For the Fans
by Lindpen

Upon being asked why he won't join the Anti-Shur'tugal forums, many an Inheritance fan has said, "The people there are intimidating. They're too smart and they shove it in the fans' faces."

All right, so that was a paraphrase.  Nevertheless, that type of conversation has transpired many times, and it's alarming.  Few fans have joined the site, and fewer have attempted to debate.

I'm not saying Eragon is well-written.  I agree with all the staff members' articles on Inheritance; to me, it's a mess.  That doesn't mean other people can't enjoy it, and it especially doesn't mean--get this--that they have to be ashamed for liking it.

Most people have guilty pleasures.  I like Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic books, though I found all of the characters except for Briar dry and Sue-ish.  (All right, maybe Briar's a Sue, too.)  Still, I enjoyed reading them.  I also love (and hate) Agatha Christie's mystery books.  I find the characters and dialogue realistic, and the mysteries fascinating; however, Christie's prose is bad.  That may be blasphemous to say in the literary world, but it's true.  She uses adjectives and adverbs more times than Arya raises her slanted eyebrows.

Think for a second.  More likely than not, you have similar harmless pleasures, and would not appreciate somebody demeaning you simply because you find enjoyment in them.

While fans should not be ashamed, it is good for people to critique the writing in Inheritance (and in any book).  It's beneficial for their own writing and inspires critical thinking in non-writers.  However, it would be senseless to attack the fans instead of the story.

How many enjoyed Eragon?  Show of hands?  Many antis enjoyed it, I assure you.  It provided some escapism for them and served as a way to pass the time.

Now, how many enjoyed Eldest?  It's okay, you can raise your hand. Don't be shy.  Yes, there are fewer hands up, but don't feel inferior because you enjoyed what others did not.  Want to know a secret?  A really deep, dark, filthy secret of one of the forum's mods?
…

…

…

I cried when Hrothgar died. I may be the only person on earth who did.  I admit that Paolini wrote the scene poorly; that Hrothgar had little to no characterization; that Hrothgar's death served no purpose but most likely to make way for Orik as king.  Still, I'm a sap, and I'm obsessed with dwarves.

It's okay.  You can make fun of me.  I think I've just lost the little respect anyone had for me.

Moving on.  A word of caution to the fans: the antis are not better than you for disliking Inheritance, but neither are you superior for liking it.  It's a matter of taste.  I will also ask you to realize and admit to yourself that Inheritance has flaws.  All books do; Inheritance and Circle of Magic more than others.

Most newcomers to Anti-Shur'tugal Forums are somewhere in the middle.  They have bottled up rage against certain parts of the story, and it comes out powerfully.  Don't be intimidated.  They have (maybe temporarily) passionate feelings against the books, not the fans.  (All right, a lot of us do get tired of the, "Oh my gosh you're jealous!" and "He was only fifteen!" arguments.)  But I'm addressing those people mentioned in the beginning: those who feel intimidated.

Join the forums.  Most of us don't bite, and if one of us does, he will be chastised severely.  Raise questions.  Tell us which parts of the book(s) you liked.  People may disagree, but that's all right.  That's life.  Stir up some conversation; challenge our arguments without challenging us.        

You may or may not become an anti.  Who cares?  Maybe you'll mention something that rekindles some enjoyment in Inheritance for others. Maybe you'll find a logical fallacy in an anti's argument, and so challenge his thinking.  That's a good thing.

So, write to Anti-Shur'tugal.  Stop by the forums.  Tell us which aspects of the book(s) you like and dislike.  Don't be afraid.

P.S.  OmygoshTomOnMySpaceLikesEragon Let'sGetHim!