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Eragon (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Inheritance) | 
| Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Category: Book
List Price: $10.95
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $10.94 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 615810
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 528
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 1
ISBN: 0375840540
EAN: 9780375840548
ASIN: 0375840540
Publication Date: October 24, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy#8212;until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save#8212;or destroy#8212;the Empire.brbr#8220;An authentic work of great talent.#8221;#8212;iThe New York Times Book Review/ibrbr#8220;Christopher Paolini make[s] literary magic with his precocious debut.#8221;#8212;iPeople/i brbr#8220;Unusual, powerful, fresh, and fluid.#8221;#8212;iBooklist/i, Starredbrbr#8220;An auspicious beginning to both career and series.#8221;#8212;iPublishers Weekly/ibrbrA New York Times BestsellerbrbrA USA Today BestsellerbrbrA Wall Street Journal BestsellerbrbrA Book Sense BestsellerbrbrbriFrom the Hardcover edition./i
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Gone dragon-riding October 27, 2008
Mix together equal parts "Star Wars" and J.R.R. Tolkien, then add a generous helping of Anne McCaffrey's dragon-riders and a few random shreds of Garth Nix for good measure.br /br /Obviously originality is not Christopher Paolini's strong suit, and it shows in his fantasy debut "Eragon," which was penned in his tender teenage years. It swims in fantasy cliches and stilted dialogue, but there's a certain awkward charm in Paolini's fantasy world. The biggest problem is, simply put, Paolini's cardboard cutout of a self-insert hero, Eragon.br /br /The titular character is lucky enough to stumble across a strange blue stone while hunting on the Spine. After failing to sell it, Eragon finds that it's actually a dragon egg, and the baby blue dragon inside selects him to hatch for and remain with forever. All the Dragon Riders were killed off by Evil King Galbatorix long ago, except for the weird old recluse Brom, who becomes Eragon's mentor.br /br /And Luke, I am your father... wait, wrong story.br /br /When Galbatorix's men destroy Eragon's home and family, Brom and Eragon flee to find the mysterious rebels known as the Varden. But Eragon's dreams are being haunted by the beautiful elf Arya, and the little band sets out to save her. Eragon and his dragon Saphira learn many things -- and make new allies -- the journey to the Varden brings them a terrible (and totally predictable) loss, and leads them to Eragon's first battle.br /br /Lofty elves, humble farm boys, ghastly goblinesque creatures, mystical women, special swords, evil tyrants who are evil because they just are, evil minions, wise mentors, and telepathic dragons in a variety of colors. Christopher Paolini never met a fantasy cliche that he didn't like. And as a result, "Eragon" is dripping with Tolkien and Lucas-style trappings, right down to the hero's suspiciously Tolkienian name.br /br /Paolini paints these typical sword-and-sorcery stories with rather stilted but promising prose. "Eragon" has some raw rookie potential, and you can detect Paolini's enthusiasm as he explores his invented fantasy land, much the way many other teenagers have done after reading high fantasy and yearning to explore their own made-up worlds. There's just not much that is new or unique about this story, although Paolini throws in some attempted humorous quirks like a weird fortune-teller.br /br /The biggest problem with Paolini's writing is that Eragon is portrayed as a noble, brave, compassionate soul with a brilliant destiny ahead of him. Well, frankly he shows no nobility, bravery or compassion, and the many characters who gasp in admiration of him does not make him any more impressive. He's a glaring self-insert, with all the dimension of a cardboard standee, and about as sendearing.br /br /The supporting characters are not much better -- Brom is too brief a character to make much of an impact, and he seems to exist mainly to get Our Hero up to snuff in information and ability. And the love interest Arya is glorified only for her otherworldly beauty... which is all she has. Eragon's adoration of her seems unfounded, because er personality is chilly at best, snotty and autocratic at worst.br /br /Christopher Paolini's "Eragon" is pretty much what you'd expect of a teenage boy's fantasy novel -- plenty of Lucas and Tolkien echoes, and a style that hasn't yet gained a sense of humor about itself.
 A Great Young Person's Read October 21, 2008
I have to say after reading some other's less-than-glowing reviews of this book that there is an important, crucial fact they have not seemed to take into consideration-- THIS IS A CHILDREN BOOK. This is not a book written for adults; even though certainly many, many adults have enjoyed it. It's also as certainly written quite as well or perhaps even better than your usual ripped bodice, Danielle Steele or Jacquelyn Suzanne. It is written for the older children-young adult bracket, ages 11 through 17 or thereabouts. I, for one, am grateful my 12 year old son had something as interesting as this to enjoy. It's vital that the kids read. So I say "Hooray for Eragon!"
 Eragon Movie vs. Eragon Book March 6, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Ok. I saw the movie back in December before I had read the book, then after I read the book I thought that the movie was a real disappointment; honestly. Yes I'll give it a 4 because of the awesome graphic designs and digital effects, but the plot (I believe) could have been written much better, even if all people were only wanting to see was the fierce dragon and magic. I watch movies not only for entertainment, but I really care about the actual story and how it is written; weather or not it is written well and with skill.br /And I love movies that have layer upon layer of stories that will actually tell hidden meanings or cause the viewer to pause and truely consider those meanings, weather or not the meanings were meant to be extracted from the film; by that individual. And after reading Eragon, its a wonderful lengthy story that has very important details that help enhance the story telling, and I truely would have like to see that come out in the movie, but I'm only one person with only one opinion; that I think needs to be heard among the many other opinions that this world has to offer!
Borrowing from masterpieces December 20, 2006
5 out of 13 found this review helpful
Science fiction fans hail George Lucas' original Star Wars trilogy as a classic. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" is considered the prototype and classic of the fantasy genre. Bring these two together--and you have "Eragon."br /br /In "Eragon",the hero finds out he is a Dragonrider,an order that has been extinguished by the evil Galbatorix (shades of Darth Vader slaying the noble Jedi knights)Through his dragon,Saphira,Eragon gains magical powers (think of Luke Skywalker and the Force!)He has a mentor,Brom (okay,Obi-Wan Kenobi)After Galbatorix's Ra'zac (ravenlike Ringwraiths)slay his uncle (think of the death of Uncle Owen),EragonBrom fight back.On the way,Brom,like Obi-Wan,is killed.Eragon goes to rescue an elf princess Arya(think Princess Leia!)in Gil'ead (basically the Death Star)with the help of a rogue,Murtagh (in other words,Han Solo)Both join the Rebel Alliance--I mean,Varden.br /br /Paolini uses the languageculture of Middle-Earth with his elves,dwarvesAncient Language.In "Eragon",the morning star is called Aiedil--which sounds a lot like Earendil,the morning star in Middle-Earth(!)br /br /The book has its strengths--Paolini can describe languagescreatures,and he has potential.Unfortunately,his blatant borrowing from TolkienLucas--as well as a flimsy plot structure--makes the book drag on.There's the scene where EragonBrom have to look through shipping records to find the location of the Ra'zac (think Eragon,DragonriderCPA!),the fact that every character weeps single tears,the unconscious Arya is tied to the dragon's belly (and spends most of the book comatose,though Paolini claims he likes strong female characters)br /br /"Eragon" is like some chocolates--it has a sweet shell,but in the inside it's hollow.
Cliched... but it works October 26, 2006
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
While filled with Fantasy Cliches Paolini is able to build sympathetic characters we care about. His characters are complex enough for adult readers without being too complex for younger readers. Although some of his segments drag they are few and far between and do not negatively affect the plot. If you find yourself bogged down feel free to skim a bit. In my opinion this is one of the better-written fantasy novels of the last five years. Surprising when you find it was written by a teen. Based on raw talent expect Paolini to be a force for years to come as his style, creativity and life experience mature.
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