Eragon

July 21, 2003
In the first volume in Paolini's planned Inheritance trilogy, 15-year-old Eragon discovers an odd blue gemstone while exploring an infamous stretch of forest. It is a dragon egg, fated to hatch in his care. Eragon quickly develops a psychic connection with the female dragon that emerges, whom he names Saphira ("His emotions were completely open to her mind, and she understood him better than anyone else"). Eragon narrowly escapes doom with Saphira's help, but the uncle who raised him is killed, setting up a robust revenge/adventure tale. The scope quickly expands: Eragon turns out to be the first of a new generation of Riders, a lodge of legendary dragon-riding warriors killed by the evil King Galbatorix. As a result, he becomes the focal point in a war between Galbatorix's forces and the resistance efforts of the Varden. Paolini, who was 15 years old himself when he began this book, takes the near-archetypes of fantasy fiction and makes them fresh and enjoyable, chiefly through a crisp narrative and a likable hero. He carries a substantial Tolkien influence—fanciful spellings of geographical names, the use of landscape as character, as well as the scale and structure of the story itself. But his use of language dispenses with the floral, pastoral touch in favor of more direct prose. The likeness does not end there: the volume opens with a detailed map of Paolini's world, and ends with a glossary and pronunciation guide for his invented language. An auspicious beginning to both career and series. Ages 12-up.

iifreeze - One day, a hunter and farmer named Eragon stumbles upon a hollow, indestructible, stone in the middle of a dangerous and unknown forest called the Spine. About a week after, a small dragon hatchling named Saphira comes out. According to a man named Brom who proclaims he speaks the truth, it has been thousands of years since the last Rider died and the evil king stole away to raise an evil hatchling. The king finds a lonely Rider and convinces him to join the evil. Many, many, many years later the elf woman is chased by a Shade and the elf sends the egg to the Spine. Eragon finds the egg of Saphira and his journey begins. Will he succeed or be utterly destroyed? Find out by reading Eragon: Inheritance Book 1. I would greatly recommend this book to other kids from Grade 4 and up. It is a very thrilling story and Eragon becomes a man with nothing to lose except for himself and his dragon. Together they chase down the men who killed Eragon's uncle. Once again, read the book to find out what happens!