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August 10, 2004
Eragon, Inheritance Book 1
Christopher Paolini's first novel, Eragon, is the story of how Eragon, a young farmboy becomes the last dragon Rider. While the intended audience (at least according to the publisher) are young adult readers, I strongly recommend this novel to any avid reader of epic fantasy -- at least, so long as he is patient. (Books 2 and 3 are still "forthcoming" and this book lacks a satisfying conclusion).
The story begins with young Eragon finding an amazing blue stone in the mountainous region called the Spine. What follows is an entertaining account of how this stone, actually a dragon egg, starts him down a painful road of discovery -- both of himself and of the evils of the world.
Sound familiar? That's because it is. Eragon follows the same "Hero's Journey" story pattern that drives most Epic Fantasy. Normally I would say that is a shame, except that I've read countless different fantasies (and other stories as well) that used the "Hero's Journey", and yet I find that I still really like the ones that do it well. Apparently this is just one of those story forms that resonates with me (and many readers, or it wouldn't be so common)
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing of Christopher Paolini. It was very straightforward and to-the-point, but the occasional bit of philosophising is slipped in (again not uncommon in such a story). Generally the story moves very quickly and with a certain light-heartedness that I find enjoyable. I can't put my finger on how he does it though -- I mean some really awful things happen in the story, and they pull on the right emotional chords, and yet I still walk away saying it was "lighthearted".
I keep reading these things, hoping that I'll somehow spot the magic skill that good authors possess that allows their writing to be so emotionally involved, and mine to feel so very flat. Perhaps I'll figure it out someday -- I do keep trying.
Back to Eragon, however. Paolini makes only one significant writing mistake that I noticed, and that is that the "ancient language" that drives magic in this story (yet another common theme, eh?) possesses many words that aren't readily pronounceable. My favorite author, Orson Scott Card, warns never to do this, and I completely agree. Ok, there, I've criticized the book, nobody can claim this is a shameless plug.
Well, OK, it's a plug. But it was my idea to plug it, I'm not being paid for it, and I really do like the book!
There is an audio version of Eragon as well. I read the print version, I listened to the audio version, and both are excellent.
Strongly Recommended.
4 Out Of 5 Stars.
Want to buy it?
Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)
Update:Amazon is listing Eldest as releasing August 1st, 2005. That's a long ways away yet... but at least we have a date.
Posted by andrew at August 10, 2004 08:52 PM