[Asmadai]

Originally Posted by Lost Ranger

I understand what you were trying to get at Asmadai but your example isnt accurate on what pisses people off about Eragon. No one cares about borrowed elements what so ever.

The story has a dragon in it after all. A dragon, without a doubt the most over used fantasy element I have seen. Yet I see no one complain about a dragon being in a fantasy novel because it fits. Borrowed elements are just part of writing... borrowed story lines are not. Knights, dragons, magic whatever its all standard fantasy stuff... its what places the book in the fantasy genre after all.

What annoyed me and obviously a lot of other people is that the book flat out ripped off other titles. In the movie section someone broke it down to compare it to Star Wars and its WAY to close to be a mistake. He didnt end up having a similar sounding story by mistake... he took a story we all saw 20+ years ago... changed names and locations around, tossed in a dragon for good measure and resold it. Im not surprised some people think its good... It was real good back in the day too when the main characters name was luke.

None of this would of been a big deal either if it wasnt for the fact his age was used as a selling gimmick. If this EXACT book had been written by a 30 something guy it would of never seen the spotlight. Infact its a good chance it would of never been published period. Its not that good, its FAR from original and as far as writing goes its not exactly amazing now is it? No, this book got the spot light and was published because it was a fucking kid that wrote it. I saw the interviews when Eragon came out, they barly touched on the book at all. It was all about his age and his education. They rode the "and he is only 17!!!" train soon as they could get media time.

Sorry for the long winded post. It just angers me to see shit like this make a punk kid a millionaire when I have personally read unpublished work from some authors around here that is brilliant compared to Eragon. Whats sad is that chances are their writing will never see bookshelves anywhere because adults are held accountable for any shortcomings their material may have. Seems that if your a kid though thats not the case.

Age 17 + novel = profit? Seems to be what his publisher thought. /shrug

I get what you are saying fully, but my point still remains. This book is intended for children. Children would never in a million years come up with such a specific critiquing of this book on it's borrowed story aspect. Children would read this, and think that it kicks ass. Sure, he did borrow alot of story elements from other stories, but hell, most of the main ones he stole, he probably reused because it's a GOOD ELEMENT TO BORROW.

How many books have I read lately that has 'the scrub street urchin who struggles to find his place in the world, only thru a series of events to find out he is the actual heir to the throne of the most ultra good guy kingdom in the land'? Like 10. It doesn't get old for me though. That's a damn good plotline that always grabs my attention.

I understand that he borrowed alot of elements, but half of them aren't even that much stolen. Spoiler: The ultimate bad guy is his father plot? Sure, Star Wars yes, but I don't remember Luke having an evil brother to cause more conflict or anything of the such from Star Wars. Sure, part of the plot was borrowed, but part of it was also created.