10 Reasons Why the Inheritance Trilogy is Overrated

You've no doubt seen the trailers on TV; a large dragon, a blond boy, creepy black things. Eragon, a movie based on the book of same title by Christopher Paolini, released in theaters yesterday.

First self-published by Paolini Inc, Eragon was later picked up by Random House, given a new snazzy cover, and promoted to death. Rising to the top of nearly every bestseller list, it was (and still is, for the most part) spouted as the new "it" book of children's lit.

My opinion, as those of thousands of others, are not so positive.

Okay, first I admit to reading both of the books in the Inheritance trilogy by Christopher Paolini. I grabbed the first one because I saw the picture of the dragon on the front, and I thought it would be interesting. I read the second, Eldest, because I thought "Hey, he's older, perhaps his writing has gotten better." I was wrong on both accounts.

There is an interesting thing about the Inheritance trilogy; the fact that nothing in it is interesting...or unique...or creative.... It is Star Wars plot with Tolkien characters. If you have ever watched/read either of these, you can not argue that Inheritance isn't a rip-off of them. Paolini did not even attempt to veil the similarities. Without revealing too much, here's a little snippet:

Eragon is a poor farmer boy. He doesn't know his parents. He lives with his uncle. He finds out that he is special. His uncle dies. He is guided by an old mentor.

I'll stop here because I don't want to give away the (I gag upon writing this word) plot. But if you want to know what happens without reading the books, go rent the original Star Wars movies-you'll find everything out, and in a far more entertaining way.