Yes this review is a work in progress, but you haven't said ONE good thing about this book. All you're doing is admitting that it is as flawed as the hatedom say it is.
Just to point out, in the modern world 18 is considered old enough to serve (in most countries). And in a psudo-middle ages type setting, Eragon would have been an adult for a couple of years now. So he's not child soilder by any standard.
I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect.
@Crazydawg: Actually, he's not saying the book is flawed. He's saying that Eragon is a believably flawed character, who behaves in a manner consistant with his characterization as a young, idealistic hero struggling to reconcile his idealistic outlook with the Grim Darkness of the realities of the Empire, Elven Asshats, and Varden revolutionaries.
That doesn't hold up, though. Eragon's sociopathic behavior could be considered realistic in context, but it's never treated as anything less than morally pure by the other characters, or by the narrative for that matter. If the morality of Eragon's actions ever comes up at all, he's either lauded as having done the right thing, or excused as having no choice. It's never presented as if he's making wrong choices or mistakes that were within his power not to make. That's not a believably flawed character, that's a character with flaws his author is either ignoring or unaware of.
What matters in this life is much more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too. - F. Rogers.
"he's either lauded as having done the right thing, or excused as having no choice"
That's what I was going to say. He questions his actions several times... But then immediately puts out of his mind or rationalizes it away.
Leave a Comment:
Overhyped, but definitely a good read.
Lets be frank here: The Inheritance Cycle is NOT A Song of Ice and Fire. It's not the Lord of the Rings(despite similarities which, I'll admit, exist). It's not The Wheel of Time. And it's not The Sword of Truth.
This series, so long as you're able to consider both sides of the argument and take into account the reasoning of either side, is a good read. It's entertaining, even if the Prose gets rather Purple at times, and it can provoke one thought in your mind that a lot of the Hate Dumb never seems to consider: How would you do things if you were in Eragon's position?
Has Eragon displayed some rather sociopathic tendencies in his dealings with his enemies? Definitely. But remember to take into account that this dude is seventeen at the end of Brisingr; He was basically a high-powered Child Soldier who was suddenly thrust forth to become the One Last Hope against an oppressive Empire and its agents. I don't know about you, but that could breed a good bit of that in the average person.
There's more to come, I'm just too damn tired to finish this.
Work in progress!