Rating: 
Summary: looking forward to Inheritance 2
Review: Great book! I'm impressed...and I compare everything to Tolkien, Brooks, Eddings, and McCaffrey. The best part is that he's only 19 and has lots of years and books to come! I'm really looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: More Fantasy Please
Review: With Eragon, Paolini ventured into a flooded market of fantasy books. As many have commented in previous "reviews", Paolini's book does have some similarities to Tolkien and other prominent fantasy writers. But with so many fantasy books, it is difficult, if not impossible, to write something completely original. Paolini's work is obviously inspired by the Lord of the Rings, but instead of copying Tolkien's format, he wanders off into his own land, with its own history and own uniqueness. For that, I applaud him.While reading this book, I was immersed into Paolini's, characters, story and world. I began feeling the emotions that the protagonist was experiencing in the story. Is that not the job of a writer? On this level, I believe Paolini was quite successful. However, when I read Eragon as a writer reads, I see some problems with his composition. The most glaring issue is his dialogue. The dialogue itself doesn't have the punch that I would have hoped and it seems as though he tried to come up with as many ways possible to say "Eragon said." The true power of the dialogue should be what is said, not how it is said. Finally, I have an issue with some of the other "reviews" of Eragon. The trouble with previous reviews is that adults are putting adult perspectives on a book that is intended for students and kids. Overall, I would recommend this book. It is entertaining and it kept me reading. Kids looking for something to fill the LOTR void will enjoy this book; they will look forward to its sequels. As a teacher, I know that kids will appreciate this book and accept it for what it is: a good young adult fantasy book.
Rating: 
Summary: Like a cover version of an old favourite
Review: This reminds me of some boy band covering one of the classics. It's not bad as such, it just keeps reminding you how much better it's been done elsewhere. The story is totally derivative. I accept that it's difficult not to be these days, but sadly there's not an ounce of originality and far too much direct copying. Even then, if the story was a page-turner, you might be OK but it drags most of the time. Goodness only knows how the author is going to keep it going for two more books. Read the Pern stories, Tolkein, Ursula la Guin to see how it's really done.
Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: This is a very interesting story. YES YES it is not new. In fact I recognize all the elements that were taken from the classic works of Fantasy. Just like Eragon, Paolini is just a fledging, a teenager who is thrown into the perilous adventure of writing only to confront the evil critics into a long epic battle of good vs. evil. I admire him because he had the courage to give to the world this book at such a tender age. Also, like Eragon, he is not a master yet. There is a lot he needs to learn. He is still sloppy with his penmanship(sword) and his magic use of language. Give him time and he will prove to be a great writer and one to contend with.
All in all I thought the story was quite entertaining, since I read it for the purpose of having a good time and not to rip it apart into pieces. Great things should be expected from these two young heroes!
Rating:
Summary: Don't let the pretty cover fool you
Review: It is interesting how readers either seem to love or hate this book. I was drawn to the book by the attractive cover. I got it out of the library and spent a few days trying to be interested in it. It was very easy to put down. The only reason I finished it is that I continued to read it hoping it would get better. It did not. This was written by a teenager, and it shows. One hopes that his next book(s) will demonstrate his growth as a writer. I must say I have sympathy for anyone who tries to write a fantasy novel which includes elves, dwarves and magic, because the book will inevitably be compared to Tolkien, especially now that the LOTR movies are out. However, in no way is this book "comparable to Tolkien," or even any of the other writers to whom Mr. Paolini has been compared, at least in terms of writing style and excellence. The plot and "devices" are not original; the story line is VERY like Star Wars, and the dragon/magic and relationships are similar to those in novels by Anne McCaffrey, Raymond Feist and Terry Brooks (no offense to these writers). The writing is disjointed, uneven and dull. There is much extraneous information which the reader tucks away in his memory, thinking it will be used later, but it is never mentioned again. Nearly every chapter ends with Eragon falling asleep or becoming unconscious. I had to laugh at some of the lines, such as "White mist rose up off the river, like blood steaming in winter." Surely that is something every reader can relate to (?) One can hope as Mr. Paolini matures that his writing will also. But don't waste your money on this book with a nice cover - get it out of the library or borrow it from a friend if you want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Eragon
Review: An excellent book! Great for fantasy lovers. Christopher Paolini did a great job on binding the book together with his words.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Eragon
Review: The book Eragon by Christopher Paolini is about a boy named Eragon. In the book, Eragon finds a stone in the forest. He then finds out that the stone is actually a dragon egg. When it hatches, he realizes that he cannot stay in his town. Servants of the empire, which is ruled by a very evil king, come looking for him. With the help of his dragon and the village storyteller named Brom, he goes on to face many evil foes.
I personally think that this is a fantastic book. I simply just love books with adventure, dragons, and all the other fantasy stuff. This book is very suspenseful and kept me reading for 3 hours at a time. I like that it has maps of the land were it takes place. This worked in The Lord of the Rings, and people have tried it since, but this is the most successful one I've ever seen since The Lord of the Rings.
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Summary: I don't usually read fantasy/science fiction -- but,
Review: I made an exception for this book. I can't remember how I stumbled across "Eragon", but I was at loose ends after the third film of the Lord of the Rings series (and I've read the Tolkien books too many times to count) and I found myself craving more flights of fancy and fantasy. I was taken by the fact that a 15 year old prodigy had begun such an ambitious endeavor, for author Christopher Paolini is planning to write a trilogy about his young hero, Eragon, who goes from poor farm boy to a young master, growing in power, of magic. This first book is subtitled: "The Inheritance". Paolini's family first self-published 10,000 copies, and Floridian Carl Hiassen helped to sell the fantasy to Knopf, which later released a first national printing of over 100,000 copies. Paolini embraces the standard fantasy world of humans, dwarves and elves (no hobbits, here!), and adds the existence of dragons, nearly extinct, as creatures of power. Elves, and sometimes humans, are selected by hatchling dragons to become Dragon Riders, companions of dragons who can communicate with them and others by telepathy. Riders have magical powers, but the use of magic drains them of much energy. The evil forces of the land are somewhat more creative. Sluggish, warring monsters (Tolkiens' Orcs?), the Urgals, abound, but are no threat until they are organized for the king by the evil Ra'Zac (creatures of the King that are not human, covered in cloaks, and strongest at night) and the terrifying
Durka, who is a Shade (a spirit in human form, with crimson hair and maroon eyes) all of whom are working for the king, and trying to locate Eragon and his dragon. Set in the fantasy world of Alagaesia, Eragon's land is ruled by Galbatorix, who once was a Rider himself. The adult dragons have all perished, and Galbatorix has been dispossessed of one of three dragon eggs by a group dedicated to ending his cruel rule, the Varden. This egg is conveyed to Eragon, and the dragon hatches in his care. Much of the facts of the land are uncovered as the book moves along, and Eragon is slowly filled in on the history of how he got to be who he is. His mother, Selena, has been missing from his life since he was a child, and the book ends without disclosing the mystery of what happened to her and just who his father was. Alagaesia is bordered by Du Weldenvarden, a deep forest, home to the Elves. It appears that this will be the setting for much of book 2. The country south of the forest is a vast desert that Eragon and his traveling companions must cross to reach safety (the Hadarac). Paolini is particularly clever in devising how the small band of travelers with Eragon gets water while crossing. He's also created rich city and village profiles in the kingdom, as Eragon tries to locate the Ra'Zac, to revenge killings in Eragon's home. South of the desert are the Boer mountains, home to the dwarves, who are assisting the Varden; the climax of the novel takes place in these mountains. Paolini has peppered his cast with strong characters who will assist Eragon in fulfilling his role. Brom, a wise soothsayer, with mysterious origins, becomes Eragon's mentor. Murtagh, a fearless fighter, accompanies Eragon across the desert to the Boer mountains; his history, when uncovered, is somewhat shocking. Arya is the elven woman that fills Eragon's nightmares, and must be rescued by the travelers from a prison, where she has been cruelly tortured at the hands of Durka. Ajihad is the strong leader of the Varden and Hrothgar the King of the dwarves, both of whom risk their followers to assist the young Rider. Two of the most interesting characters are Angela, an herbalist and her werecat, Solembum, both of whom are much more than they seem. Eragon encounters them more than once in this novel. Above all, Saphira, the dragon that Eragon hatches and accepts for his own, weaves a magical air into the story, and her relationship to the homeless boy, and their telepathic communion and communication, form the strong story background that sets "Eragon" apart from much of what has been written in the genre in the past. Paolini's a rich storyteller, with short chapters, and action-packed scenes. He doesn't forget to give his hero a conscience, nor does he fail to set the tone for the second book in the series, "The Eldest". I very much enjoyed the read, and hope he's close to finishing the second in the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down
Review: When my grandma gave Eragon to me two weeks ago , I thought it was going to be boring. Boy, was I ever wrong! I think Christopher Poalini did awesome for a fifteen-seventeen year old!
I finished it twelve days ago, but I still find myself thinking about it. I can't belive he was only seventeen! I'm trying to get my friends to read it, but they are too stuborn. Eragon was so good I coudn't put it down to do my homework. [That is NOT like me!!!] I never went outside to play or anything that I couldn't do with the book. If you pick up this book, you will not put it down until you have read all 509 pages. I like the way he put the glossery in the back. I also referred to the map several times as I read. It may be long, but I would not change a single word. I have not read any of the books the author supposedly copied, but I loved this book! I won't critisize Eragon or the author until I can write a better book. Forget all the bad reveiws, this is an awesome book!
Rating: 
Summary: Wow
Review: I recieved this book for Christmas after hearing a lot about it's 19 year old author. I originally thought wow, a nineteen yearold writing fantasy awesome, but then I started reading it. WOW this is a piece of crap. I'm going to assume that Chris has read a lot of fantasy, and because of this has been influenced by the books that he has read to the point that he is lacking any original thoughts at all. The only reason I'm giving this book two stars is because he is 19 and he needs props for getting a book published (even if his family oned the publishing company) when he is so young.
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