Chatterbox: Blab About Books

*Notice: This post has a few SPOILERS regarding The Lord of the Rings and Eragon. Beware.*

My purpose in posting today (and getting off the infernal Ship) is to discuss the genre known rather broadly as "epic fantasy" although it is also more or less historical and has elements of sci-fi.

Although I firmly believe that there is no other book that deserves the platinum medal for epic fantasy other than The Lord of the Rings by my literary god J.R.R. Tolkien, I also believe that others are very commendable in undertaking to write such weighty fiction. The lengths of such books are staggering.

HOWEVER, there is something to be said about enough being enough. The Lord of the Rings is long, extrordinarily convoluted, and brimming with myths that are history, but it does not trail on forever. In fact, I believe some of its poignance comes from the fact that Tolkien stopped so soon and kindly omitted an epilogue. (Epilogues, in my opinon, rather take the sad end off of a book's closure and the whole "ten years later" thing can get a little old, but this is beside the point.) He does not continue with the tale of Middle Earth; when the Fellowship pass away, it is almost as if his magnificent world ceases to exist. We know the past and only a little bit of the future, but after Legolas and Gimli sail for the Gray Havens, the tale is at an end and nothing more is needed to be said.

On the other hand, Eragon, written by the homeschooled and teenaged Christopher Paolini, is not as beautifully coherant. The first book is all a reader could hope for in fantasy: mythical creatures, the helpful guide, the mysterious villain and a quirky sidekick. It has an arc, a beginning, a middle and an end, and a clear victory shadowed over by whispers of things to come. The second book, Eldest, still retains a bit of freshness in a new hero, who must gain that title in a rather knightly fashion. There is action and reflection, more revelations and a good deal of mooning over elves (which does get a little annoying.) It ends with a shocking discovery and another quest.

Past this point, the tale begins its slow journey downward. Roran gets married and suddenly becomes old and rather unsympathetic as he discovers the rigors of manhood, Eragon becomes moody and a little neurotic, and the main bulk of action comes from repetitive sieges and dwarves who hate dragons and Riders with a bloody passion. It is no longer a clear quest of the hero as he becomes too powerful and there is nothing more formidable to overcome. There no longer IS anything to overcome, save the king, and he does not come along until far into the last book. Even then, Eragon has lots of help on his side, and the rather forseeable ending comes.

Here, there is no quick and poignant ending. Political parlies and extensive flying is accomplished, but in several chapters rather than one. Eragon's decision to leave his country is sad, but also repeatedly prophecied. One can see it coming by book 4. I believe Paolini should have stuck to Plan A and made his Cycle a Trilogy. It would have been more coherant and certainly snappier.

I have not read more epic fantasy--firmly believing that The Lord of the Rings is all that is needed to be read--but if there are other series that I have unwisely bypassed, do let me know, and I shall get to those.

The Spammer says Marh. I think he thinks it is a good fantasy name.