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Summary: Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Review: This is an amazing book that was written by a 15-year-old kid! i wish i could write that well. ha ha. anyways, this is probably the best fantasy book i've ever read. it's about a boy named Eragon who's only family is killed by evil beings and Eragon, along with his pet dragon, Saphira, and the town story teller Bram set off to find them. But along the way, there are lots of roadblocks in thier way, which ends up helping them in the end. I can't wait for the sequal to come out!
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Summary: Eragon's major downfall
Review: Eragon is, somewhat, a novel that secretly combines a lot of different authors' work. For example: Paolini used elves, dwarves and dragons from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of The Rings." Not to mention some of the mysteriously similar words. Look here:
(From Eragon) (From Tolkien)
Ardwen ..... Arwen
Furnost ..... Fornost
Isenstar ..... Isengard
...And many more. There's also TOO MUCH DESCRIPTION!!!
There's a chapter in the book called "Saddlemaking." All the chapter is about is describing how the character makes a saddle, but the readers aren't supposed to learn how to make a saddle...They're supposed to see whether or not the saddle will even make a slight difference in the hero's quest. If you've read The Lord of the Rings, please don't read this. It's like re-reading the classic works. The only difference is that this time, it was written by a fifteen-year old kid who just manipulated other classic writers' ideas. For example: In Eragon, there's a place called Gil'ead, only that word was already used in Stephen King's novel, The Gunslinger (only without the apostrophe, big deal). Please don't read this book.
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Summary: This book is AMAZING!!
Review: When I got this book, I just thought it would be okay. I read a lot of books before I started reading this one, and now I regret it! This book has a kinda slow start but once you get to page 35, I just keeps getting better. Christipher Paolini makes it so that you just HAVE to keep reading to find out what happens next. I would HIGHLY reccomend this book to ANYBODY!! This book also contains a language that is REALLY COOL!! So, in the words of Eragon: Atra gülai un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse skölir frá rauthr!
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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!
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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.
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Summary: Cool Book
Review: THIS BOOK ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its got a lot of detail, which I like.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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".
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