Eldest part thirty
Apr. 30th, 2007 08:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kippurbirdWell, this is going to be the last Eldest analysis for a while
Chapters Running the Boar's Eye, Aberon
Summary
How to begin. These two chapters are filler. There is no character development and nothing really important happens. So, what are the events that do happen?
The Dragon Wing is going to go through the Boar's Eye. They clear off the wreckage of the storm and get ready to go through the whirlpool of doom. Roran goes up into the crow's nest to watch things. He watches the up coming whirlpool and the ships that are following them. As he watches he realizes that they're late, the high tide already past. Fortunately they're going with the current.
They go and man the oars, they go faster. Roran fears for their lives. Roran sees that the Boar's eye center is over nine and a half mile. Now, I have to wonder, what is a mile. Why do I say this, because the previous unit of measurement for distance was leagues. If we remember on Eragon's mad dash through the desert they used leagues. I remember this distinctly because I had to figure out the difference between a league and a mile. It is highly unlikely that they'd have two different forms of measurement or that Eragon and Roran would use different forms of measurement. Carvahall is too small to have different forms of measurement like meter and mile. They would use one or the other. It's sloppy that he changes measurement forms like this, even if they are two books apart.
Roran goes and rows for a while. Then he goes and talk to the captain. Things aren't going well. The other ships get caught in the whirlpool and go down. They on the other hand, get free.
Isn't that terribly exciting? At no time were we ever in fear for their lives. We knew that they were going to get out okay and there really wasn't any reason for this chapter or the one before it. It didn't add anything to the story nor did it develop thing. If we removed these chapters nothing would be lost.
Meanwhile Eragon, Saphira and Dwarf are flying. To pass the time Dwarf and Saphira tell riddles. They both complain that the riddles don't work because they don't know the other's culture. There's some description of clouds. They make camp. They fly some more over the desert. They do not make camp but bivouacked. I think Paolini was trying to avoid using the word camp for the third time. Unfortunately, as it is in these cases, he misuses the word, as bivouacked refers to a military camp as opposed to two guys and a dragon.
They fly some more and Eragon gets directions to the Capital of Sudra by looking at birds' memories. Birds really wouldn't know where Aberon is, as they wouldn't know what the city is called, and it's highly unlikely that the birds that Eragon encounters on his way to the city have ever been to the city. Even if they did, they don't have the same frame of reference that a human does. They wouldn't be interested in human cities in regards to their names or capitals or things like that. Their lives are more concerned with things like food and reproduction. Their minds aren't made to remember things like human city locations. And even if they did know where Aberon is and retained the memory of it, there is no way that Eragon would know if he's seeing the right city because he's never been there before and has no idea what it looks like. So, while it seems like a very neat idea, it is completely infeasible.
Finally they get to the capital and Nasuada and Orrin and the Varden have gone and marched off to war. The guy in charge tells Eragon that he'll get them anything they'll need. Eragon realizes for the first time that he can give orders and they'll be followed. This I think is in there because it's supposed to show how humble Eragon is, not realizing the power that he has over people.
The battle is going to take place on the Burning Plains, "The plains -which contained huge deposits of peat - lay along the eastern edge side of the Jiet River where Sudra's border crossed it and had been t he site of a skirmish between the Riders and the Forsworn. During the fight, the dragons inadvertently lit the peat with the flames from their mouths and the fire burrowed underground, where it remained smoldering ever since. The land had been rendered uninhabitable by the noxious fumes that poured out of the glowing vents in the charred earth." (page 579)
Now, first of all, the phrase "flames from their mouths" seems to indicate that dragons can flame using other methods. Perhaps like Errol from Guards! Guards!. Now, I doubt that's what Paolini had in mind when he wrote that, but since he was inaccurate with his phrasing, this possibility occurs. Then there are the actual plains themselves. They're on a swamp like land next to a river, it's highly unlikely that the dragons'[ breath would dry out the entire thing and still have enough energy left over to continually burn like that. And then, finally, if the plains are so inhospitable why are they taking the army there?! The soldiers are probably going to be suffering from the less than ideal conditions, especially since they're going to be waiting for Galby's army to attack them. Noxious fumes are not something you want to have your army around, because it's more than likely that they'll get sick and die from lack of oxygen. But, it does sound pretty cool, which is all that is needed.
Eragon and Dwarf then prepare to leave, though Eragon mentions that this one guy is going to commit murder in a minute unless he's stopped. The lackey they are talking to is suitably impressed at his knowledge and asks how Eragon knows this. Eragon says, "Because I'm a Rider". Which is trying to lend an air of mystery to Eragon, which he doesn't need because he's a dragon rider and looks like an elf and is oh so special in so many other ways. They then fly off to the Burning Plains.
Chapters Running the Boar's Eye, Aberon
Summary
How to begin. These two chapters are filler. There is no character development and nothing really important happens. So, what are the events that do happen?
The Dragon Wing is going to go through the Boar's Eye. They clear off the wreckage of the storm and get ready to go through the whirlpool of doom. Roran goes up into the crow's nest to watch things. He watches the up coming whirlpool and the ships that are following them. As he watches he realizes that they're late, the high tide already past. Fortunately they're going with the current.
They go and man the oars, they go faster. Roran fears for their lives. Roran sees that the Boar's eye center is over nine and a half mile. Now, I have to wonder, what is a mile. Why do I say this, because the previous unit of measurement for distance was leagues. If we remember on Eragon's mad dash through the desert they used leagues. I remember this distinctly because I had to figure out the difference between a league and a mile. It is highly unlikely that they'd have two different forms of measurement or that Eragon and Roran would use different forms of measurement. Carvahall is too small to have different forms of measurement like meter and mile. They would use one or the other. It's sloppy that he changes measurement forms like this, even if they are two books apart.
Roran goes and rows for a while. Then he goes and talk to the captain. Things aren't going well. The other ships get caught in the whirlpool and go down. They on the other hand, get free.
Isn't that terribly exciting? At no time were we ever in fear for their lives. We knew that they were going to get out okay and there really wasn't any reason for this chapter or the one before it. It didn't add anything to the story nor did it develop thing. If we removed these chapters nothing would be lost.
Meanwhile Eragon, Saphira and Dwarf are flying. To pass the time Dwarf and Saphira tell riddles. They both complain that the riddles don't work because they don't know the other's culture. There's some description of clouds. They make camp. They fly some more over the desert. They do not make camp but bivouacked. I think Paolini was trying to avoid using the word camp for the third time. Unfortunately, as it is in these cases, he misuses the word, as bivouacked refers to a military camp as opposed to two guys and a dragon.
They fly some more and Eragon gets directions to the Capital of Sudra by looking at birds' memories. Birds really wouldn't know where Aberon is, as they wouldn't know what the city is called, and it's highly unlikely that the birds that Eragon encounters on his way to the city have ever been to the city. Even if they did, they don't have the same frame of reference that a human does. They wouldn't be interested in human cities in regards to their names or capitals or things like that. Their lives are more concerned with things like food and reproduction. Their minds aren't made to remember things like human city locations. And even if they did know where Aberon is and retained the memory of it, there is no way that Eragon would know if he's seeing the right city because he's never been there before and has no idea what it looks like. So, while it seems like a very neat idea, it is completely infeasible.
Finally they get to the capital and Nasuada and Orrin and the Varden have gone and marched off to war. The guy in charge tells Eragon that he'll get them anything they'll need. Eragon realizes for the first time that he can give orders and they'll be followed. This I think is in there because it's supposed to show how humble Eragon is, not realizing the power that he has over people.
The battle is going to take place on the Burning Plains, "The plains -which contained huge deposits of peat - lay along the eastern edge side of the Jiet River where Sudra's border crossed it and had been t he site of a skirmish between the Riders and the Forsworn. During the fight, the dragons inadvertently lit the peat with the flames from their mouths and the fire burrowed underground, where it remained smoldering ever since. The land had been rendered uninhabitable by the noxious fumes that poured out of the glowing vents in the charred earth." (page 579)
Now, first of all, the phrase "flames from their mouths" seems to indicate that dragons can flame using other methods. Perhaps like Errol from Guards! Guards!. Now, I doubt that's what Paolini had in mind when he wrote that, but since he was inaccurate with his phrasing, this possibility occurs. Then there are the actual plains themselves. They're on a swamp like land next to a river, it's highly unlikely that the dragons'[ breath would dry out the entire thing and still have enough energy left over to continually burn like that. And then, finally, if the plains are so inhospitable why are they taking the army there?! The soldiers are probably going to be suffering from the less than ideal conditions, especially since they're going to be waiting for Galby's army to attack them. Noxious fumes are not something you want to have your army around, because it's more than likely that they'll get sick and die from lack of oxygen. But, it does sound pretty cool, which is all that is needed.
Eragon and Dwarf then prepare to leave, though Eragon mentions that this one guy is going to commit murder in a minute unless he's stopped. The lackey they are talking to is suitably impressed at his knowledge and asks how Eragon knows this. Eragon says, "Because I'm a Rider". Which is trying to lend an air of mystery to Eragon, which he doesn't need because he's a dragon rider and looks like an elf and is oh so special in so many other ways. They then fly off to the Burning Plains.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 07:32 am (UTC)"Gee, Mister Rahl, how did you do that?!"
"I'm a wizard, remember?"
"Gee, Mister Ergy man, how did you do that?"
"I'm a Rider, remember?"
They're both just as sociopathic and believe in their own self-righteousness, so I guess they ought to hook up sometime. They would make the perfect pair.
As for these entire chapters as a whole.... Obviously something that could have been cut. If there were character developments, then maybe. I mean, filler chapters in some books can be fun, long as they're written properly. But hell, these didn't even sound like a joy to read.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 08:09 am (UTC)None of this book has been a joy to read, these chapters even less so.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 07:46 am (UTC)Flames move up, not down.
The closest analogue to the Burning Plains I can think of are coal mine fires that burn for decades. Even there, you won't have wisps of smoke everywhere.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 08:12 am (UTC)At least coal mine fires have an energy source. Soggy land isn't really that great for fire burning for a hundred years.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 09:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 06:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 02:10 pm (UTC)I'm sorry, but a whirlpool that big...well, the only way I would buy that is if he mentioned the surrounding geography and weather to support the existence of it.
Now, first of all, the phrase "flames from their mouths" seems to indicate that dragons can flame using other methods.
This brings to mind a cartoon I happened to come across channel-surfing. Something called...umm...American Dragon: Jake Long I think. There was some sort of bathroom-humor-derived joke relating to that.
Well, now we know where Paolini gets his inspiration. I'm not that surprised, though XDno subject
Date: 2007-05-01 06:13 pm (UTC)I've heard of American Dragon and saw half an episode once. Didn't see much of it to get an impression on it though.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 06:22 pm (UTC)The Interview
Date: 2007-05-01 06:47 pm (UTC)The sad thing is that he doesn't even know what a mess Inheritance is. If he did, he wouldn't have had Roran swinging his hammer while riding on Saphira in the third book.
Re: The Interview
Date: 2007-05-01 11:41 pm (UTC)What's even worse is that he apparently KNOWS what he has to do to make the books better, but he won't take criticism or sit himself down and say 'Okay, exactly how do I pull this off?'. He also seems to let the points in his favour (finishing two books and publishing them both, while for some reason gaining a reasonable fanbase) go to his head, which is something every writer should try their best to avoid.
...Okay, I'm done ranting. -_-
no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 04:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 10:38 pm (UTC)I dunno, the physics are still wonky now that I think about it, because for the whirlpool to form the cave underneath would have to be at least partially filled with air rather than water, and it all has to go somewhere. There's nothing really pushing the water to empty out and allow more water to drain in, unless someone did a magic no-no or there's some kind of weird geyser system that allows water pressure to build up before it erupts off elsewhere, in which case the whirlpool would only be there some of the time.
Anyway. Putting way too much thought into this.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-02 08:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 10:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-01 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-29 06:35 am (UTC)Also, I find it incredibly funny that the books almost snark themselves when summarized concisely. (I swear, I think most people haven't noticed how boring and derivative it is because of the way Paoloni just drones on).