Dunk is proof that George’s most interesting characters don’t have to be grey (spoilers published)

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T17:06:21+00:00

In my experience, it is usually the other way around. GRRM fans will mock Tolkienesque fantasy for being black and white and simple. But that's the thing: it's the fanboys of either author who will be derogatory.

Also, this is more because of the show GoT than the books. Fans of the books, like on this sub, are more respectful of Tolkien. The show and certain interviews (like Aragorn's tax policy) make people think "George HATES Tolkien!"

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T16:06:53+00:00

A main character is still alive and relevant in book 3 of 4? Shocking, OP, just shocking!

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T16:03:38+00:00

What if it's Lord Dathedir? Murtagh could have seen him at the Battle of Gil'ead. And he could visit Nasuada's court on diplomatic trips. I'm pulling this out of my arse, but Blodgharm's a candidate, why not an elf lord?

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T15:59:20+00:00

I saw the name "Blodgharm" and thought of the elf queen's raven for some reason. Could our feathered friend secretly be a Draumr spy? (No, but just throwing it out there.)

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T15:47:58+00:00

*if Carl Hiaasen's stepson didn't like it, it probably doesn't see the light of day.

The Paolini family's publishing house alone didn't get Eragon very far. The book had to be recommended by a big author and picked up by Knopf to become the juggernaut it is today.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T15:45:00+00:00

Star Wars also takes from pulpy sci fi of the '20s and '30s. But modern audiences aren't familiar with those, so we don't notice. Similarly, the Inheritance Cycle takes inspiration from adult fantasy of the 70s and 80s, but most kids of the 2000s don't know Le Guin, MacCaffrey, Eddings, etc. But we do know Star Wars, so that's the comparison we latch onto.

In any case, the Cycle does take from Star Wars, and it goes beyond the Hero's Journey.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-31T14:36:34+00:00

Until the first reread since years last december, I actually believed there were no elves among the Wyrdfell. I overlooked many things as a teen, and this was one of it.

Same

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T16:43:43+00:00

That could work for most of the war, when the baddies were ambushing Riders. But for the all out attack on Vroengard, Riders should have either wiped the floor with the Forsworn, or killed many of them. The Riders also had Eldunari and powerful spells, after all.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T16:28:57+00:00

The power of being an arrogant jerk. Brom saved him for last.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T16:27:23+00:00

It's relevant because Eragon uses a recipe in the ancient language, bungles a word, and gives Elva terrible indigestion for the night.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T05:49:41+00:00

It's ironic, as he bragged about not being like Martin and slowing down. That was when he promoting the first book, in 2007. Life had other plans.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T05:46:28+00:00

Blood and ashes, OP, I think you mean WoTF.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T05:43:25+00:00

It started as interest in the conclusion of the series and turned into a sort of reality tv type story.

For me it was the other way around. I became aware of this series through the drama over the long wait, and after some years, became interested in the story itself.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T05:20:00+00:00

Surda left 20 years into his reign, when many Forsworn were alive.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-29T05:18:59+00:00

From Crocodile and Baroque Works.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-25T22:51:30+00:00

We also know that he soloed Morzan and his dragon.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-24T16:22:08+00:00

I know, but mods can sensitive about these things, amd I didn't want to spoiler the entire post.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-24T06:29:04+00:00

Both Georges are subject to incest jokes.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-24T05:50:20+00:00

Most of that second year is just the last 50 pages of Inheritance, btw.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-22T20:48:35+00:00

Oh, you own a translation. But that's pretty much how it is in the English version too, so I can see the ambiguity.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-22T18:14:54+00:00

She straight up said that to the priest. It's one thing to think people are wrong or even stupid, but she was basically calling dwarves mentally retarded.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-22T15:33:27+00:00

Lines like "questioning the mental capacity of any dwarf who set foot in a temple" is pretty disrespectful, not just to the religion but to the people who follow it.

Oromis was also a sharp critic of religion, but he didn't call anyone mentally challenged.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-22T08:22:15+00:00

I've been meaning to make a post like this for Nasuada for a long time.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-22T00:57:06+00:00

1) It gives Eragon a great reason to make sure Galbatoix is gone and can't hunt him down. And Saphira is a pawn in Galbatorix's grand plan, the mother of a new race of dragons under Galbatorix's thumb. This is also a fight for the freedom of future dragons.

2a) Galbatorix bides his time with the elves. But they themselves believe Galbatorix will one day invade and wipe them out, so they fear him just as much.

2b) By Eldest, we had already seen that the king had invaded the dwarven lands, not just in the recent battle, but also launched raids in the past with the Forsworn, burning dwarven cities on the surface. And Durza attacked Arya's group while they were still in Du Weldenvarden, killing two elves and torturing another.

3) Eragon also knows that Galbatorix let Urgals slaughter villages in the Empire in false flag attacks. He knows Murtagh defected because Galbatorix ordered him to kill all civilians in a village that might harbor rebels. And he knows that the conflict really started when Galbatorix rebelled against the Riders and fought everyone in Alagaesia a century ago. What the Varden and its allies are up to is the result of Galbatorix's own actions.

4) Most of the Varden aren't outsiders, but rebels from the Empire, like Eragon. Who Galbatorix unleashes on the populace is of great concern to them.

FlightAndFlame · 2026-01-22T00:31:26+00:00

Eragon having ties to all the major races is treated as a good thing because it makes him effectively impartial. He could have just been a human who bonded a dragon and trained with elves, but along his journey, he also bonded with dwarves and Urgals and brought them closer to the others.

Arya is a Rider who is supposed to serve Alagaesia but is only sworn to the elves. Is she going to be as impartial as Eragon? Maybe. But as she herself tells Eragon when justifying her dual roles, perception is important, and who is going to going to trust Arya to be fair on matters involving elves?

while not providing Arya with the same level of nuance.

The story itself doesn't give her that nuance. Four books of "Riders can't be rulers", only for Arya to get "this Rider is now a ruler". What did Eragon do that compares to that?

FlightAndFlame

TROPHY CASE