![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kippurbirdMy thoughts on Paolini's answers to some Q&A
May 2009 Monthly Q&A with Christopher Paolini
(Interview released on July 18th, 2009)
Several people have asked: Was Vrael an elf or human?
An elf.
Vrael was the leader of the Dragon Riders who got kicked in the nuts. The fact that fans have to ask this question as to his race is bad writing on Paolini's part. Brom was the one who told Eragon the story and so it probably should have been mentioned at the time. After all, the fact that elves were the first dragon riders was important. This is one of those important details, because if Galby can defeat an elf in single combat...
Several people have asked: Were all of the Forsworn humans? Were they all males?
As most of the Riders were elves, so too were many of the Forsworn, although, proportionally, there were more humans among the Forsworn than among the Riders in general, for Galbatorix found it easier to turn his own kind than the immortal elves. Kialandí—one of two of the Forsworn I named in Brisingr, along with Formora—was an elf. I named two more in my first draft, but talk of them was cut during the editing process.
And yes, some of the Forsworn were women. . . . In fact, one or both of the two I mentioned above were female, although I don’t want to say which at the moment. (Nor do I want to say whether Formora was an elf or human.) However, most of the thirteen traitors were men.
Okay, that first part doesn't answer the question at all, it's a political dodge. The second part well, in the first paragraph he says that "Kialandi .... along with Formora - was an elf". Then in the second part he says, "Nor do I want to say whether Formora was an elf or a human." But he just said it in the proceeding paragraph that s/he is an elf.
Is he even paying attention to what he's writing or just pounding out what sounds good? Because really, he can't even keep continuity in his own answers.
Several people have asked: If a dragon hatches for a person, what happens if someone else touches it before that person?
Complications.
OooOOooOoooo.... MYSTERIOUS!!! ooOOoooOoooo... Except that the dragon is hatching for that person and so it's not fire-lizards on Pern who will attach themselves to whoever gives them food and loving thoughts. They should be able to control who they give the shiny mark to.
... Should.
Bargahvor asked: If you cast a spell that expends too much energy you die. Does this apply to a dragon inside an Eldunari?
Yes. It applies to all living things. The only semi-exception is the spirits, but they have limitations of their own.
Don't believe it. Haven't seen it.
Athena asked: On page 530 in Brisingr, Saphira refers to Thorn as "stunted-thoughts-red-scales-Thorn." Is she simply insulting him, or does she mean that his actual mind has been harmed by his magically rapid growth? And, if that is the case, how would Saphira know? Has she communicated with Thorn?
Dragons don’t tend to fight with their minds the way that humans, or say, elves do. They can certainly attack with their minds if they want—which their cousins, the Fanghur, do when hunting—but, for the most past, dragons prefer to fight with their teeth, tail, claws, and fire. . . . My thought, then, was that when Eragon and Murtagh spoke together after their duel on the Burning Plains and also before their fight in Brisingr, Saphira and Thorn would have had some mental contact, if only out of sheer curiosity. They wouldn’t have been able to resist tasting the flavor of the other’s consciousness. Moreover, Saphira and Thorn would have had a great deal of mental contact during the times they, and their Riders, were engaged in telepathic combat. Even though both sides would have been guarding their own thoughts jealously, it would have been impossible not to sense something about your opponent during such a fierce and intimate clash.
Why is it his "his thought then" instead of "so..." It seems like 'my thought' is something you say in the planning stages. He's past the planning stages. The thought is now action and placed. Also, he never answered the question.
Vegtam asked: In Eldest, Oromis said something about how it's not speaking the words that matters for magic, but thinking them. Why then is Eragon so shocked at Tenga using unspoken magic?
Because doing so is incredibly dangerous. Your thoughts can change without warning, and oftentimes we have no control over what passes through our minds. Casting a spell with only your thoughts, and without the framing structure of language, is like trying to perform a jig on a loose tightrope hung over a gaping chasm.
Ooooh! SHINY!
I'm sorry, what?
Christbenimm asked: Did Galbatorix allow Morzan and the other members of the Forsworn access to some Eldunari as he did with Murtagh?
Perhaps, but only in the most extreme of circumstances. Galbatorix didn’t trust the Forsworn any more than he would his fiercest foes . . . after all, they were traitors, and how can you ever trust a traitor? The Forsworn most likely captured Eldunari of their own during the fall of the Riders, but over the following century, Galbatorix would have gathered all of their heart of hearts into his collection. He would have gained them by extortion, trickery, and patience, for he has outlived all of his servants.
Why didn't he just find out their true names and make them swear that they wouldn't betray him?
Several people have asked: How does Galbatorix know that the last dragon egg contains a male?
By listening to its thoughts.
If I remember correctly, Eragon couldn't tell what gender Saphira was at the beginning. Then again Galby does have years more experience than he does, so he could figure it out.
AFreeAlagaesia asked: You mentioned in your last Q&A that it was Eragon, not Oromis that inspired the Dragons at the Blood Oath Celebration to use their magic. Also Eragon did the same for Saphira during the Dwarves's Coronation with Isidar Mithrim, is it possible that Eragons Character, what defines him allows him to help the Dragons work their magic? by that I mean, somehow, does something about him help the Dragons - inspire if you will - to use their magic, when they would otherwise be unable to?
Is Eragon a catalyst that helps the dragons to use magic? Interesting question. . . .Very interesting. Yup. . . . Mmh. . . . Very interesting. Can’t say though. Nope. That would be telling.
My loathing grows like mold in the bachelor's fridge. Eragon is Just That Special that he can make dragons do their magic. Your denials like that Paolini only indicate yes.
Janet asked: Will the two elven children play any role in the last book? We know that elven children are significantly more powerful than adult elves – they could be useful assets in war. Do the elves allow their children to go to war?
They are more powerful, but they have less control over their abilities than adults. Elves cherish their children above all else; they would do anything to protect them, even those they aren’t related to. . . . That’s as close as I can come to answering your question without giving away too much about Book Four.
... First: why do elves get less powerful as they get older? How is that a species survival trait? Especially if they have less control over their powers? It's like giving kids a bomb and the parents no way to turn it off. No wonder the elves are dying off.
Second, why does he need to say that elves cherish their children above all else and would do anything to protect them? Even if they weren't their own? Isn't that standard behavior? Woman and children first? Save the children? Why does he feel the need to say this as if it wasn't obvious. THOUGH! Now my mind is brought back to the dwarves. Nasuada said that they cherished shinny rocks above all else. So is this making the elves that much better than the dwarves because they cherish children and not some unliving stone?
I got a cheese egg!
May 2009 Monthly Q&A with Christopher Paolini
(Interview released on July 18th, 2009)
Several people have asked: Was Vrael an elf or human?
An elf.
Vrael was the leader of the Dragon Riders who got kicked in the nuts. The fact that fans have to ask this question as to his race is bad writing on Paolini's part. Brom was the one who told Eragon the story and so it probably should have been mentioned at the time. After all, the fact that elves were the first dragon riders was important. This is one of those important details, because if Galby can defeat an elf in single combat...
Several people have asked: Were all of the Forsworn humans? Were they all males?
As most of the Riders were elves, so too were many of the Forsworn, although, proportionally, there were more humans among the Forsworn than among the Riders in general, for Galbatorix found it easier to turn his own kind than the immortal elves. Kialandí—one of two of the Forsworn I named in Brisingr, along with Formora—was an elf. I named two more in my first draft, but talk of them was cut during the editing process.
And yes, some of the Forsworn were women. . . . In fact, one or both of the two I mentioned above were female, although I don’t want to say which at the moment. (Nor do I want to say whether Formora was an elf or human.) However, most of the thirteen traitors were men.
Okay, that first part doesn't answer the question at all, it's a political dodge. The second part well, in the first paragraph he says that "Kialandi .... along with Formora - was an elf". Then in the second part he says, "Nor do I want to say whether Formora was an elf or a human." But he just said it in the proceeding paragraph that s/he is an elf.
Is he even paying attention to what he's writing or just pounding out what sounds good? Because really, he can't even keep continuity in his own answers.
Several people have asked: If a dragon hatches for a person, what happens if someone else touches it before that person?
Complications.
OooOOooOoooo.... MYSTERIOUS!!! ooOOoooOoooo... Except that the dragon is hatching for that person and so it's not fire-lizards on Pern who will attach themselves to whoever gives them food and loving thoughts. They should be able to control who they give the shiny mark to.
... Should.
Bargahvor asked: If you cast a spell that expends too much energy you die. Does this apply to a dragon inside an Eldunari?
Yes. It applies to all living things. The only semi-exception is the spirits, but they have limitations of their own.
Don't believe it. Haven't seen it.
Athena asked: On page 530 in Brisingr, Saphira refers to Thorn as "stunted-thoughts-red-scales-Thorn." Is she simply insulting him, or does she mean that his actual mind has been harmed by his magically rapid growth? And, if that is the case, how would Saphira know? Has she communicated with Thorn?
Dragons don’t tend to fight with their minds the way that humans, or say, elves do. They can certainly attack with their minds if they want—which their cousins, the Fanghur, do when hunting—but, for the most past, dragons prefer to fight with their teeth, tail, claws, and fire. . . . My thought, then, was that when Eragon and Murtagh spoke together after their duel on the Burning Plains and also before their fight in Brisingr, Saphira and Thorn would have had some mental contact, if only out of sheer curiosity. They wouldn’t have been able to resist tasting the flavor of the other’s consciousness. Moreover, Saphira and Thorn would have had a great deal of mental contact during the times they, and their Riders, were engaged in telepathic combat. Even though both sides would have been guarding their own thoughts jealously, it would have been impossible not to sense something about your opponent during such a fierce and intimate clash.
Why is it his "his thought then" instead of "so..." It seems like 'my thought' is something you say in the planning stages. He's past the planning stages. The thought is now action and placed. Also, he never answered the question.
Vegtam asked: In Eldest, Oromis said something about how it's not speaking the words that matters for magic, but thinking them. Why then is Eragon so shocked at Tenga using unspoken magic?
Because doing so is incredibly dangerous. Your thoughts can change without warning, and oftentimes we have no control over what passes through our minds. Casting a spell with only your thoughts, and without the framing structure of language, is like trying to perform a jig on a loose tightrope hung over a gaping chasm.
Ooooh! SHINY!
I'm sorry, what?
Christbenimm asked: Did Galbatorix allow Morzan and the other members of the Forsworn access to some Eldunari as he did with Murtagh?
Perhaps, but only in the most extreme of circumstances. Galbatorix didn’t trust the Forsworn any more than he would his fiercest foes . . . after all, they were traitors, and how can you ever trust a traitor? The Forsworn most likely captured Eldunari of their own during the fall of the Riders, but over the following century, Galbatorix would have gathered all of their heart of hearts into his collection. He would have gained them by extortion, trickery, and patience, for he has outlived all of his servants.
Why didn't he just find out their true names and make them swear that they wouldn't betray him?
Several people have asked: How does Galbatorix know that the last dragon egg contains a male?
By listening to its thoughts.
If I remember correctly, Eragon couldn't tell what gender Saphira was at the beginning. Then again Galby does have years more experience than he does, so he could figure it out.
AFreeAlagaesia asked: You mentioned in your last Q&A that it was Eragon, not Oromis that inspired the Dragons at the Blood Oath Celebration to use their magic. Also Eragon did the same for Saphira during the Dwarves's Coronation with Isidar Mithrim, is it possible that Eragons Character, what defines him allows him to help the Dragons work their magic? by that I mean, somehow, does something about him help the Dragons - inspire if you will - to use their magic, when they would otherwise be unable to?
Is Eragon a catalyst that helps the dragons to use magic? Interesting question. . . .Very interesting. Yup. . . . Mmh. . . . Very interesting. Can’t say though. Nope. That would be telling.
My loathing grows like mold in the bachelor's fridge. Eragon is Just That Special that he can make dragons do their magic. Your denials like that Paolini only indicate yes.
Janet asked: Will the two elven children play any role in the last book? We know that elven children are significantly more powerful than adult elves – they could be useful assets in war. Do the elves allow their children to go to war?
They are more powerful, but they have less control over their abilities than adults. Elves cherish their children above all else; they would do anything to protect them, even those they aren’t related to. . . . That’s as close as I can come to answering your question without giving away too much about Book Four.
... First: why do elves get less powerful as they get older? How is that a species survival trait? Especially if they have less control over their powers? It's like giving kids a bomb and the parents no way to turn it off. No wonder the elves are dying off.
Second, why does he need to say that elves cherish their children above all else and would do anything to protect them? Even if they weren't their own? Isn't that standard behavior? Woman and children first? Save the children? Why does he feel the need to say this as if it wasn't obvious. THOUGH! Now my mind is brought back to the dwarves. Nasuada said that they cherished shinny rocks above all else. So is this making the elves that much better than the dwarves because they cherish children and not some unliving stone?
I got a cheese egg!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-07-20 05:05 pm (UTC)I thought like you at first, but re-reading though the sentance, I think we're meant to understand that he names two Forswron, Kialandi and Formora, and that Kia was an elf and he doesn't want to tell about Formaldehyde - the "along" would then apply to "named" not to "was an elf".
It is an ambiguous sentance, which is after all not surprising. ^_^
no subject
Date: 2009-07-20 10:21 pm (UTC)He's still a putz and a hack.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 05:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 11:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-20 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-20 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-20 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-22 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 11:43 pm (UTC)"I'm a male. I'm a male, I'm a male, I'm a male. I'm a male, I'm a male, I'm a maaaale, oh oh, I'm a male."
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 05:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 04:26 pm (UTC)I swear to Zombie Jesus that if Eragon turns out to be part dragon in the end of all this I'm putting out a bounty.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-22 01:35 am (UTC)As such, Eragon's ease of magic (cancer curing that it is), "destiny" as a dragon-rider, and now the possiblity that he is "inspiration" to dragons to use magic is now entirely justified . My God , Paolini was thinking ahead this whole time! He actually planned all this out, to completely explain why Eragon can do what he does! It's NOT because Paolini is just pulling plot out of his ass, NOR is it because Eragon is a thinly disguised Gary-Stu who is so overpowered that Paolini can only work with him when he's a complete moron, which he PLANNED the whole time by subtly working in Eragon's here-unmentioned Obfuscating Stupidity!
It's all so simple(ly moronic)!
...okay, thinking back the "dragon-mother" theory may not hold up, but my anger is still valid and just.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-22 01:38 pm (UTC)If Paolini actually goes through with what you wrote (or something close to it), he probably just got the idea from the question. You can almost hear him go, "yesss, another way to make Eragon even MORE speshul!"
no subject
Date: 2009-07-22 12:23 pm (UTC)Actually, Diane Duane's wizards have a similar thing; the very young ones (say, 10-12) have much more brute force, but less finesse and less knowledge of how to apply it. They also haven't been doing wizardry long enough to know when things are difficult/impossible, which adds to their power. So their spells tend to be flashy and explosive, but the older wizards' spells are just as effective in a much more subtle way.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-22 03:26 pm (UTC)