“The Inheritance Cycle Book Club, Episode Seventeen” Has Officially Arrived! Listen Now!

By Robert Cox October 18, 2011 Brisingr (Book), Eldest (Book), Eragon (Book), Inheritance (Book 4), The Inheritance Book Club 198 Comments

The Inheritance Cycle Book Club is a podcast-styled read-through of Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr aimed at refreshing fans and entertaining new readers as we venture toward the release of Inheritance. Each of the twenty episodes will discuss set portions of the books, in order, and will tackle the events of each reading, theories arising from the reading, and more. Join us for our adventure through the series!

Episode seventeen puts us deeper into BRISINGR… which means that INHERITANCE is so close! The seventeenth installment of Shurtugal.com’s Inheritance Cycle Book Club Podcast has finally arrived! Our latest episode tackles several chapters from Brisingr, discussing the important events of this week’s set of reading. Join us as we discuss dwarf politics, an assassination plot, Saphira’s POV, and Roran’s big battle! Plus we tackle some fantastic fan questions and theories related to this section in our spoiler section at the end of the podcast. Be sure to read along as we read through all three books over the next twenty weeks

Don’t forget that we’ve “hidden” a secret word in each episode of the Book Club. Collect all twenty words for a shot at an incredible grand prize, as well as many more runners-up prizes to be revealed in the coming weeks!

Also in this episode, we outline our plan for special guests for episode 19 (Michelle Frey & fan) and episode 20 (Christopher Paolini)!

Shurtugal.com Presents: The Inheritance Cycle Book Club, Episode Seventeen:

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Brief Outline for “Shurtugal.com Presents: The Inheritance Cycle Book Club, Episode Seventeen”:

Introduction! Your hosts are Mike Macauley (Shur’tugal, Lytherus, The Inheritance Almanac), Lauren Zurchin (Lytherus), and Chris Addison (Shur’tugal)
Lauren is still in an Italian bathtub!
Eragon meets Hvedra (Orik’s new wife)
Dwarf politics! You either love it, or hate it!
Saphira’s point-of-view provides an interesting perspective.
Assassination plot afoot! Kvistor (Eragon’s guard) dies!
Eragon visits Kvistor’s mom, she removes portion of finger.
Roran disobeys orders, saves lives, gets in trouble.
Hosts discuss some observations from this reading — facts to keep in mind going forward
We give this week’s sweepstakes word!
We want your feedback!
The spoiler-free portion of the show ends with a spoiler warning as we begin to discuss our spoiler-ridden theories!
End of episode seventeen!

Episode Eighteen of the Inheritance Book Club will release on October 21st! Please be sure to read “Message in a Mirror” through “Inheritance”, stop when you hit “Souls of Stone”!

Contribute to the show — offer your opinions via comments, email, or voicemail and we’ll read/play them during the show!

We want to involve our listeners in each show’s discussions as much as possible. This means we want to hear from you! We’re looking you to share your thoughts, theories, and discussion points on the next set of chapters for episode eighteen (listed above). The best of these thoughts will be read or played during the next episode of the Book Club!

Share your thoughts via text: If you have thoughts, opinions, discussion points, or theories on the next set of reading, please send them to podcast@shurtugal.com — be sure to keep them as brief as possible. Also be sure to include “Episode 18 Thoughts” in the subject!
Leave us a voicemail to be played during the show: Here’s your chance to be heard on an episode of the Book Club! Call Shur’tugal’s very own podcast phone number and leave a voicemail with your thoughts and theories — keep your message as brief as possible. The best will be played during the show. Call Shur’tugal at: (347) 688-0901

Alexis

Can I just say that Chris has a very nice voice, and I love these podcasts
elle

Mike, I get up at 7 am
Anonymous

I think cutting off the end of one’s finger when a child dies is a medieval Norse custom, so i thought it fitted fairly naturally into dwarvish culture. Also, dwarvish politics for the win! So few books seem to have the background politics in them, it’s one of the many things i think sets Inheritance apart.
Arya Svitkona

cris is awesome i love his sun glasses AND I LOVE HIS VOICE AND HIS OPION IS AWOSOM
MN

does anyone know if Mike Macauley was dropped on his head as a child?

How can he hate on the super bowl?
- Anonymous
  
  I tried to watch the super bowl once and I coudn’t stand it. The refs blew the whistle every ten seconds and it was just confusing. No, football is not my sport. Basketball is way better. Waaaaaayy!!
  - elle
    
    Hockeys my game
- Robert Cox
  
  I watch for the commercials.
  - Anonymous
    
    Why?
Gress88

ANGELA BECOMES A SHADE BUT IS TAKEN OVER BY GOOD SPIRITS LIKE ARYA AND ERAGON SAW ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE VARDEN!!!!!!!
Adilas73

Conserning Eragon swearing fealty to Nasuada, Oromis said to Eragon in Eldest (I think) “We are the riders, we stand between the light and the dark, we owe nothing to none” This implys that the riders are free, and just help, Nasuada seems to want alot of power, she’s getting power hungry, that will be her undoing.
- War Rider
  
  Wouldn’t say power hungry, just getting too carried away with her authority and not restraining herself. King Orrin, who I personally would like if he was king of the empire, sometimes has to put her in her place but even then she may ignore Orrin. I don’t hate Nasuada but I do see her faults.
- Fairth
  
  I think that Eragon giving his allegiance to all races because it solves the problem of who watches the watchers. This is because the equal pull in all directions puts him on a tipping point that no race can push too far without trouble, but requires Eragon to better consider his choices and gives the races the ability to come together to require his obedience.
- Elfling
  
  Considering the fall of the Riders, it places Eragon indifferently. Oromis’s perception was based on his knowledge of many riders as apposed to none, leaving Eragon politically willful to gain the support he needed to overthrow the King to save the eggs and Alagaesia. Eragon swore fealty to Nasuada before he knew of Oromis and as it seems, it was the better out of three unpredictable choices: 1 – a council of the Varden, 2 – refuse and achieve little and 3 – Swear allegiance to Nasuada whom he regarded with prospects to his cause. Nasuada’s strive to over power the king overwhelmed the want for survival of the Dragon race but she needed a rider and Dragon to appose the King, more the better i suppose. The only thing i object to her ruling is taking control of the magicians/spellcasters against their Will if they reject her proposal. Power hungry maybe. Better her than any other.
War Rider

The 50 whips was not exactly a private whipping, Roran’s punishment was held in public to be visually seen by everyone. Can’t just say he was punished and leave it at that Kyle_E.

Besides, good has come of Roran being whipped. If it wasn’t for the whipping, Roran wouldn’t of become a captain. If Edric(who Nasuada demoted for being an idiot) agreed about the archers with Roran and had him continue his work, then the battle was later finished, I don’t think Roran would of been a captain after that. Nasuada would just have him continue on until she saw fit to promote him.
- Anonymous
  
  Thats what I’m saying, don’t make it public. Just either punish him in a different way, or give him less whips, but do it in private. I see that Nasuada really didn’t have much choice, but I still don’t like that he was punished, especially considering who he is. While I realize she can’t show favoritism, she can’t forget that this is pretty much Eragon’s brother. I mean I imagine Eragon and Spahira won’t be pleased when they find out about it.
  - Elfling
    
    There were many brutal customs and procedures. The alternative was to hang him as they normally would with insubordination, Roran accepted the possibility of that fate and gained more respect and followers by not objecting to his lesser punishment. I can’t say that i didn’t feel a pang of injustice but it was the right thing to do i believed in the end. Her position requires stance and some intolerance, she cannot afford to be deceived easily despite Roran’s feats. It was enough to be young and female without appearing also to be soft, naive and improper in their ways. The soldiers would have expected it and disapproved at the same time but Nasuada took a stand and Roran became a Captain.
hoke

how do you sign up for the contest?
Anonymous

Mike, you said that the hammer only weighs 2-3 pounds? I’m pretty sure that it’s heavier than that, and certainly not easy to swing around all day
Konungr1

Just thought of this when you were discussing Roran’s hammer. Why doesn’t it have a name? Frederick talks to Eragon about the “Curse of the Named Blade,” when a famous weapon is named after the weapon’s wielder does something epic with it. Roran has done some epic things with his hammer so why doesn’t it have a name?
- Anonymous
  
  Well it’s not really a rule that they have to.The riders did, so Eragon named Brisingr. But i mean to me Roran doesn’t seem like the naming type. Besides, Stronghammer is already taken, so what would he name it?!
Swordebrithil12

I sent in an email defending Nasuada when she punishes Roran. I get a reply back saying, “Death to Nasuada.” Gee, wonder who that could be???
- Chris Addison
  
  The signature had my name in it. It should be no surprise.
  - Daniela
    
    Go Chris! Nasuada must die horribly and screaming.
    - Swordebrithil12
      
      NAO, although he is an awesome guy so is Nasuada and she shall survive in glory 🙂
  - Swordebrithil12
    
    You didn’t have to sign it, I would have known anyway.
JustPlainEric

I don’t understand how people can call Roran “stupid” when he has proved himself as the exact opposite. He is a brilliant battle strategist, a natural leader, and can dole out a mean speech (Re-read the speech to Carvahal in Eldest, please.) Just because someone can not read or write does not make them inept. Roran was never characterized by Christopher as a person lacking in intelligence, in any sense. There is no basis in any of the books that he is not smart. Just because he was born on a farm does not make him an idiot.
- JustPlainEric
  
  Mind I am not disagreeing with the fact that the battle of the 200 is unrealistic, just the fact that he is “stupid.”
- Swordebrithil12
  
  I agree he’s very intelligent. But his problem is he’s very hotheaded. Remember how Eragon jumped in front of those Urgals in Eragon and got into a crapload of trouble with Brom? I think that Roran would do that no matter what. He’s only good with strategy when he’s not distracted with single-mindedly defending his loved ones, which isn’t a bad thing, but might lead to his doom someday.
  - Anonymous
    
    But wasn’t his strategy sound in the middle of battle, when he commanded his men to take cover, use the roofs, etc..?
    - Swordebrithil12
      
      Yes, but what if the soldiers had attacked the Varden and Katrina had been there? Roran would go insane trying to protect her (and I have no doubt he would get her out without a scratch) but he could easily neglect other soldiers. With his loved ones safely away from a battle his mind works much better, like in this one.
      - Anonymous
        
        But isn’t that true of almost anyone? Eragon was going to try to get Roran to safety in the middle of his battle with Murtagh.
Helen Beddis

To all the people saying they dislike Roran because his battle feats are unrealistic I have two things to say, firstly all through history there are records documenting extraordinary feats by soldiers so it is possible, secondly, it’s a fantasy series people! Dragons, Elves, Dwarves, werecats, shades none of them are real but nobody is complaining about that!
- ItsEminem
  
  Yeah but Roran isn’t an elf, dragon etc. He is a normal human. Really? I’ve never heard of a farmboy, who just started fighting, killing 200 trained soldiers in hand to hand combat. Roran is not a proper soldier. Not yet. He should be a recruit. He did have a decent strategy. But more than that I just find him boring and a waste of half the books.
  - DragonsAreAwesome
    
    Well, first of all I will not even get into all the reasons why you SHOULD like Roran; but, Roran didn’t just start fighting. He has always been strong and Eragon said how he envyed Roran’s strenght. And Roran is fighting with a hammer; it’s not like you need to train your technique to use it. Just hit whatever you see. Of course you would never hear of a farmboy who did that in real like because A) like Helen said it is fantasy and it is fiction and if you can’t except that not all things will be realistic, go read non-fiction and B) it is possibly that a similar thing has happened in real life but it’s not like everyone’s life story is documented and you have read them all. None of us have ever been in a situation like that so how do you know that it is not possible that when it is a do or die situation, you find the strenght to overcome impossible challenges.
    - ItsEminem
      
      ‘Should’ is your opinion. Everyone is talking about fantasy, but Roran is supposed to be normal and it isn’t complete fantasy, what with all the effort Cp put into sword making and the touch up on ethics. Strength does not make a fighter. Similar things have happened, I’m sure, but by trained experts or masters, not Roran. On top of all that I just find Roran POV’s boring and a place where more Eragon POV’s could be added. At least Roran isn’tas stupid as Eragon though.
    - ItsEminem
      
      I have been I quite a few fights. Life or death? No. But your logic here fails you. It is life an death for the enemy as well.
      - Anonymous
        
        “Yeah well I bet you lost those fights!!!!! lololollo”
        
        See how annoying that kind of post is? Why not just remain polite and has a conversation about the characters? I personally think that it makes sense for Roran to be a superior to most Empire soldiers, since the are mostly conscripted farmers who don’t even want to fight.
      - ItsEminem
        
        Yeah I did lose some: boxing. I have never made a comment like that. I insulted a fictional character, using kiddies language. I didn’t insult anyone else. I think mines and yours opinons on ‘rude’ are very different. To be expected I guess, my area’s a hell hole. On the whole Roran thing: Chances are most of them will still have more experience than Roran. Roran is also a farmer.
      - Anonymous
        
        So fighting in multiple battles against soldiers, guards, and Ra’zac
        doesn’t count as experience? How about his other battles with the
        Varden? Or his training at the Varden when he worked with his hammer (a
        weapon that does not need much skill) and also is learning to fight with
        a sword?
        Galbatorix conscripts men into his army, so I highly doubt
        these soldiers are born warriors with years of battle experience. They
        are most likely farmers.
      - ItsEminem
        
        Yeah, but that’s it though: he was killing trained soldiers just after picking up a hammer. Can’t we just all get along and agree Roran sucks and Nasuada was right to punish him? Lol.
      - Anonymous
        
        ahhhh no. lets just agree to disagree
      - ItsEminem
        
        Noooo. I’ll give you a billion dollars if you agree… oh and a cookie :O I know you can’t resist that cookie… the money ain’t half bad either.
      - Fairth
        
        First-off, I agree that Roran had to be punished somehow. I think that there should have been a way around that one. But a rule is a rule, and if the rule can be bent then it will be broken sooner or later. I wouldn’t say that Nasuada was entirely right, but I don’t see how she could get out of either.
        
        Yes, in Carvahall he had just picked up the hammer, but he was fighting to defend his home when the attackers where just doing what they were told (likely something they didn’t want to do if they were from a town like Carvahall). As Kyle_E said, he was likely fighting soldiers with months, not years of training, to which I would add that they were probably not dedicated and were fearful of the Razak(sp?).
        
        When Roran was with the Varden later, he had hands-on training as he traveled with the rest of Carvahall and the training he’s been getting from the Varden. Is killing hundreds by yourself, highly unlikely? Yes, but it has been done before.
  - Jmb194
    
    eragon was just a farmboy
    - ItsEminem
      
      Yeah but Eragon had training. Roran has had none. Mind you human Roran would crush human Eragon. But the most important thing is: I don’t find Eragon boring. Also what people fail to understand is the fact that the majority of my posts are just for fun. Like Mike and Chris against Nasuada in the podcast.
      - Anonymous
        
        Eh debatable. Human Eragon was extremely skilled with a sword, and could probably kill Roran, not that he would want to. And theres also magic which I assume your not counting
      - ItsEminem
        
        Human as in before Saphira hatched for him. CP also said that Roran would have made a stronger rider than Eragon, gahhh…
      - Elfling
        
        Hmm Strategist Vs Politician (/magician with a rider father and magical mother) as a stronger rider? hmm that is debatable, even your perception to what CP actually meant.
  - Elfling
    
    I admire Roran’s Character, his only ambition was to be able to provide for a women he loved and to gain the respect and blessing of her father. He took his love along with it’s responsibilities and achieved great feats. His character says allot about his upbringing, his father and their way of life which was often a struggle. He was well accustomed to the lack of wealth and yet happily bonded with his father and cousin as brother. He knew what he wanted and set out to achieve it. Great feats are possible, even in reality, if not for his in intelligence to be strategic i dare say the outcome of would have been to your expectations. Through many collisions he had the aid of his wards, he would have died in the 3rd book without them.
- Swordebrithil12
  
  True, and it’s not like he didn’t have other warriors around him and all 193 came running at him at once. Plus he intimidated them and he is motivated by love, which can fuel a person furiously.
hoke

Why does everybody hate Roran so much? Hes practically the main character’s brother, a fearless warrior, and a devoted husband and soon-to-be father. I personally think that these are noble attributes, and he is not an idiot. He may have been raised on a farm and did manual labor his whole life, but he has shown extraordinary leadership and ingenuity in battle. Until Saphira hatched he was nearly identical to Eragon, and he could have turned out like him if Saphira had hatched for Roran.
hoke

Why does everybody hate Roran so much? Hes practically the main character’s brother, a fearless warrior, and a devoted husband and soon-to-be father. I personally think that these are noble attributes, and he is not an idiot. He may have been raised on a farm and did manual labor his whole life, but he has shown extraordinary leadership and ingenuity in battle. Until Saphira hatched he was nearly identical to Eragon, and he could have turned out like him if Saphira had hatched for Roran.
- ItsEminem
  
  Who cares who he is related to? In fact being related to an idiot like Eragon… I pity Roran… a little.
  - DragonsAreAwesome
    
    Seriously, if you hate all the main characters why on earth are you reading this series.
    - ItsEminem
      
      No, no. I like Eragon and Arya and I really want to meet Galby.
  - hoke
    
    yeah stop trolling
  - Elfling
    
    Your ego is having fun lol There is an obvious oversight in your convictions, your thoughts are humorously predictable, somewhat childish but i love it! haha
AvaAnnaZ

How come Roran can lean on his hammer? Maybe he’s just really really surprisingly short.
- JustPlainEric
  
  It is not a normal hammer… think of it as a sword with a hammer head…
  - ItsEminem
    
    It is normal hammer he got from Horst. I think anyway.
  - Anonymous
    
    No. It’s a hammer from Horst’s wall. Its a blacksmith’s hammer. today it would probably most resemble a sledgehammer.
- Dragon2003
  
  When does he lean on his hammer? I don’t remember that.
- Dragon2003
  
  I don’t think he is short because in Eragon, Katrina has to stand on her tiptoes to kiss Roran.
  - AvaAnnaZ
    
    Oh my comment was meant as a joke.
- Chris Addison
  
  Yeah, I brought this up for a reason in the podcast. I’ve never gotten a good idea of the size.
kmc995

Yay! I was the one who sent the email about brains! AHA! lol I influenced the future with my email! lol (now one of the sweepstake words are based on what I wrote!) xD you have no idea how pumped I am right now!

~Krista
AvaAnnaZ

OMG YES!!!!! Listening now even though I have to do my English essay
CraigW

I know you said you were only going to do two podcast for book 4 after it comes out, due to other commitments, which i understand but would it not be possible to do one per month over 4-6 episodes.As i have said before the podcasts really make my week and work that bit more bearable, for me the banter is just as enjoyable as the story discussion.
Looking forward to the remainder of the podcasts and hope you get well soon Lauren.
ItsEminem

300: born warriors. Real soldiers. With tactics. Spear wall. Fighting mainly peasants.
Roran: Idiot. Farmboy. Only just picked up a weapon. Fighting mainly trained soldiers.
But he had a decent strategy.
I was hoping he would get hung… still 50 whips is okay… I guess… as long as he dies in the next book… brutally… killed by a gorilla or something.
- Anonymous
  
  Come on, you say that you do this just for fun, but playing devil’s advocate doesn’t mean insulting characters and being rude. It’s coming up with alternate ways to veiw or think about an idea or claim.
  - ItsEminem
    
    It’s all in the name of fun… not to say my bias isn’t having a affect on this… I don’t see where I am being rude. I know there are a lot of touchy people on here, see that was rude (kind of). Not what I’ve said so far. Insulting characters? Fortunately Roran isn’t real and that’s the fun in it anyway. But hey, it’s constant party time here. Lol.
ItsEminem

Farmboy King.
So Roran how do you spell “King”?
Roran – “Uhh… Roran smash!”
Him as King will be worse than Bush as president.
- JustPlainEric
  
  Roran has never been characterized at ignorant, or inept in any way. He is a brilliant strategist, and a Gifted leader. Re-read his speech to the people of Carvahal, and then tell me he is lacking in mental ability at all.
  - ItsEminem
    
    Actually he cannot read or write. Which was the point of the post, along with the fact that it is unrealistic for him to be as smart as he is. He is ignorant. We all are. Lol.
    - JustPlainEric
      
      Most of the Emperors who ruled China could not read or write, but had others do it for them. Just because someone cannot read or write does not mean that they are inept. Eragon could not read or write but when taught he learned alarmingly fast.
      - ItsEminem
        
        Yeah damn fine job they did. But again you miss the point: he cannot read; that’s it for that post, I’m not saying it will handicap him a leader in that post (not the writing and reading skills anyway). Then for the other posts there is this: I find it unrealistic for him to be that smart. It was a stretch that Eragon could do it, but at least Eragon isn’t as boring as Roran.
      - Anonymous
        
        Garrow could read. So even if he didn’t teach them how, is it really that unrealistic for his son to be smart?
      - ItsEminem
        
        Well yes it is unrealistic. Smart means knowledgeable; reading ability doesn’t make one smart (he doesn’t have that either). I’m saying it is unrealistic for a farmboy to be ‘smart’. Gifted maybe. But he hasn’t had a teacher. I think above all this dislike for Roran is the fact that, for me, he wasted half of the book, where Eragon could have been instead and added uneeded length to the novels. Brisingr could have been the end.
      - Fairth
        
        There are different kinds of smart and different kinds of teaching. What Garrow gave (taught) Eragon and Roran was the ability to think on their feet. One kind of smart that Roran is. Another is the kind of smart that you are when you can learn things fast, easily, or simply have a knack for something. This has been demonstrated well in Roran’s family as Eragon has undergone several bouts of accelerated learning, now it’s Roran’s turn.
      - ItsEminem
        
        That’s gifted. Which I agree he is. Eragon doesn’t really think… as Brom has said countless times. Still we all love our idiot Eragon. Roran on the other hand… Lol. Roran hasn’t had a teacher, unlike Eragon.
Haris

I disagree with you Mike -_- Romantic parts are really important to books and I agree with Chris and Lauren 😀 i know what you said about opinions and how they are what one person thinks but thinking to disagree with you is also my opinion 😛
- Robert Cox
  
  When I was on the podcast and we discussed the romantic parts and problems with Eragon/Arya, I may have gone unconscious for a moment…
  - Swordebrithil12
    
    Seriously? Does it bore you guys that much? I love romance. It really helps to bring sort of a drive into the story.
    - Lauren Zurchin
      
      Right? I swear, every time I bring this up, I know the boys are rolling their eyes and thinking I am desperate for love or something! I don’t think a story can be completely well-rounded without some love interests, because that’s LIFE and most people are always on the lookout for someone to love, or are in love, or losing love… there’s a reason most songs on the radio are about love in one way or another. It’s an important part of life!
      - Swordebrithil12
        
        Lol just makin sure ya know, I’m a dude….
      - Robert Cox
        
        It’s not that, I just don’t care for THIS love story!
      - Lauren Zurchin
        
        Even better! By boys I didn’t mean collective men, just the two crazies I work with weekly 🙂
Denmark111

Please! Don’t wait for after a month after book 4 comes out before you start the next podcast.
War Rider

Sure, Redbeard could of gotten his hand healed, but he didn’t want his magician(who is weak) to waste his energy on his hand when his magician could save his men’s lives. It is a noble thing and shows Redbeard is selfless unlike Roran who is quite selfish at times.

As for Nasuada’s decision on whipping Roran, I agree. Why? Because it discourages arrogant morons who think they are always right from disobeying their superior’s orders. Would you rather Roran didn’t get whipped and then more Varden die because their minor officers disobey their superiors thinking they got the right idea of things?

Oh, and again, Paolini makes Roran more hateable with his unrealism. Over 200 men dead in a single battle, WOW!!! The 300 Spartans was a different story, the Spartans at least came from a warrior orientated background, Roran has a farmers background and yet suddenly he becomes some super human….
- ItsEminem
  
  Damn straight. Completely
  
  agree with you.
- Pandora
  
  I want to high-five you.
- har556
  
  I wish there was a “Love” this post button. Roran’s unrealism makes me almost hate his character as much as Nasuada’s. I hope he doesn’t take up too much space in Inheritance.
- GregB
  
  I think Nasuada’s whipping of Roran just shows that she isn’t as good of a leader as Ajihad who could follow the established rules while being just.
- Anonymous
  
  I agree that Redbeard was being noble, but when has Roran been selfish? If you’re going to say “at times” that doesn’t help your argument.
  
  But Roran’s “superior” would have gotten even more men killed in that battle, and the next, and the next. Roran disobeyed orders, saving the lives of almost all his men, and is punished for it. While it would not be good for everyone to start disobeying orders, the man who will eventually be given his own command did. I agree that since he broke the rules, is 50 lashes really needed? If you don’t want people to get the same idea, then just say that he was punished. Who’s going to question the punishment of the cousin of the Dragon Rider?
  
  Yes, it was unrealistic that he could kill 200 on his own. However, the strategy was sound as many people have said. And untrained? So fighting in multiple battles againt soldiers, gaurds, and Ra’zac doesn’t count as experience? How about his other battles with the Varden? Or his training at the Varden when he worked with his hammer (a weapon that does not need much skill) and also is learning to fight with a sword?
  Galbatorix conscripts men into his army, so I highly doubt these soldiers are born warriors with years of battle experience. They are most likely farmers.
Fairth

As a comment on Roran’s hammer, I was recently watching a show that showed the making of a Katana in which they were using sledgehammers to thin-down a block of metal early in the process. Granted, Horst was making rural metal-work rather than weapons, but I’m sure that at least the early processes would be very similar. It stands to reason then, that Roran could have selected a tool from earlier stages.

Quick note: A reminder that Gladers’ eldunari won’t be destroyed because it was mentioned in Eragons Guide to Alagaesia.
On a similar thought, what if it’s possible to use magic to create or access a pocket dimension of sorts that would allow eldunari to be kept close with the only spacial consideration being a place to keep a small rift open into the dimension.
Dorota

A friend and I have been meeting at Starbucks and reading Brisingr out loud chapter by chapter to each other…and we basically act exactly like you guys do on the podcast, but with a lot more giggling and funny voices.

I really wish we could record ourselves reading it aloud. Poor Paolini would die if he heard the way we treated his text, injecting our own dialogue, mispronouncing every name, and making fun of the way Gerard Doyle interperets Saphira’s voice (seriously, she sounds like a Dalek).

We got to the part where Eragon remarks on the dwarves and how fast or well they run (something like that), and we in unison we burst out, “We dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!”

…either the Starbucks employees find us entertaining, or they wish we would go away.
- Fairth
  
  Thumbs-up on the LotR movie reference. I can still hear that line in my head.
- Pandora
  
  bah! hilarious! thou must not spew coffee from laughter.
- Swordebrithil12
  
  Lol xD dude I HATE Doyle’s Saphira voice. I pictured her to sound like a normal woman but with a sort of richer, alien sound. In the audiobook she sounded like a smoker.
Guest

was there a sweepstakes word in the podcast i don’t remember hearing one
- Anonymous
  
  Yes, there was. Are you trying to purposely give Mike and Bob heart attacks? Tisk tisk.
XxxX

Mike: Every hero is attractive

My response: Tyrion Lannister
- Becky L
  
  LOL!
- Pandora
  
  power sweetens the deal when it comes to “attractive looks”
- Lforce
  
  My response: Sparhawk
Anonymous

Lauren what part of Italy are you in? I lived in Switzerland for 3 years, speak Italian, and know Italy pretty darn well. If you’re in Rome or some other places I can give you some places to check out.

I really agree with Mike and HATE the whole Roran parts during this section. They were annoying and I was sick of hearing how epic Roran was.

The idea of Galby working with some part of the dwarves was a really interesting idea that I hadn’t thought of at all. I could see him promising one of the clans power or a position in his empire or placing a clan chief the dwarven throne. Or it could be Galby in disguise..
- Robert Cox
  
  I think she’s home now, but I’ll leave that up to her to confirm.
- Lauren Zurchin
  
  I am home, so sorry! Thanks for the offer though!
GirlOfManyNames

If Edric was such an idiot, how did he end up in command in the first place? Because if there’s one thing we know about Nasuada, she does everything she can to help the Varden and would never waste manpower by putting crappy leaders in place.
- Robert Cox
  
  I blame bureaucracy.
- Logic Lawyer
  
  That doesn’t make any difference. The point is that Edric displayed utter incompetence in a leadership position, sending his men into an attack when he knew that the enemy possessed armor-piercing crossbows and could cut down his soldiers, for no other reason than to prove his manly courage. If a character is consistently acting stupid on page, then we can’t postulate that they are really not stupid because, “Duh, they wouldn’t be a commander if they were that stupid.”
  
  Furthermore, it is not unheard of in either real life or fiction for crappy leaders to be put into positions that they do not deserve.
Swordebrithil12

By the way Lauren how is Italy? I’ve really wanted to go there.
And also was this line from the outline of the podcast intended to be funny: “Eragon visits Kvistor’s mom, she removes portion of finger.” Cause it made me laugh.
- Robert Cox
  
  I was trying to be funny, I’m glad it worked!
  
  (I write the outlines on these posts separate from the actual podcast outline)
- Lauren Zurchin
  
  Italy is AMAZING. The history blew my mind… and the art… lovely country.
Swordebrithil12

The dwarf name is pronounced “your-OO-nen” it’s extremely hard to pronounce and I cannot fathom how Gerard Doyle said it so many times on the audio book and survived.

OMG lol’d so hard at Bob’s little pun at the end XD

All Nasuada supporters, unite against Chris and Mike! Don’t worry Lauren you have plenty of support.
- Chris Addison
  
  No one who fights against us will ever win.
  - DragonsAreAwesome
    
    Wanna bet?
- Robert Cox
  
  😀
gamefreak1310

when you said that you were not sure if Az Swelden would actually join forces with Galbatorix due to their extreme hatred of dragons and riders there is no guarantee that the entire clan knows it may just be that a leader high up in the clan or the leader of the clan may be working with him secretly. This one dwarf or small group of dwarves may be forgetting their hatred against dragons and riders for the sake of gaining power or advancing their own ends and eragon and possibly the varden may need to be out of the way
Alex Grey

Aww darn, I was really looking forward to the Book Four podcasts. Oh well. It’s gonna be funny having a Dr Who tangent at the beginning of each article…
Tabitha K.

I loved the bit about Galbatorix being an evil santa claus! I had to stop working I was laughing so hard, and boy was I glad no one else was there yet!
Arya<3

I thought that the dwarven politics would be boring, but after reading it again, I realized it was really interesting how they proved Eragon’s attack.
Frankbaney

will Emily S. ever get on the show?
Frankbaney

handle, so funny
Alex Grey

The part where Redbeard loses his hand was probably my least favourite part in all three books. The problem was that when I had first read Brisingr I’d just finished Misery by Stephen King, and compared to the excruciating detail when the main character loses his hand in Misery, I just thought that it was extremely unrealistic how he’s just like “Meh, it’s only a hand”. I just thought that the fact that it doesn’t even bother him was extremely unrealistic. Either that or he’s just a tank, that’s just my opinion (although, according to Mike, an opinion can be wrong :D)
Anonymous

When Eragon swears to avenge Hrothgar, that doesn’t necessarily mean he has to kill Murtagh. Killing Galbatorix will most likely be “avenging” him and everyone else
- kmc995
  
  True – he made the vow, and therefore can interpret that vow however he would like, as long as it still fits within the proper boundries set. Yes, Murtagh killed Hrothgar, but it wasn’t MURTAGH who did so…well, we can only assume that he was under the influence of Galbatorix, which in my opinion is a really safe bet. Either way, killing Gakbatorix should appease Orik and the dwarves enough, and should leave Eragon satisfied that he had kept his oath. It all depends, really, on how Eragon percieves this certain situation. If he feels that he must kill Murtagh in order to be free of his oath, then he would probably kill Murtagh – either that or forever feel that weight upon his shoulders…but we already know that Eragon does not want to kill Murtagh, his former friend and half-brother. So I would assume that Eragon would try and find every way possible in order to prevent and circumvent that possible outcome.
  
  ~Krista
- Swordebrithil12
  
  I hope they don’t beg him to kill Murtagh or Thorn. Orik is sensible enough so I think he’ll let it go but some of the others (especially from the Ingeitum) would want him dead and of course would never allow him anywhere near Tronjheim. As I’ve said before those two have been through way too much and you have to pity them.
firesword 52

in the story of 300 there was about 2000 greeks there was 300 spartins
and what if all of the fighters in the varden all did not follow the rules you need to follow orders to survive in war no matter how bad they are i like what roran did but they can not have all of the people in the varden not following orders they needed to set an example
Emily Sasaki

I agree with Chris… The politics in Brisingr is my least favorite part. totally boring… but essential none the less.
- Chris Addison
  
  Yeah, I get the importance of it. But blah!
Helen Beddis

Thanks for another great podcast, I’m in bed sick and you really cheered me up, I was crying with laughter.
- Robert Cox
  
  I hope you feel better!
  - Helen Beddis
    
    Thanks Bob!! I’ll apologise now for my three emails with episode 18 thoughts, my ideas came in stutters this week 🙂
Ashley A

I gotta say that I agree with Chris…the dwarven politics portion of Brisingr is probably my least favorite/the most boring part of the book for me. It could have been a wee bit shorter, lol! 🙂
Coasterking

wish i stayed up last night for this to release
Logic Lawyer

Wonderful! Mike seems to have regained his senses. Perhaps listening to Chris’s good sense has withered away all of this silly “Maybe Nasuada ain’t so bad” corruption that’s been conspicuously rotting in plain sight these past several podcasts.

Of course, there’s a little of that, “I’m Mike, therefore I am Right,” nonsense going on here, but in this case, it actually is completely justified.

Poor Lauren. Defending Nasuada in the next set of chapters will be like trying to defend a rickety hut of sticks against a million man army armed with lightsabers and nukes. It’s just going to be a slaughter.
- Robert Cox
  
  Episode 18 puts this subject to a vote. I heard it turned out well…
Logic Lawyer

“If I get one more email about Chris, I will cancel this podcast!”

Last week I almost sent in an email in order to tell Mike that I wasn’t paid by Chris to say what I did in the comments and to support him further. Now, I’m kind of glad that I didn’t. 😉
- Chris Addison
  
  The podcast was my idea in the first place, haha. He can’t cancel. No worries. 😉
Logic Lawyer

“If I get one more email about Chris, I will cancel this podcast!”

Last week I almost sent in an email in order to tell Mike that I wasn’t paid by Chris to say what I did in the comments and to support him further. Now, I’m kind of glad that I didn’t. 😉
The Green dragon

WTF- Why the Face
- Emily Sasaki
  
  Or welcome to facebook!
The Green dragon

hey mike is there any way to like suscribe to the site? because then i wouldnt have to check the site four hundred times a day for the random buzzer thing.
- Lauren Zurchin
  
  You can subscribe to Random Buzzers, and get the emails directly from them.
The Green dragon

hey mike is there any way to like suscribe to the site? because then i wouldnt have to check the site four hundred times a day for the random buzzer thing.
Chelsea Swavely

Lol shout out to FMA lol.Were you talking about Kimbley?
Chelsea Swavely

Lol shout out to FMA lol.Were you talking about Kimbley?
Madeline L

So in the dream Eragon has of Morzan, it mentions his blue eyes. But I thought Morzan had two different colored eyes. Is this a mistake or does it have significance?
Madeline L

So in the dream Eragon has of Morzan, it mentions his blue eyes. But I thought Morzan had two different colored eyes. Is this a mistake or does it have significance?
- Logic Lawyer
  
  Jeod did indeed describe Morzan with one blue eye and one black eye. However, keep in mind that Eragon was dreaming, and that his dream might not necessarily get all the facts perfectly right, especially as he has only heard about Morzan, never seen him personally. He might have forgotten about Morzan’s one black eye, or only seen one eye and assumed that the other was blue, or maybe the lighting was such that Morzan’s black eye looked a little brighter. Eye color can shift slightly depending on the lighting.
- Logic Lawyer
  
  Jeod did indeed describe Morzan with one blue eye and one black eye. However, keep in mind that Eragon was dreaming, and that his dream might not necessarily get all the facts perfectly right, especially as he has only heard about Morzan, never seen him personally. He might have forgotten about Morzan’s one black eye, or only seen one eye and assumed that the other was blue, or maybe the lighting was such that Morzan’s black eye looked a little brighter. Eye color can shift slightly depending on the lighting.
funnyguy69

go packers
funnyguy69

go packers
funnyguy69

The captain wanted a hook for a hand instead…Captain Hook is born.

p.s. Roran is lame

p.p.s. Roran should be attacked over and over by a snake
funnyguy69

The captain wanted a hook for a hand instead…Captain Hook is born.

p.s. Roran is lame

p.p.s. Roran should be attacked over and over by a snake
GregB

Does anyone else think that the tunnel Redbeard’s grandfather dug from their estate will have an important role in infiltrating one of the Empire’s cities? (Pg 401 Hardcover Copy)
GregB

Does anyone else think that the tunnel Redbeard’s grandfather dug from their estate will have an important role in infiltrating one of the Empire’s cities? (Pg 401 Hardcover Copy)
- GirlOfManyNames
  
  Probably, especially because another secret underground tunnel was so important before. I doubt Christopher would have put it in the story if it didn’t have a purpose.
- Fairth
  
  Great catch! I agree with you and think that GirlOfManyNames’ post id dead on.
Anonymous

I’m so sick of Roran after this chapter
Anonymous

I’m so sick of Roran after this chapter
Anonymous

Aww, no Bob.
Anonymous

Aww, no Bob.
daniel

why couldnt eragon read/sense the mind of the dwaves? that reminds me of the razac. maybe it’s a spell that eragon could learn to protect himself from galby.
- Anonymous
  
  or hide it from elva
- Anonymous
  
  or hide it from elva
Chelsea Swavely

I loved the opportunity to read in Saphira’s POV in this section. It would be interesting to read a chapter in Thorn’s POV as well.
Guest

What does everyone think about this illustration (http://img3.lsistatic.com/members/820275/the_true_arya.jpg) of Arya? Is it accurate?
Guest

What does everyone think about this illustration (http://img3.lsistatic.com/members/820275/the_true_arya.jpg) of Arya? Is it accurate?
- Victor
  
  i always imagined her different. a bit kinder looking. So no, from my personal perspective this isn’t arya.
- Shadows987
  
  I’m pretty sure Arya is supposed to be tanned (honeyed).
- Shadows987
  
  I’m pretty sure Arya is supposed to be tanned (honeyed).
- Sherry B
  
  To me it looks to human. The jaw is not angled enough and I’m not sure what feature it is but she looks limited and not depth of character
- Sherry B
  
  To me it looks to human. The jaw is not angled enough and I’m not sure what feature it is but she looks limited and not depth of character
- Tristan S.
  
  dude, you will never, ever, ever be able to draw an arya everyone thinks is correct. I mean, ever. I’ve often found that when an author describes a character, they are merely placing suggestions into our heads of how they look. But everyone will end with a different result. Personally, that looks nothing like my arya, but it may well be an incredibly accurate representations of someone else’s. But anyway, it’s still really well drawn, very nice, just not my arya.
  - Guest
    
    Thank you Tristan, and thanks Sherry, Shadows, and Victor. It was helpful to hear comments on the accuracy of the picture (though not drawn by me). I agree with you guys on not being able to find a universally agreed-on picture of Arya (who, though she is described in numerous occasions in the book, cannot be drawn 100% accurately).
- Tristan S.
  
  dude, you will never, ever, ever be able to draw an arya everyone thinks is correct. I mean, ever. I’ve often found that when an author describes a character, they are merely placing suggestions into our heads of how they look. But everyone will end with a different result. Personally, that looks nothing like my arya, but it may well be an incredibly accurate representations of someone else’s. But anyway, it’s still really well drawn, very nice, just not my arya.
- Anonymous
  
  Wow, thats great! the only difference I would make is to make the eyes more slanted
- David Clemmer
  
  I LOVE IT
- GirlOfManyNames
  
  I don’t know if it’s accurate, but it’s pretty freaking awesome nonetheless.
- har556
  
  It’s good, but this is my favorite pic of Arya that someone else drew: http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs42/i/2009/058/4/f/Arya_by_denebtenoh.jpg … She’s got attitude
  - Swordebrithil12
    
    It’s gorgeous. I’ve always imagined Arya sort of glowing with natural beauty, not sort of like some girls these days who put on tons of makeup. She needs to look sexy, but in a natural, feline, inhuman way.
daniel

yeah!! well done mike with the in-one-go-intro
stroodle_910

I cannot WAIT to hear Michelle and Christopher!
stroodle_910

I cannot WAIT to hear Michelle and Christopher!
Anonymous

NOOOOO!!!!! i just checked it now, but I’m about to leave for school!! I don’t time to listen, now i gotta wait till this afternoon..
Robert Cox

Also, another thing, I have started editing the non-spoiler section of Episode 18!

(The spoiler section will be recorded with fan theories and such on Thursday and the episode should release on Friday, barring any problems!)
Robert Cox

Sorry about the delay. Here it is!

There will be a much shorter gap between Episodes 17 and 18, just FYI.
- Alex Grey
  
  Awesome, thanks so much! So keen to listen to this after the long wait… 19 days to go! that’s crazy!
  - Emily Sasaki
    
    you mean 20…
    - Alex Grey
      
      Nope! Look at the countdown!
      - Robert Cox
        
        Someone lives in a country that’s a bit earlier than we, eh?
        
        EDIT: I checked up on you! New Zealand! Fun stuff.
- Denmark111
  
  I’m not sure if I should curse you, for being this late, or thank you, trusting that you will make it in time for the next Podcast.
- Denmark111
  
  I’m not sure if I should curse you, for being this late, or thank you, trusting that you will make it in time for the next Podcast.
- Cory Knoll
  
  Bob, do you have any idea when the interview will be released?
  - Robert Cox
    
    Interview…uhh…
    
    I’m not completely sure but I am fairly sure it’ll be this week. I’d have to guess Thursday, but I could be wrong.

Shurtugal.com Presents: The Inheritance Cycle Book Club, Episode Seventeen:

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