Eldest

Today (or yesterday, depending how you look at it), I finished reading the Eldest. And now I have to wait patiently while Mr. Paolini finishes book #3 so I can continue reading and gain some conclusion for the overall trilogy. I realised after reading the first two books, that he has a certain style - to build up rather slowly and use the last 100 pages of the book for the height of the battle scene and leave you finishing the book with the piping down of the battle. What happens next as a consequence of the battle is not revealed, probably to act as a hook to lead readers into the next book.

As for critics' assessment of Star Wars meets Lord of the Rings, how about us doing a comparisson?

Characters
Eragon - Frodo - Luke Skywalker
All three characters were forced into a situation, a predicament they did not want to be in. Each had to take up their role, or face some sort of doom. Not only to them, but to their countrymen as well.

Brom - Gandalf - Obi Wan
The mentor who suddenly vanishes through some unfortunate means. For Brom it was protecting Eragon from the Ra'zac, for Gandalf it was protecting the fellowship from Baalrog and for Obi Wan the new jedi from the Empire.

Arya - Leia
The one who misleads the main character from time to time due to romantic interest.

Oromis - Yoda
Both were ancient elders of the respective art forms. Both were crippled to some extent as well and both were "master" to their young apprenti.

Urgals - Orcs
An ugly, unwanted race that serve the "Empire" and "Sauron" respectively. Both have a fighting spirit that is hard to quench.

Kull - Uruk Hai
The superior species of the Urgals and the Orcs. Both are fighting machines of each species.

Galbatorix - Sauron - Chancellor Palpatine
All the madmen that want to either hold onto their power or claim it back. Two of the three had a fall from grace and entered the dark world of evil ruling. These two also happen to be in command of the entire country, nation, land, kingdom, whatever. And our hero's aim is to end this ruling.

Mutagh - Gollum
The unlikely helper along the way. Intentions are not very well known, the hero doesn't have any other choice - he needs someone to help him in which ever way he can. And this leads to the ultimate betrayal, intentional or unintentional.

Setting
Alagaesia
It has valleys, open plains, a desert, dwarf dwellings in caves, mountains, lakes, seas, rivers. Dragon lairs, elven forests, human cities.

Middle Earth
It too has valleys, magical forests, snow capped mountains, lakes, rivers, cities and dwarf dwellings deep in the mountain recesses.

Language
Ancient Language
An entirely made up language that every race should understand. Apparently, no one can lie in this language.

Elven Language
Not sure if this is the ancient language, but it too has been passed down over the years. Its a completely made up language by the author.

However, which story does not have a call to action, a hero, a character that people reading would love to cheer on? That way, you could strip down every story and call it the same since it follows the same format. Hero unwillingly called to action, has to learn an art or carry out a task, a mentor follows, ready to dispatch information and train. Several other mentors are on hand along the storyline to lend help as well. The fate of the entire country rests in the hands of our hero. Tadah! You have yourself an epic. Now I feel like watching the movie... Even if Arya looks like nothing I had imagined (a worser version of my imaginations...).



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