Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
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Book Reviews of Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) (The Inheritance Cycle)
Book Review: Terrific book, but full of Cliches
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an absolutely amazing book, yet it is extremely unoriginal. Copying what one reviewer said, it is clear that he was 15 when he wrote this. Every page is full of cliches. I don't know if you have seen the entire starwars, but the basic plot for the first movie is exactly the same as Eragon (by the way, does that name remind you of anyone)
Basic plot= A servant of an evil emperor attacks, with an army at his disposal, a convoy bearing an object of power to a rebellion against the Empire. The servant captures the convoy and its leader, but the leader (a princess, no less) sends the object away in hopes that it will fall into the hands of a wise old wizard, who is the last of his kind. The object is found by a poor farm boy, whose family (not parents but uncle) is killed as a result, leaving him nothing to stay behind for. He joins the wizard on a quest, as well as a rogue who has no love for the "empire." They save the princess, then the three flee to the rebels. This could be used to describe the first Star Wars movie, and no one would know the difference.
Also, the names of many people and places copy Lord of the Rings.
Arya - Arwen, Arda
Ardwen - Arwen
Isenstar - Isengard
Mithrim - Mithrim or mithril
Eragon - Aragorn
Angrenost - Angrenost, the Sindarin name for Isengard
Morgothal - Morgoth
Elessari - Elessar
Furnost - Fornost
Hadarac Desert - Harad Desert
Melian - Melian
Vanir - Valinor
Eridor - Eriador
Imiladris - Imladris
Undin - Fundin/Udun
Also, Brom and Obi-Wan are almost exactly the same also. Think about it, old wise guy, the last of his kind, teaches a farm boy his tricks, swordplay, etc.
Brom's sacrifice for Eragon also mirrors Obi-Wan's sacrifice for Luke
Even in the second book Eldest, there are many similarities to the second Star Wars; the farm boy leaves the rebels after fighting a battle to train with an old hermit in the jungle ( Yoda in Star Wars, and the old dragon rider in Eragon) There the farm boy undergoes a life-changing experience, and later participates in another great battle to aid his friends when he sees a vision. He deuls a powerful enemy, only to be defeated, and then learns that that enemy is a family member and that one of the enemie's lord's main commander is his father (Vader, Morzan, Morzan, Vader)
Overall, this is a truly great book, but that is to be expected when it is pretty much an exact copy of one of the world's most famous fiction stories. Most people think that this book copies Lord of the Rings, but it really copies Star Wars
Book Review: Enjoying the development
Summary: 5 Stars
Eragon is the first volume in a fantasy series that ultimately is supposed to have three volumes. The storyline is pretty standard for fantasy fare: a boy grows up in a remote farming community not knowing his parents and being taken care of by a distant family member. Then, a series of events lead him to discover his special powers and abilities. He struggles with these things and his implied destiny. Then, after getting attached to an old story teller, he accepts who he has become and goes on to begin fulfilling his destiny. Along the way he meets several other characters who are either important to this volume's story or will likely become more important as the series progresses. Of course, there is a climactic battle that brings him to the brink of death but in which he gains much reputation and renown setting the stage for volume 2.
This is pretty pedestrian stuff, and if that was all there was to the series, there would be nothing much to get excited about. Nonetheless there is a great deal of excitement about this book as well as about volume 2 (Eldest) which was just released this year. What is the cause of that excitement? This substory is also worth telling.
The author of these books is a young adult. He lives in the west and was home schooled. He decided to write these books because he has enjoyed reading fantasy his whole life and wanted to write something himself. He started writing Eragon at the age of 15. The first book was self-published by his family and only later picked up by Knopf. The second book is now released when the author has achieved the ripe old age of 21!
It is possible to see the development of the writer as one reads through this book. In the beginning the sentences are very short and choppy and read in a staccato manner; something like: "He looked to the left. He saw a rock. He took the rock." Etc. By the end of the book, the same kind of sequence is much more polished. The sentences are significantly longer and the descriptions are fuller. The development of the characters also change as the book goes along. His uncle and some of the townfolk where Eragon grows up are almost cartoonish in their descriptions. The folk met with at the end of the book are much more fully described both in their physical characteristics and their emotional reactions. It is one of the enjoyments of the book to go along with the writer and see his development and growth.
If for no other reason than to see this development, it is worth getting and reading this book.
Book Review: Geoff E. Miller Place NY
Summary: 5 Stars
Book Review
Eragon
Christopher Paolini
I just finished reading the book Eragon. It is the second book of the Inheritance trilogy. In the first book of the series, which is called Eragon, a boy named Eragon is hunting the woods when a mysterious stone appears out of nowhere. He assumes it was transported there by magic. After a few weeks he is sleeping in his room and the stone is moving. He wonders why the stone is doing this, and after about ten minutes of the stone shaking, it cracks open and a baby dragon pops out of the egg! A few days later two mysterious people enter the town called the "razac" and they kill his father Garrow. A man name Brom agrees to aid Eragon in finding the razac and getting revenge. As they are traveling together Eragon finds out that Brom isn't a regular person, he was once a dragon rider too. Dragon riders were ancient people who helped govern the land by the help of dragons. Brom helps train Eragon and soon Eragon can use magic. When Brom and Eragon find the Razac's lair, the Razac ambush them at night and while doing so they kill Brom, but Eragon was saved by a mysterious person who he later finds out is called Murtagh. After Brom is killed Eragon and Murtagh travel to the Varden, which is a rebel group who hates the empire and defies them. Eragon hopes to overthrow the evil king of the empire Galbatorix.
In the second book there will be many more twist and incredible surprises that will have you on the edge of your seat. Will Eragon travel to Du Weldenvarden and train with the mysterious elves? Will he re-unite with his brother Roran? You will find out why Eragon is attracted to the elf Arya. Most importantly you will find out if Eragon will fulfill his destiny and kill the twisted King Galbatorix, who is also a rider.
My reaction to the book Eragon is that it is a scintillating book. You never know what is going to happen next and it is extremely hard to put the book down! There is a lot of humor in the book. It also brushes the topics of adolescence of a teenager and talks about the emotional part of someone close to you dying. Another thing that I noticed about the book is that it is the perfect book for a kid who isn't challenged by reading an ordinary chapter book, but who will have difficulty in reading a book such as the Lord of the Rings, which might be to complex for someone. This is one of the best books I've ever read and I can't wait for the third book of the Inheritance Trilogy to come out, which is likely to be called Empire.
Book Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. The story is very captivating and the characters are very interesting. At the beginning of the story you see how the humans live, but as the story enters its third quarter, you get a view of how the dwarves and Varden, which is a group of rebles against an evil king, live and interact with each other. You also get a glimpse at how the elves live because of Arya, an elf. Throughout the whole story the plot is captivating and interesting, and even when the story seems a little dull, a fight occurs or a major event happens, and that sweeps away all the slight boredom in the story. The plot is also excellent, with vivid descriptions for beautiful landscapes.
You also get a great view of how Eragon,the main character,feels about the entire situation. Throughout the entire story Eragon communicates with his dragon Saphira telepathically,which not only reveals his thoughts but his feelings as well. Saphira also responds to Eragon's statements with an intelligence, not only equaling but sometimes surpassing Eragon's. Because of this communication with each other, readers can feel as if they are truly close to them both.
This book may have been written by someone still in their teens, but it shows such a level of description and talent, that it rivals some of the best fantasy books I have ever read. This book might even be my favorite book of all time. Unfortunately, as I have seen in many of the other reviews, some people do not take kids opinions on this book that seriously. Some of the other people believe that because kids are just finding an interest in fiction literature, that they are captivated by this book, instead of reading books that they think are better because they have similar ideas. Other people believe that Christopher Paolini took his favorite author's ideas and made a book consisting of many of these ideas, but all mixed together. I, on the other hand, have read just as many of these books, if not more, and I still think that Eragon comes out on top. Christopher Paolini took these ideas from other stories and expanded them in ways that the other authors never could. He took beautifully rendered landscapes, interesting characters, an exciting story plot, and put them in a way that is both loved by children and adults. Although some may argue that Tolkien or other fiction writers used the same ideas but better, in my eyes there is no competition. Eragon is one of the best stories I have ever read and that is why I give it a 5.
Book Review: An Authentic Adventure from they Eyes of a Boy
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a fresh perspective on fantasy. A teen-aged boy finds a dragon, Saphira, and sets out to avenge the death of his uncle, battling the forces of darkness along the way. The best part -- this book was written by a boy who is about the same age as the hero, Eragon. The result is authentic storytelling.Eragon, the main character, grows from a naive hunter to a budding Dragon Rider with the powers of magic. Knowing that Paolini started the book at the age of 15 gives credence to his view of the loss of a relative, young love and crushes, oppression of well-meaning teachers, and the looming dark forces of evil kings and wicked sorcerers. The result is striking. This book gives readers a peek at how teenagers feel about the world around them, which older and more powerful people control, not unlike the perspective of most teenagers.
Other reviews that pooh-pooh Eragon should cool their heels, get over their jealousy and realize that this book is fresh and entertaining. Some have said that Paolini has 'ripped off' other fantasy writers. They have somehow forgotten that the genre of fantasy -- the world of elves, dwarves, dragons, and wizards -- has been well developed by previous writers, most notably Tolkien. Those who pick up the torch of fantasy story-telling need not recreate that world, which makes it the perfect playground for young writers such as Paolini because they need not remake what has already been mapped out. The same is true of writing about the mafia in New York City, for example. The skyscrapers, taxicabs, and gun-wielding thugs in dark coats need not be recreated. Paolini chose a perfect subject to launch his writing career on because he can legitimately rely on those masters who have already created the fantasy realm.
Finally, the critics of Paolini betray their jealousy too easily. Anyone who has written a novel or short story and has tried to sell it knows that there is a sea of self-involved souls who view other writers as competition and take every opportunity to tear down others on the way to success. They cloak themselves in the skin of creative criticism but they possessed by the spirit of If-I-Can't-Publish-Neither-Can-You. Do not listen to those that attack Paolini because of his age. They are merely frustrated after years of trying to publish their own boring works, and now are enraged that someone so young could find success so early. Well, more power to Paolini. He has given us an entertaining read and a new look at fantasy from a fresh perspective.