose storylines are much better (don't get me wrong, I liked the book and am waiting for the next!)

Are we biased because we like Anne? :roll:
Perhaps yes, but I think maybe some popular fantasy/scifi series ought to be made into movies or TV series; the fans have been waiting for a long time and many excellent authors deserve that!

I'm not saying that Paolini doesn't deserve his book to be made into a movie (I haven't even read it yet, but I'm going to!), but like Jax said, there are many authors with well-developed storylines and complex and interesting worlds.

Well, perhaps we'll see more fantasy movies in the years to come; with the popularity of LOTR and Harry Potter, and scifi movies like Star Wars and the upcoming Ender's Game, it would be a wonder if movie makers didn't realize what possibilities the genres.

[Lily]

You'd think thread-burning, fire breathing dragons would be good woulnt you!

[bisb]

Well, perhaps we'll see more fantasy movies in the years to come; with the popularity of LOTR and Harry Potter, and scifi movies like Star Wars and the upcoming Ender's Game, it would be a wonder if movie makers didn't realize what possibilities the genres.

It would be great if more fantasy films are made. Maybe then I'd actually go to a movie or two.
:eek:

[pern_queen_rider]

Yeppers. I would kill to see Pern get made into a movie. Also, Eragon. Pern first thouhg.

[Tabra]

I think if kids see a movie and then go out and get the book, read it and discover they joy of reading, then that's the market they need to aim at. Even if only one child begins to enjoy reading.

[Milo]

I've read the first few pages in the library. And I must say, I was not overly impressed. I recognize a bit of my own writing in it. aka, making it up as you go along. The "magic" didn't seem as set in stone as Tolkien or Rowling magic.

[Jax]

Yeah C'milo, I liked the story but it did feel very young, or something - it wasn't like the other stories I've read, and I don't think I mean that in a good way - which is why I am so damn shocked that it's going to be made into a movie!! :banghead:

[Milo]

all together now. "Pern movie Pern movie Pern movie Pern movie" repeat ad. lib.

[Monkeysrule]

I WANT PERN MOVIE!!!! Who cares if it's horrible, I want to see what they make of the dragons, the plot lines, and most of all, the characters.

[Milo]

I WANT PERN MOVIE!!!! Who cares if it's horrible, I want to see what they make of the dragons, the plot lines, and most of all, the characters.
say WHAT?

[anonew]

I'm about a hundred pages into this, and frankly I'm not exactly hooked so far. The writing is simplistic and the concepts are unoriginal. I'll keep pushing with it on the basis of favourable publicity, but I'm not holding my breath here.

G

[NeouofPern]

Who cares if it's horrible? I do... And I have to agree with you Anonew.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

Well I was thinking of renting this from the library, but after seeing the repeated descritions of simplistic and unoriginal, I think I'll just continue re-reading Pern. ;) I may pick it up once I've run out of those though.

[Wolfegar]

Since I read for enjoyment and don't tend to analyze*1 what I read, I rather enjoyed Eragon. I just finished reading the sequel, Eldest, and I enjoyed it as well. It's a trilogy, so there will be one more book.

Young Paolini was 15 when he wrote Eragon. Just out of high school. Now, he's 21, two published books to his name and one possibly being made into a movie.

As much as I'd rather The Dragonriders of Pern be made into a movie first, I'll take a movie of Eragon. Odds are the movie and the book won't match up very well anyway. Like most books and movies made of them. Like any Pern movie if one ever gets made.


______

*1 Or should I say over analyze?

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

I'll definitely see the movie at least. Though I'm partial to Pern, there is an EXTREME shortage of fantasy movies, take what you can get :D

[pern_queen_rider]

I thought Christopher Paolini seemed to steal a bit from other people's books and ideas. Yes, as you can tell I didn't like the book. Pern movie Pern movie Pern movie! Hey.... My dad is a producer. "Daaddddyyyyyyyy... I need you to suggest this to someone!" I think I'll go do that now. :evil:

:eek:

Dad's a producer? Sheesh, Neou, get him to wait a few years, till I get out of Directing School :D

[Earthmother]

We have read Eragon and enjoyed it. Christopher was 15 when he graduated High School and began Eragon. Fox is making a movie from it and it is scheduled for release in June of next year.

Last night we were at V'Roman's with our sons to hear him speak and have out copies of Eragon and Eldest signed. He is a great public speaker and very nice young man.

Since we are rereading Eragon with our boys before Eldest, we have yet to begin it but will soon.

I would love a Pern movie, but I am also happy to hear about the Eragon movie. The more fantasy and SF comes to theaters the better... of course only as long as it is good. :eek: :D

[Something Evil]

Eragon was an ok read, though not too well written and with the plot obviously taken from a variety of books and movies currently out there. However, some parts I liked, and it kept me turning the pages.

Eldest though, did not impress me.
The writing certainly hadn't improved, and it was much too long, making it an even duller read than Eragon. It should have been much shorter, not to forget that I would have expected better than what the book turned out to be from a writer of his age.

Also, the editor deserves a whack on the head.

[anonew]

Just had to post here to say that once I'd finished the book, my opinion of it had changed completely. Before I finished it I thought it was derivative and flat - but when I finished it? I couldn't have been more wrong! This isn't uninspiring - it's far, far worse than that. If it wasn't an anti-intellectual thing to do, I'd burn this book.
Well, maybe I'm being a bit too harsh. It does compare quite well with the backs of crisp packets and Ikea assembly manuals in terms of plot, and technically, it's right up there with 'John and Rosie Learn to Swim!'. What was it Dorothy Parker once said: "This is not a book that should be put aside lightly - it should be thrown with great force."
G
PS - Yeah, yeah, I'm probably just irked because he's barely in his twenties and is already a published author. It's an OK read - just don't expect Salinger.

[Kath]

Did anyone else see the thread title and think "Eye of Argon" (universally acclaimed as the worst sf/f book ever written)?

And given the thread comments so far, does _Eye_ have a new rival for that title?

[Jax]

:erm: I have been itching to change the title of this thread ever since it was made :shhh:

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

When I glance at it I keep thinking it's Aragorn :laugh:

[Monkeysrule]

Who cares if it's horrible? I do...
Actuall, to be truthful, so do I. But still Pern movie, Pern movie, Pern movie! :mexwave:

[Monkeysrule]

I finished Eragon. I thought it was pretty good for a debut, even if it had concepts of several different fantasy books jumbled together. I like his writing style.

[carmella]

Ok, Spoiler, maybe, here. In Eldest he even used ideas from StarWars. I go from nice story to where are your own ideas.

[Brenda]

And he switches from names like Eragon and Murtagh to Angelina and Evan. Inconsistent and annoying. I hope he hurries up - enough with the cliffhangers.

[Brenda]

Although I did notice something this time - yes he wrote the first one when he was eighteen - after graduating high school at fifteen. That's pretty good. If he had graduated at eighteen and written at twenty-one, would people be so upset?

[Something Evil]

Bad writing is bad writing, no matter the age of the author.

[Goldendragon]

I was also very disapointed that the books turned out to be nothing but a continuous vomet of other writers origonal ideas cramed in to one. The books by themselves where ok, but being able to point out who and what the plot lines came from is very bad. However, I will read the last book just so I know how it all ends and see if this guy learns anything about writing. I do believe that more fuss and praise is being given to the books and the writer than he deserves and the books should not be made in to a move.

[Simon HoneyBear]

I quite enjoyed Eragon, I didn't notice where he had used other ideas, but then Anne's books are normally about as fantasy as I go.

I do think that these books would turn in to movies far better than Pern, for precisely the reasons that some in this thread are slating the book. It has a far more simplistic plot line.

I really, really, don't want Pern used in any other media than the original books because they are way to complicated. Any movie made would have to miss bits out because it just wouldn't be possible to get all the details in.

I garuntee that if a Pern movie was made so many of the members of this board would be up in arms over all the errors, inconsistancies and blatent mis-representaions of the world!

So I say

DON'T MAKE PERN INTO A MOVIE!

Simon ;)

[Milo]

So I FINALLY have gotten around to reading it... I'm about 1/4 way through.

I think it stinks. I mean, not bad for a wee laddie, but it seems like semi-cruddy fan fiction. VERY immature.

Plus, when he's not ripping of Anne, he's robbing Tolkein blind. :irked:

JRR McCaffrey? Anne McCTolkein?

[Milo]

And he switches from names like Eragon and Murtagh to Angelina and Evan. Inconsistent and annoying. I hope he hurries up - enough with the cliffhangers.
I'm "dealing" with this by pretending that those names have funky pronunciations. :evil:

[Aurelia]

Hehe. Like "An-guh-la" for Angela? :angel:

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

I just finished listening to the audio book. That god for the existence of those, since I couldn't bear to read it normally. Weird how it sounds better out loud :erm: Anyway, I thought it was decent. Entertaining enough, even though the distinct similarities to other major fantasy works were annoying. Still, I kept trying to remind myself that this was written by a 15 year old, and for the length, that IS pretty impressive.

The end was slightly disappointing after seeing the trailers for the movie and expecting that big smoky dragon thing that Durza rode. And it was very annoying that Galbatorix was merely a concept for the entire book, we never actually see him. One of the biggest down-points was that the bond between Eragon and Saphira never seemed that strong at all. He started off thinking of her as an animal, and as soon as that changed he resented her for his Uncle's death, and then they seemed to argue often after that. Saphira became his pack-animal and all he ever did was call for her help. We don't really see much of a loving relationship build, and that is a MAJOR weakness.

[Mage]

I think that it's stronger in the second book, but the second book can be downright boring. Also, I really don't like the elves. I really, really don't like Arya. Eragon is a Gary Stu, and Arya is like Paolini's dream woman or something.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'd like to. I think it should be interesting to see the differences, and while I love the look of Saphira that I've seen in the trailers, I think she should have more spikes and be more brightly colored. The book very obviously didn't rely on any sort of realism!

That aside, if you can ignore the flaws and the fact that the plot is pretty much ripped from Star Wars, well, the two books so far can be a fun read. I am not precisely a fan, but I will read the third book once it comes out, as I would like to know what happens. Surely it can't get any worse. Personally, it is my hope that Eragon realizes Arya does not, and probably never will, love him, and ends up falling for Nasuada, whom I like much better. Of course this being Paolini's personal fantasy, most likely Eragon will get what he wants and the ending will be peachy.

Paolini also needs to separate himself more from his books. Eragon is a self-insert; Paolini has said so. Everything goes Eragon's way, despite whatever may happen. It would be so much more interesting if Eragon had remained crippled. Furthermore, Paolini has admitted to being an almost-vegetarian (not a total one), which lends some credence to claims that the elven culture and lack of religion were based on Paolini's own beliefs. Granted, you're allowed to write about your own beliefs, but with the way he has the beliefs pushed onto Eragon might actually cause problems for parents who would rather not subject their kids to athiest propaganda. You all remember, I'm sure, the Christian anti-Harry Potter hype that went on some time back. I personally really dislike that particular belief in his books, and I'm hoping Eragon will turn out to believe, or have proven, otherwise. I think that Paolini made a bad choice as to how he would introduce this aspect of elven culture. Partly I want to be reassured that Paolini is more separated from his novels than I have so far been given reason to believe (which I fear is unlikely, as he evidently just isn't that mature or that good of a writer), and partly, I really want to see Arya proven wrong. She rubs me the wrong way.

The Eragon film didn't get very good reviews, which will probably keep some people from trying Paolini's books, if they're people who hadn't read them yet. Granted, they aren't great, but they're better than say, Mary Higgins Clark--who is a terrible writer who is somehow very popular. Paolini is mediocre and unoriginal, but considering he's still young (23--same age as me, I regret to admit), he does have time to improve.

[rajenath]

When I first read Eragon, I enjoyed it even though I had some issues with blatant stealing from other authors. Then I grew up some, attended a writer's workshop, and realized how terrible this book is.

First off, there's this whole big deal about "Oooh, a teenager wrote a book! That's so awesome, it just has to be the best thing ever." Um, no. Sorry. I have at least six friends who wrote a novel before age 17, and they had the sense to say, "No, this isn't that great, but I'm learning." I'd bet that most of their novels were better than Paolini's.

2. Related to the above: OMG, Paolini's parents are publishers. Kid writes book, parents say "aww, our kiddie wrote a book," kid gets published, Knopf decides, well, it's okay and since it's already published.... Had he sent his book to any decent publlishing company, it never would have made it past the slush pile.

3. Blatant rip-offs of other authors' works. McCaffrey, Tolkien, even some le Guin... jeez. I mean, using others' ideas is standard in just about any writing, but most people can actually do it subtly. Honestly, I'm surprised Saphira isn't Saphirath.

4. Dragons? Check. Elves? Check. Evil Guy With Nasty-Sounding Name? Check. Venerable Old Master Who Guides Hero? Check. Beautiful Love Interest? Check. Mary Sues and Gary Stus all over the place? CHECK!

Augh. Make it go away.

(On the other hand, I heard that the movie is better than the book. I may go see it, but if I do, it'll mostly just be so that I can see Saphira.)

Also--sorry for the long rant--someone mentioned Eye of Argon. I picked up Eldest to see if I might be able to get through it, but it had been a while since Eragon so I read the summary in the beginning of Eldest. Aaaaah. It's almost as bad as reading Eye of Argon, it really is. Unfortunatly, the kid was only 15 or so when he wrote it, so there are no scenes with lusty wenches who have opaque noses. Eye of Argon still wins for me, but Eragon takes a close second.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

The movie being better than the book is subject to personal opinion :crazy: as you outlined, the book is no masterpiece, but it really does make the book look good in comparison... several improvements, like Brom not being a Gandalf clone, and shining moments with the fantastic dragon CGI, but overall the movie is a horrible travesty IMO.

[Madrigal]

The Eye of Argon, at least, makes me laugh. Eragon wasn't *quite* horrible enough for that... instead, it was just a blatant, highly unimaginative (is there a worse thing to say about SFF?) brick. Those cliches that were broken were broken in ways that were almost worst--the language, for instance. "I'm going to make the magic language be all harsh-sounding and incredibly NOT-elfy... but there will be pretty elfy names all over the place anyway!" Ick. The ending was better than the rest, but still wasn't worth the reading.

Eldest was somewhat better, in terms of readability. I still feel sorry for whoever wasted the money to give it to me in hardback, though. It's definitely not worth that price.

His parents did have a good deal to do with him getting started, but I do give him credit for doing a good deal of footwork on his own. As I understand it, after he finished it, his parents ran off a few copies. He self-promoted those nonstop at various Faires and the like, until some author already signed by Knopf came across it, enjoyed it, and passed it on to that company. On their part, it wasn't a bad investment--formulas sell, even when they're awful. Look at various romances, many epic fantasy series, and so on. Even though I think it's a horrible piece of work, I don't begrudge him for making a profit. (At least not any more so than I begrudge the Eddingses, any of the million vampire-ripoff novelists, and so on.)

As for jealousy that he was published so young: there's a bit, of course, but even if some genie approached me now and offered me a publishing contract for my first efforts (I finished my first novel when I was about 13), I wouldn't take it. Two reasons why:

1. I wouldn't want people to go "OMG it's GREAT... for someone so young." I'd far rather have the 'for someone so young' not tacked on.

2. I wouldn't want my awful-to-mediocre freshman efforts to be sticking in the minds of my fanbase forever. If you're the type that would like the crud I turned out then, I don't think I'd want you as a fan.

Edit: I also came across this review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANW9ciF0ZF0) of the game based on the movie, which adequately expresses my feelings about the book, as well. I haven't seen the movie. Might rent it when it comes out on video, if I get really bored some night.