Books by C. Paolini

[furrycelt]

How is book Eldest? Read his first book and was blown away. Was in Borders today and saw the new one was out, but am going to wait to purchase it until I finish re-reading the Narnia series.

With KCW's above post from another thread, I thought I would start this Paolini book review thread here in the OT section.

...

I just finished Eragon and thought it was good. It isn't Tolkien, but considering Paolini's age when he wrote Eragon, it is dang impressive. It can be a bit predictable at times, and at times Paolini's young age shows thru in the writing style. However, I was never bored with it, and the further I got in the book, the more I felt pulled into the story. He has clearly done alot of background work to make Alagaesia such a believable world. He does have a talent of pointing out the poignant small details that give the story alot of depth.

I am not too far into Eldest yet. But already I can see a more mature writing style. Eldest picks up right where Eragon leaves off, I am just as sucked in as before. I am eager to read more, and I will certainly look forward to the 3rd book in the The Inheritance Trilogy.

Yeah, Narnia is on my to-read list as well, but I want to finish Eldest first. So Narnia and The Similarion will have to wait for a bit. So many books, so little time. I also want to play Myst IV and Myst V; the first 3 were just awesome.

-ian

[Rob Wright]

I liked Eragon but hated Eldest, he lost me with that one I won't be finishing the series.

I'm picky about my fantasy, love The Black Company books by Glen Cook, Charles de Lint's work, Neil Gaiman's writing, LOTR is good ,but nothing beats the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Or most of his writing. Soloman Kane, Kull, Cormac Mac Art, Bran Mac Morn,etc. The man could write.


Rob

[Iolaus]

I liked Eragon but hated Eldest, he lost me with that one I won't be finishing the series.

I'm picky about my fantasy, love The Black Company books by Glen Cook, Charles de Lint's work, Neil Gaiman's writing, LOTR is good ,but nothing beats the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Or most of his writing. Soloman Kane, Kull, Cormac Mac Art, Bran Mac Morn,etc. The man could write.


Rob

Must...resist....hijacking.....

[Valencian Kilted]

I just have to say that I've read 18 times (really counted) the LOTR, 6 times the silmarillion, 3 times the hobbit, and also the Unfinished Tales, and many books about Middle Earth, By J.R.R. Tolkien. Of course, it's unnecessary to say it's my favourite author! :mrgreen:. By the way, I have to say that I'm also interested in C.S. Lewis "Narnia's Chronicles", but at the moment I'm completely absorbed by Colleen McCullough's series about Rome, from Caius Marius times to Julius Caesar's death,.. they're just amazing! I strongly recommand its reading!

¡Salud!

T O N O

[Southern Breeze]

I've read Eragon and Eldest and think their not too bad.
Since you like the first three Myst games, you'll really like IV and V. While your on them don't forget URU-Ages Beyond Myst.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Well, I liked Eragon (so did my wiife), so Eldest is definitely on the list to buy. Looks like a mixed review here, so I will let people know what I think.

And just to keep the topic going, I have always been a SF fan, Robert Heinlein is my handos down favorite author. My wife got me into Fantasy, and I have enjoyed the LOTR movies, still only read the hobbitt, and have enjoyed Terry Brooks and Piers Anthony. I am currently re-reading the Narnia series and am thouroughly enjoying reliving some books from childhood.

Surprisingly, while my wife and I both enjoy fantasy now, she has still not gottin into SSF, but we are both Stephen King fans! Anybody else a Fantasy or SF fan and also enjoy King?

[Iolaus]

I liked Eragon but hated Eldest, he lost me with that one I won't be finishing the series.

I'm picky about my fantasy, love The Black Company books by Glen Cook, Charles de Lint's work, Neil Gaiman's writing, LOTR is good ,but nothing beats the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Or most of his writing. Soloman Kane, Kull, Cormac Mac Art, Bran Mac Morn,etc. The man could write.


Rob

Must...resist....hijacking.....

Well, as long as we've gone this far...

The Black Company series has got to be one of the most intense fantasy series I've read since the Thomas Covenant stories. It's nothing like the Garrett P.I. stuff he writes; that stuff's just fluff & pulp for the teens.

The Black Company stories totally immerse you in the dark world of the last of the mercenary "Free Companies of Khatovar", The Black Company, which is fighting on the side of "Darkness" but still lives by its own particular code of honor. They are anti-heroes, trying desperatly to survive as a Company and still make good on the mercenary contracts they live on, and totally unaware that they are major players in the fate of their world.

The characters feel real - not black and white, but many shades of gray; as one amazon review said: "Some of its members honestly seem like they want to do the right thing. Some simply try to survive. And others will pillage, rape, or murder on occasion. This reminded me of some of the better Vietnam War films I've seen. Such harsh circumstances can lead to diminished morals in some men, and I enjoyed that element of realism."

The twists in the story line really keep you engaged. People die, people that you've come to know. If you're the type of person that really enters a story, you'll feel anger and tears, as well as the occasional grim satisfaction of revenge. It is, at times, an emotional rollercoaster.

I cannot recommend this series enough!!!

[Rob Wright]

Well, as long as we've gone this far...

The Black Company series has got to be one of the most intense fantasy series I've read since the Thomas Covenant stories. It's nothing like the Garrett P.I. stuff he writes; that stuff's just fluff & pulp for the teens.

The Black Company stories totally immerse you in the dark world of the last of the mercenary "Free Companies of Khatovar", The Black Company, which is fighting on the side of "Darkness" but still lives by its own particular code of honor. They are anti-heroes, trying desperatly to survive as a Company and still make good on the mercenary contracts they live on, and totally unaware that they are major players in the fate of their world.

The characters feel real - not black and white, but many shades of gray; as one amazon review said: "Some of its members honestly seem like they want to do the right thing. Some simply try to survive. And others will pillage, rape, or murder on occasion. This reminded me of some of the better Vietnam War films I've seen. Such harsh circumstances can lead to diminished morals in some men, and I enjoyed that element of realism."

The twists in the story line really keep you engaged. People die, people that you've come to know. If you're the type of person that really enters a story, you'll feel anger and tears, as well as the occasional grim satisfaction of revenge. It is, at times, an emotional rollercoaster.

I cannot recommend this series enough!!!

Don't forget the non-western mythology especially the later books which draw heavily on indian/hindu mythology with shades of te British Raj.


Rob

[Iolaus]

Don't forget the non-western mythology especially the later books which draw heavily on indian/hindu mythology with shades of te British Raj.


Rob

Yeah, lots of that, it really adds to the exotic, yet familiar, feel to the world they operate in.