*Snorkage*

[patgund]

Okay, I admit. I totally felt that the book "Eragon" was a complete and total rip off of a whole bunch of books, with a main character that was so Gary Su as to be a parody.

Which is why I never saw the movie. However, after reading the Agony Booth's review of the movie, I suspect I'm going to have to get a copy just to snark it properly - because it sounds *BAD*

Agony Booth review of Eragon

"Next comes a shot that's so derivative that it has to be seen to be believed. If there was any doubt that the filmmakers knew they were making a cheap Star Wars ripoff, it dies right here. Are you ready for this?

There's a shot of our hero, at dusk, sitting and watching an orange and purple sunset while some sad music plays. And the shot is taken from exactly the same angle and with exactly the same lighting as its counterpart in A New Hope. Oh. My. Gods. Did I mention that this movie is full of moments that basically have "fuck you" written all over them? Well, it is, and I don't think I've ever seen this much audacity in my entire life. It's official: the filmmakers believe everyone watching this movie is a complete idiot.

Honestly, it's as if the author of the original book made this movie. Believe me when I say that his greatest (and probably only) skill lies in shamelessly stealing other people's ideas, and then dancing a jig on the looted corpses of their movies and books. Bitter? Me? Heck no."

Comments

[mistresshuette.livejournal.com]

I have read the first two books of the series of which Eragon is the first book. You have to understand that the author of this book wrote Eragon when he was 15 years old. Yes it is very derivative of other stories. But, come on! What kind of book would you have written when you were 15 years old? I feel the book is much, much better than the movie. I saw the movie in the theater and was very disappointed in it. The third book is scheduled to come out in September 2008. There is supposed to be a fourth book, with no title and no publication date. I have read worse fantasy books written by adults. I am willing to continue reading this series.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

You forgot "15 years old, book originally published by parents, author admits the main character is a 'Gary Su"

The key term there being "originally published by parents". Seriously, would this have come to the attention of a mainstream publisher if his parents hadn't originally published it and promoted it on a book tour. My personal opinion is no, it wouldn't have. Which may have given the author more time to develop his craft and not write something that's such an obvious rip off of Tolkien, McCaffrey, Lucas, Eddings, Jordan, etc.....

I read the first two books. I seriously doubt I will read the third and forth.

[mistresshuette.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Yes, it helped that his parents helped promote his book, but if the book had been that bad, Knopf would never had published it. They aren't THAT desparate for new authors. And if the book was that bad, why did it make the Best Sellers' list?

But even adults who should have more sense sometimes write and publish books that shouldn't have been published as is. Rowling's last book is a good example of that.

As for bad adult authors, Stephen R. Donaldson is one who I will never read again. His books, which probably are original, are horrible books and I refused to read him after his first two books. And yet, there are people who continue to do so.

And don't get me started about authors who write one or two brilliant books and then lose their ability to write decent books thereafter, like Frank Herbert or Patricia McKillip.

I am sorry that you have taken such a dislike to the Eragon books. It is your choice to do so. I am hoping that he has inside him the makings of a great original book and that he finds it one day.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

I can completely agree with you about Donaldson.

And I also hope the author of the Eragon books does find that spark of originality in him. He's got the makings of a decent author, but he needs the time and effort to work on his craft

[mistresshuette.livejournal.com]

Also, who or what is Gary Su? I don't recognize the name.

[jeran.livejournal.com]

Probably a typo of "Gary Stu", the male counterpart to "Mary Sue".

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Gary Su or Gary Stu = male version of a Mary Sue, i,e, a character based on the author that becomes all powerful, all knowing, no flaws, etc.

[duckflambe.livejournal.com]

I wrote stories when I was 15 too.
Lucky for everybody that Hollywood wasn't so hard up for bad StarWars remakes in 1985. ;)

[patgund.livejournal.com]

As for what I was doing when I was 15 - reading anything I could and studying to take (and pass) the tests needed to get my high school diploma and escape high school early (which I did a month before my 16th birthday. So I can also claim the "graduated high school at 15" distinction the author does - and I wasn't homeschooled either. Not to knock homeschoolers mind you.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Yes, but if that's the case it had no business being published, and he should have waited till he was old enough to write better before he had a publishing contract apparently handed to him on a platter.

The "but he was only 15 years old" argument doesn't hold water.

[astarrymist.livejournal.com]

Okay, yes the movie does suck. Royally. However, it is because it is so *different* from the book. The book isn't so bad as this review makes it out to be. Whenever dragons and magic are shaped into a new story, it will, by default, be similar to other works. J.K. Rowling drew practically all her ideas from other sources. They aren't original concepts but are strung together in a new way to tell a new story. The author of Eragon wrote that book between the ages of 15-18. You'd never guess that when reading it. However, the book isn't close to being the best fantasy work out there. It's an okay book. Good entertainment. Good for telling the story before you read the second book which ROCKS. The second book is much better than the first.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

I've read books one and two. I have no desire to read anymore.

My personal opinion is that the authors parents did him a great disservice by publishing the first book in their publishing house. Because I can almost guarantee that most publishers would have rejected it as too unoriginal and amateur. What he needs is time to polish his craft and get a few rejection letters under his belt telling him what he's doing wrong - and doing right. He didn't get those.

What I see in "Eragon" and the other books in the series is a nice *idea*, but one that's been done before by many other authors. The lack of originality, the "gary su"ish main character, and total lack of empathy for any of the characters is what dooms it - and all of them could have been prevented if he had just been forced to polish his art - and his story - more

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I saw it in the theater with a friend who wanted to see it.

I will say that picking out all the sources was fun...

"Ooh, that's straight from Star Wars!" "Ooh, that bit's from Tolkien!" Etc.