If all the superheroes in Superhero Nation were as boring as she is, we’d have a real problem. She’s on the front cover, and the only selling point of Eragon is that the book has a dragon in it. Wasting Saphira in this book was particularly egregious. Saphira is nothing but a flying pack animal. Strong characterization depends on readers being able to associate characters with key attributes. Saphira has every advantage but she is actually worse-characterized. Saphira makes most Pokemon look three-dimensional.Ĭonsider the following: Pokemon (successfully?) characterizes Ash’s Charizard as lazy and disrespectful, which is fairly impressive given that he doesn’t say anything intelligible. But Saphira is a case-study in cardboard. Temeraire from His Majesty’s Dragon is a fantastic example of how a side character can drive a plot and develop the main character. He has no traits that suggest he would be a valuable partner. Worse, I can’t think of any reason that I would advise Saphira to pick Eragon. My problem with Eragon is that there isn’t any reason Saphira comes to Eragon.
Unlike Saphira, we can relate to him as something more than just an animal. We even learn something about Temeraire: he has standards and cares who his partner is. In short, Laurence is both heroic and relatable. He has realistic concerns, like worrying about not ever being able to see a play again. He was not passively destined or chosen to have a dragon– he chose to take Temeraire. Lawrence is a compassionate and loyal leader. This shows us several things about the characters. When Laurence sees that the kid is struggling with the dragon, he decides to sacrifice himself by taking the dragon instead. The crew draws straws and a 14-year-old sailor draws the dragon. The unlucky handler will have to live away from civilization and work in a dangerous, filthy profession. Instead of the dragon being an honor and privilege, the dragon is something the characters want to avoid. Captain Laurence’s ship captures Temeraire’s egg. His Majesty’s Dragon used the experience much more effectively. That wastes an opportunity to show us what he’s capable of, and why he deserves to have a dragon. Eragon doesn’t do anything to get his dragon. Saphira (the dragon) comes to Eragon for no particular reason. Being driven by destiny makes him passive. What causes that change? His great destiny, apparently. Eragon is a wuss, until he learns that he’s really a hero. Temeraire is rebellious, so he should act rebelliously.Įragon’s characters do not drive the plot. This works because his character traits cause the plot. That doesn’t feel contrived at all, because Temeraire’s morality clearly dictates that he should perform that action. In His Majesty’s Dragon, Temeraire the dragon is a radical abolitionist and supporter of dragon rights, which leads him to (spoiler– hold your cursor here). Why will he eventually get the girl and save the world… well, I could go on.Ī strong character has traits that drive the plot. Why does he decide to stop Emperor Palpatine, err, Galbatorix? Because he was destined to. Why does his dragon come to him? Because he was destined to have a dragon. Unfortunately, he never really grows into something more than someone destined for great things. For example, let’s look at its characters.Įragon is the prototypical Chosen One. But let’s look at the positive: how can Eragon improve your writing? It can help you identify and fix problems in character development, story structure and plotting.
Most of my content applies to fiction-writing in general, but I also provide articles specifically about superhero stories.Įragon is one of the worst novels I’ve ever read.
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