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Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Eragon

Inheritance, Book I

by Christopher Paolini
  • Critics' Consensus:
  • Readers' Rating:
  • First Published:
  • Aug 1, 2003, 528 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Apr 2005, 500 pages
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Reviews

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There are currently 302 reader reviews for Eragon
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Lurker Spine

I found Eragon to be a fantastic book. It seems to combine many of my favorite fantasy books, especially The Secret of Dragonhome, by John Peel and Tolkien's LOTR. Though many of the ideas in this book are not new, they are combined in a unique way, giving the usual fantasy themes a good shot in the arm.

The very best part of Eragon is the evolution of the main character and the way he acts. In many novels, when something awful happens to the main character, they change so much that they little resemble the person they once were and have to have another wretched experience to make them become closer to their former selves. In Eragon, however, he (Eragon) acts like the majority of people in real life would -- mourn, accept it, try to rectify the situation or make it better, and heal (Not necessarily in that order). He doesn't become some hellbent on revenge unfeeling shell or some weak, irritating pile of mush running away from everything. He decides on revenge with caution, helping others when its right, but also keeping in mind his main goal. Eragon develops his character throughout the book, changing from an ignorant-to-the-ways-of-the-world farmboy to a person that uses judgement to make his own decisions which is tempered by people's advice (which he does not always follow). The character of Eragon acts wisely and does not blindly trust everything he is told like many heroes of fantasy

To those of you who have shown outright hatred toward this book just because of similarities to other works (be it other books, film, etc.) I'd just ask those to think. Is it really wise to try and create everything from scratch just because you think its a rip-off? No. There are basic ideas of the fantasy genre that many of Paulini's reader's have had burned in their head's practically since birth. Though I wish he would have tried harder to add or alter it a bit more, it made no sense for him to try and create new creatures that most of you would have just ripped into and compared to the similar, already established creatures anyway.

I have been reading all types of books throughout my life (not just fantasy and sci-fi) and I still would have to place Eragon in the top ten of my favorite books (for the time being, anyway).
Zach

You say that this book is copied from Lotr, but I have found more things relating it to Eddings work than Tolken. The way that Eragon reads minds is described just like Algar describes it. Brom says the war is centered around Eragon like it was with Garion. The way that brom describes the way the Riders learn magic is the way that Aldur taught his Desciples. There was a bar attendant named Gareth and the sorcerer in The Belgarian series is nmaed Belgareth and his name before he trained with Aldur was Gareth. The Administer of Trade in Teirm is Brand and the Warder of Riva was Brand. Also the fact that the Main character in both series couldn't read. there are many others. The magic used is the same way they do it in the eddings series and that it take the same energy to do it physically

I have to say though that this book had some twists to it that makes it interesting, no matter how much of it is indifferent books, like Brom dieing so early.

I think that anybody who does like this book also read The Belgariad and The Mallorean by David Eddings thse are the best series i have read.
talwar karan donnatello


Eragon is a pretty cool book,taking into consideration that it was written by a sixteen year old.But,it could really have been better b'coz paolini has dragged the story quite a long way.His descriptions of places are way too long and he uses phrases such as "wisdom flows from his mouth" rather than just saying"he's right".Besides this his descriptions of the cities and the places he visits are way too long.Eragon may be interesting for a child to read, but for all those who have read great novels for example like tolkien,the story is quite predictable.The, story however raises the spirit of adventure and mystery and is quite a commendable effort for a 16 year old.There4 i think its quite a cool book.But the funny part is that it sounds like its just a family business for the paolini familly, a way of earnin money and christopher has no control over the release dates of his boks nor does he know when the paper back version of eragon will release. its just as if he churns out stories so tat his dad an mom can make money outta it.funny,isnt it?
Brielle

A huge fan of fantasy (and not so much of reality) I enjoy all books of this genre a lot, so to say that I liked Eragon wouldn't mean much. The plot was good, the setting marvellous, but the writing... the writing needs work. The characters were all dangerously underdeveloped, except for Eragon, that is, who is so superficial it takes a little work to get pulled into the novel (the story is wonderful - no problems there). What just adds insult to injury, however, is how Paolini doesn't give us [the reader] any credit, and instead of applying the fine art of subtlety here, he simply channels his voice into various character, having them say whatever we need to know. Another place that subtlety is sorely missed is the foreshadowing. If and when Paolini does hint at something it is so painfully explicit you feel like you should have you mommy reading this story to you while you hug your blankie. Lastly, in lieu of plot twists Paolini has given us, on every other page, yet another painful hopeless-oh-wait-anything-is-possible-with-a-dragon situation. Aside from characters being dropped and then picked up again without any warning, this book was also rather predictable. Ah, well, Christopher Paolini is young and although I am no great judge of potential, if it were not for the errors expected of one so young, this would easily have been one of the best books I've ever read. I really do highly reccomend it, especially to children aged 8-12 (once they're old enough to handle some of the violence and appreciate the plot, but young enough to not care whether or not he/she can identify with the characters or understand their motivation).
Alex Block

I loved this book A LOT, but it seems to have many holes. For one thing, what is this about Eragon being '" so helpless that he always needs others to take care of him! He's brave, a great warriar, and almost never does anything wrong. Also, young Paoloni left it very obvious that in the next book "Eldest", Eragon will find out that Murtagh is his brother. During the 3 years when Murtagh was 3 that Murtagh's mother went missing, it is obvious that she went to Carvahall and gave Eragon to Murtagh. And Murtagh just happens to be 3 years older than Eragon. Coincidence? I think not. Also, Eragon and Murtagh are evenly matched in the sword, and Morzan's sword fits Eragon perfectly! Not only that, but look at the title of the next book! Eldest! Also, the witch Angela, said that he would be betrayed from a member in his family. da da da! That would be Murtagh. Oh, and one more thing, for all of you people that hate Eragon because it copies other books, that is true, but an author can only write about what he knows. I give this book 3 stars because it's awsome, but the secrets in it are way too obvious.
Dragon Nighthowler.

Eragon Brief Review.
It is amazing that such a young person has been able to publish. Then again, the way the main character is portrayed, in a cliche way, diminishes the interest, or the liking towards it. Eragon passes from a farm boy, to a highly skilled dragon rider, mage, swordmaster, knight, etc... in just a couple of months. It lacks realism, since it takes years of practice to become any of those things.

Also, the similarity with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and the Wheel of Time, makes the novel much less interesting. Readers of the fantasy genre have seen those plots, and those perfect characters, so many times, that all I can say is the lack of originality in this book. Many of us are searching for something new, something that hasn't been seen before.

Then again, those are the first feeble steps of an infant writer. With perseveration, and maturity, the author might be able to give birth to some very good novels.
hercules

Simple
The poor character development, redundant word usage (myriad anyone?) and outright plot theft make this novel, quite simply, bad. Yes, the plots from Harry Potter, LOTR, Star Wars and more were used in combination but what bothered me the most was the outright theft of the idea of an ancient language that contained everything's "true name" from Wizard of Earthsea. This infuriated me and I encourage all of you to read the book and see what a real fantasy novel is like.
Jeremy W

The Hardcover Scavanger Hunt.
This book is a hardcore ripoff. Paloni Stole works from the follow sorcs..



Diablo 2 By Blizzard


Elmisnter in Myth Drannor : By ed green wood.


Star Wars..



what was taken From starwars: Story Flow and Arcs.

Let me Being, When Eragon Left "Carvahal" Tattoine.. His family was slaughtered by the empire.. Thats strangly similar to what happen to luke. When They fled town, Brom The standin for Obi Wan Kanobi, Its not a shock that along the way they found a princess, and they were heading to meet the rebels/ Varden while fleeing the empire. They found the princess In a Miliatary Still city, Fortified like none they had ever seen before( Enter the deathstar).
Saved By the Anti Hero (Murtaugh/Han Solo) The Simlarities continue.



In the Second Book.

Eragon is sent to seek out a Master, One hidden from the Empire (yoda/Ormis). During Eragons Training Which was cut short because he had to Save his friends, which cames from a vision he has. Identical to how luke had to leave Dagoba.



This Stolen from Ed Greenwood, and his Book Elminster in myth Drannor..



The True Names, The Discription of the Even City is almost Word for Word From ED Greenwood's Book.



Stolen from Diablo2:

Ormus in diablo 2 The name of his sword Nagle, Was the name of a Item in diablo2 Called the Nagel ring.

A character By the name Mandal, which was also the Name of another Item In Diablo 2 The Mandal Heal ring.



Altho the references to Diablo2 are small, they are present.
The connection to Ed Greenwood and starwars is shocking.

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