Criticisms of the Inheritance Trilogy

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The Inheritance Trilogy is a trilogy of books written by author Christopher Paolini. Since its publication, it has recieved many different criticisms, making the trilogy one of the most controversied fantasy series in recent history. Some critics have cited the books for their derivative nature, particularly mentioning similarities to Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.[1].

Contents

[edit] Criticisms over marketing techniques

[edit] Criticisms over similarities with other works

[edit] Lord of the Rings

The trilogy's invented setting and language and imagined races such as elves and dwarves are cited as derived from J. R. R. Tolkien's works.[2][3]

[edit] Star Wars

Critics of the Inheritance Trilogy have also commented on the similarity of the plot of Star Wars Trilogy and that of the Inheritance Trilogy.[4]

[edit] Criticisms over the derivative nature of the books

For the first book of the trilogy, Eragon, Common Sense Media stated that, "It's not long, however, before they begin to notice the long-winded descriptions, the clichés and hackneyed dialogue, and the derivative nature of the plot—straight out of Star Wars by way of The Lord of the Rings, with bits of other great fantasies thrown in here and there. That this is a great achievement for one so young is undeniable, and many children will love it. It certainly ranks right up there with other derivative, overblown fantasies written by adults, such as Terry Brooks's Sword of Shannara series."[5]

This criticism from USA Today echoes Common Sense Media's accusation of derivative storytelling in its review of Eragon: "The novel also owes a debt to Luke Skywalker as the teen hero trains to be a Dragon Rider while avenging his uncle's murder,"[4] as well as the fact that the book "echoes Tolkien in its pseudo-Celtic language and imagined universe of dwarfs and elves."

The second book of the trilogy, Eldest received many similar criticisms. Entertainment Weekly lambasted the book, calling it a "Tolkien knockoff" and saying it also owed a debt to Star Wars.[6]. Later, they named it the number one worst book of 2005, calling it a "700-page Tolkien wannabe,[7]" and cited a specific trope from Tolkien: "the ageless elves speak wisdom."

Kirkus's review of Eldest noted that it is "suffused with purple prose and faux-archaic language," and is a "patchwork of dialogue, characters and concepts pulled whole cloth from the fantasy canon.[8]"

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Eragon.html?show=overview
  2. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-01-20-fantasy-films-main_x.htm
  3. ^ http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/oct2006/db20061025_883890.htm
  4. ^ a b Susan Wloszczyna. More of the 'Rings' magic. USA Today.
  5. ^ Matt Berman. Eragon. Common Sense Media.
  6. ^ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/book/0,6115,1095866_5_0_,00.html
  7. ^ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1142746_5_0_,00.html
  8. ^ http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?z=y&pwb=1&ean=9780375826702
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