Eragon

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story!
Review: This book deserves a solid 5 stars! I found this book highly entertaining, full of adventure and a hint of romance. This book is not just for young adults, though. I was even hesitant to read Eragon believing it would be a children's story. Now, I can't wait until the next book and the MOVIE! I highly recommend this book for all ages!

Rating:
Summary: It's still a fun read
Review: Everybody has said it: Eragon is basically a rehash of Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Dragonriders. Well, guess what? It is. Luke Skywalker, Eragon, innocent farmboy whose family gets killed and this crazy old man starts teaching him stuff. Elves, dwarves, orcs/urgals, an ancient language, and a character name that sounds suspiciously like "Aragorn." Magical kid with unusual talent. People who ride dragons (duh). It's all here.

BUT that doesn't make Eragon any less fun to read. I mean, yeah, he took some ideas, but give him a break. Not only did he combine them in a new way, but his characters--especially Saphira and Angela--have their own personalities. And he was 15 when he started writing it. Now, I am 18, and an aspiring author also interested in the science fiction/fantasy genre, and I have to commend Paolini for his work. It's hard to write a good story and get it published when you're so young. I haven't managed to do it yet. And his story is interesting enough that, despite my best efforts, I couldn't fall asleep until I'd read "just one more chapter"... until there wasn't "just one more chapter" left to read. If I was that hooked (this coming from a girl who's been known to throw books accross the room if she didn't like the way they were headed), then Eragon's definitely got something going for him. I can't wait for this Sunday, when I can meet Paolini and tell him in person how his book inspired me to keep trying, and kept me entertained at the same time. I look forward to reading his next book.

Rating:
Summary: Cool Book
Review: THIS BOOK ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its got a lot of detail, which I like.

Rating:
Summary: Great for Lord of the Rings fans! (Like me.)
Review: This book really made me think, "Wow." It grabs your heart and never lests go. It is filled with action, magic, sorrow, and humor. A perfect combination! Thank you Christopher!

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book, a talented author
Review: I'm about halfway through ERAGON, and I love it! At the beginning, there was a lot of awkward writing, but as it progressed it became smooth and well-written. Sometimes there are moments that can be truly called beautiful, like when Paolini describes a rock formation as "the bones of the earth". And he is only 19--15 when he started the book! I think he tremendously talented. It's also inspiring to me as a young writer, and encourages me to keep on trying with my own fantasy novel.
A lot of reviewers have said that ERAGON is cliched and predictable. Yes, it's not terribly difficult at times to guess what's coming next. And many of the ideas have been previously used. But I think we should remember that just about every story has been told at least once. Shakespeare, in fact, cribbed the plot of ROMEO AND JULIET from another writer. But it's Shakespeare's work we remember, because of the quality of his writing. And I think it's the same with Paolini. I can't wait for the next book in his trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: A good start.
Review: Eragon is the first novel in the Inheritance series and Christopher Paolini's debut as an author. It is a fine start for a young author and refreshingly devoid of the detailed political machinations and intrigues of the current crop of fantasy titles. Much less space is devoted to a detailed history of rulers and place and the politics of particular groups, nations, and cities than say George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones or Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. The cast of characters is smaller and includes a dragon. All of which I found rather refreshing after the laborious reads of Martin and Jordan. Though it lacks depth, the book is an engaging read. The text is clear and free of the wordy prose of Janny Wurts.

Eragon moves forward rather swiftly - perhaps too swiftly. My problem with the Wheel of Time is that everything, including character development, moves at an excruciatingly slow pace. But Eragon tends toward the opposite. It seems as if Paolini is attempting to equip Eragon, the main character of the book, for the coming storm too quickly. How does he do it? By creating a character that becomes what he is more from some unique innate talent than effort. Eragon does have to work at it to be sure. However, Paolini has him learn to read, become a master swordsman, and a seasoned warrior in less than a year's time. Indeed, after besting Brom, his teacher, he is told that there are few in the land capable of matching his skill.

The idea of riding dragons certainly isn't unique - you have only to read Anne McCaffrey's books to know that. But it is a story element I like and I am delighted that Paolini has resurrected not only the idea but the mental bond between rider and dragon. Dragons and other magical creatures, like the elves and shades, are endowed with physical and magical powers far beyond not only what any human has but is able to achieve. Eragon is told, by Brom that in a contest with any of these beings he would be defeated. Paolini reinforces this throughout the book. The problem is that this makes Eragon's survival, and eventual victory, in a number of physical and magical encounters with a shade far less believable. Eragon has his own magical ally in the form of Saphira his dragon companion (who, incidentally, is conspicuously absent during Eragon's battles with the shade). And since the powers of a dragon aren't fully understood, even by them, it is easy enough to extract his hero from situations well beyond him through a mysterious power that seems to defy the rules of magic as explained by Brom. Paolini uses this crutch only a few times in Eragon; I hope it is used not at all in the next book.

Considering that the author was 15 when he started writing the book I think these criticisms are minor. He isn't a Michael Moorcock, Ursula Le Guin, or Robert Silverberg - at least not yet. He has potential and I will be reading the next installment in this series.

Rating:
Summary: 1 STAR, SHEESH U IDIOTS
Review: Eragon is the best book I have ever read. (And believe me, i've read a LOT of books). People are saying this book is the exact same as other books, but give me a @#%&ing break. This book follows the classic non-fiction plot. If any of you idiots giving this book a one star have any taste (which I highly doubt) you would at least know that it is COMPLETELY NORMAL in every book for the young hero to be trained by an elder that later turns out to be a Rider/Jedi/Knight/etc. This book is full of action, adventure, and suspense and you would have to have less brains than a Procomposthagnus not to understand this is a GREAT book. I have read this book twice now and I am reccomending it to all of my friends and I encourage you to do the same. If you have $20 bucks in your pocket right now I suggest you stop reading this right now and go pick up a copy. This is more than the best book since Harry Potter, It's better than Harry Potter, in future genarations, kids will be reffering to books as "The best book since Eragon". I have been entranced by this book and every detail within. For example, right now I am concentrating on trying to find Paolini's key to turning English words into the Ancient Language, (Which, by the way, is nothing at all like the spells in Harry Potter or any other books). I hope you take my words into consideration and take the time to read this fabulous book. To all the Eragon fans out there, "May your swords stay sharp".

Rating:
Summary: It was ok...
Review: I thought that the writing need some polishing, and the story line was a little weak in places. Some parts were really good, but others "borrowed" from other books, especially Lord of the Ring by JRR Tolkien which happens to be my favorite book of all time. I thought it could have been much better, if more time had been taken. But, even through all this it was a generally OK book. I am looking forward to the next installment, because I believe that it will (hopefully) be better, due to the fact that the author has now had some time to mature in his writing.

Rating:
Summary: Results of Inexperience
Review: The young author and his parents (who suspiciously own a publishing company) are obviously trying to capitalize on the Harry Potter fueled spotlight on the fantasy genre. Young Mister Paolini, while obviously a fan of reading fantasy, should be cautioned that it takes more than that to be able to write good fantasy. As the subject matter has become mired in cliche over the decades, what now distinguishes good fantasy is a mastery of language, of plot construction, and of character development. In Eragon, the title character is far from sounding his age and lacks the natural bewilderment expected of a young boy thrust into epic destiny (see David Edding's Belgariad). The use of dragons and mental communication is nothing that hasn't been done, and the so-called plot twists are all too predictable. The writing itself is clumsy, as one might expect from a 15 year old boy. Even the naming conventions and attempt at inventing languages bear the signs of one who reads but sadly cannot duplicate Tolkien's craft. On the bright side, future books from Young Paolini, who must be getting older and more experienced as he enters into his twenties, can only improve on this beginning.

Rating:
Summary: What trouble can a blue stone cause?
Review: Eragon is a novel full of fantasy clichés - a boy and his dragon and his wise mentor, elves and dwarves and evil kings. Despite this, it is an enjoyable and fast paced novel that sees a lot of changes in its main characters. It also does not yield all its secrets in the first instalment of the trilogy.

Despite the clichés the characters in this book are likeable and well written, and Eragon, the central character of the story is not overwhelmed in character, even by his dragon, which makes a nice change. The way they are written make you want to come back for book 2 in the series when it is published, and certainly that is a sign of a book you enjoyed.