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Book Summary:
Eragon, a fifteen-year old orphan, lives with his Uncle Garrow and cousin Roran, always wondering about his past. He spends his days hunting a remote area of Algaesia called the Spine until one day he finds a curious blue stone in the forest. Roran, who desires to marry, leaves the town and goes to work for local miller, while Eragon stays behind with his uncle. Sure that he can sell the stone for a profit to keep the farm going in Roran’s absence, Eragon is nonplussed when the traders refuse to even offer him a price. The traders also bring strange rumors of unrest throughout the kingdom. Urgals, gross monsters with horns are appearing more frequently, and there are rumors that the Varden are seeking overthrow the devious King Galbatorix. From a song sung by a local bard name Brom, Eragon learns that Galbatorix was once a dragon-rider who plunged into madness when his own dragon was killed. He then killed the other riders who would not join his cause.
All of these grand events seem far from Carvahall until one day, Eragon’s stone hatches, revealing a baby dragon, creatures that have been longed believed to be extinct. Eragon keeps the dragon, whom he names Saphira, a secret from even his uncle. After leaving the farm on Saphira’s back, he returns to discover Uncle Garrow murdered and the farm burned by the mysterious strangers who have been wandering the area asking questions about the stone. With Saphira’s help, Eragon manages to transport his uncle---who is barely clinging to life-- to Carvahall and the home of a kindly blacksmith named Horst, who has come to Eragon’s aid on numerous occasions. Yet, Eragon’s injured legs and strange markings near the farm threaten to reveal Saphira’s presence, so after his uncle dies, he decides to run away to protect her. Eragon steals leather to make a saddle and is caught in the act by the bard, Brom, who demands to come with Eragon.
The two narrowly escape Carvahall and head out in pursuit of the mysterious strangers, the Ra’zac, whom Eragon vows to kill in revenge for his uncle’s death. Brom vows to help him on his quest. On their long journey, Brom teaches him about dragon lore and the complicated history of Algaesia. He also begins instructing Eragon in his newly discovered magical abilities, which made an appearance in a battle with some Urgals. As they travel, they witness the growing unrest in the land and discover atrocities committed by the Urgals. During their journey, Eragon has series of dreams about a mysterious woman who is imprisoned.
After one of the Ra’zac leaves behind a lethal potion, the pair turns towards Teirm, a busy seaport on the coast, hoping to track the source of the poison and thereby determine the Ra’zacs’ lair. During their stay in Teirm, Eragon has curious encounter with a soothsayer named Angela and her mysterious were-cat, Solembum, who both reveal part of Eragon’s fortune and some of his past to him. While in Teirm, Brom is also reunited with an old friend named Jeod, who helps them break into the local records office to get a map and information about the source of the poison. From the stolen records, Brom and Eragon head south to the city of Dras-Leona and the mysterious rock formations of Helgrind, where they believe the Ra’zac base is located.
Brom’s poking around draws suspicion and both are caught by the Ra’zac in a trap. Eragon is drugged. When one of the Ra’zac attempts to kill Eragon, Brom steps in front of the dagger, saving his life. Both Brom and Eragon are both then saved by a mysterious stranger, Murtagh, who claimed to also be hunting the Ra’zac.
Despite escaping the Ra’zac, Brom succumbs to his wounds, but before he dies, he reveals his true identity as a former Dragon Rider and current member of the rebellious Varden. In fact, working for the Varden, he is the one who stole Saphira’s egg away from the sick King Galbatorix, who still holds two eggs. After building a diamond tomb for the fallen Rider, the three set out for Gilead, searching for a Varden contact. On the way, they are waylaid by Urgals and Eragon is captured and imprisoned by an evil Shade, named Durza.
Denying himself food and water, which are both drugged, Eragon clears his mind to do magic. He is questioned by Durza who is working for King Galbatorix, but he manages to evade Durza’s wiles. Eragon discovers that the woman from his dreams, an elf is imprisoned in the same place. With the help of Murtagh and Saphira, Eragon manages to save both him and this mystery woman, who is named Arya. She was responsible for keeping Saphira’s egg safe at one point. She is gravely injured and in a comatose state, but Eragon refuses to abandon her.
The small group heads out across the vast desert seeking the Varden in the Beor Mountains on the other side. In the desert, Eragon, using his magic, he draws water from the ground to keep them alive. When they are nearly captured by slave traders, Murtagh murders the slave driver, which appalls Eragon and forces him to question his loyalty. Murtagh is also adamant about not going to the Varden, which also raises Eragon’s suspicions. Eventually, Murtagh reveals that Brom killed his father, Morzan, one of the Foresworn riders who joined Galbatorix, and that Eragon wields his sword. Eventually, he sticks by Eragon since the Varden are the only ones who have the antidote to save Arya’s life.
Leaving the desert behind, the crew find themselves in lush forest valley and pursued by Urgals who are hot on their trails. With information from the still unconscious Arya, they barely escape through a waterfall into a hidden realm and dwarf bastion of Tronjheim. A dwarf named Orik rescues Eragon from near drowning. Although the dwarf is kindly towards the new arrivals, others are keenly suspicious and fear that they may be spies from Galbatorix. Once inside, Eragon protects Murtagh’s identity, and both are examined by the court magicians, an evil pair of twins. They are also brought before the leaders Ajihad, and King Hrothgar, king of the dwarves. Murtagh refuses to cooperate and reveal his memories, though and is separated from Eragon. Eragon and Saphira are housed in the former Dragon Rider’s accommodations in the tower. Eragon learns more about Saphira, the egg, the Elves, and Brom’s role in this whole intrigue.
Crisis erupts a few days later when it is discovered that Urgals, led by the Shade Durza, are tunneling underground to invade Tronjheim. Eragon uses his magic to help by collapsing tunnels, but ultimately it is not enough. A massive battle follows, during which Eragon comes face to face with Durza. When Saphira and Arya distract Durza, Eragon is able to use is magic and pierce Durza’s heart. Without their leader, the Urgals begin to turn on one another and the Varden and the dwarves carry the day to victory. Eragon awakes a few days later, under the care of Angela, the healer. The book ends as Eragon remembers all that he has gone through and decides to go on to visit the Elves and learn more about his destiny.
APA Reference:
Paolini, C. (2003). Eragon: inheritance, book one. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Impressions:
Like The Hobbit, to whom it owes much, Eragon is a classic, archetypal tale of good versus evil. Paolini’s world of Algaesia is consistent and realistic, allowing the reader to suspend disbelief when magic acts occur. Paolini does a good job of providing just enough detail to set a mood without going overboard. Furthermore, his universe abides by certain rules; for example, Eragon cannot use magic without becoming physically exhausted. Despite the fact that many characters lack complexity and are often clearly divided into “good” and “evil” camps, Eragon himself is someone who is hard not to love. Although I do not typically enjoy much fantasy, I found myself rooting for Eragon all the same. Eragon’s character development in particular, which underscores a heartfelt coming of age story that all readers can identify with, saves this book from being lackluster. True, there are many convenient plot twists and deux ex machina’s along the way. I was more than a little annoyed at the transparent predictability and clumsy foreshadowing. At times the language was a little stilted and overblown as Paolini tried to emulate that epic sound. I also got annoyed whenever magic would suddenly crop up to save the day, but in the end, I cared so much for Eragon that it didn’t really matter. I think the message of hope in this story will resonate with readers and is one of the reasons why fantasy can be so powerful. I am a big fan of The Odyssey and other epics, so I loved seeing this modern manifestation of the heroic quest. Eragon leaves home to get revenge, survives numerous trials, is assisted by his Brom, and in the process matures. We learn and grow with Eragon on his journey through experiences that are completely foreign to our everyday experiences; this is what makes the novel so effective at communicating its themes. I do confess, though, that I was a little disappointed with the ending. I know Paolini wanted to leave us hanging so we will all go read the next book, but I still didn’t get that much closure for the first story. However, I do think most teenagers would thrill to this and would eagerly scoop up the next book in a heartbeat.
Professional Review:
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. (Aug.)
~By Diane Roback, SENIOR EDITOR; Jennifer M. Brown, FORECASTS EDITOR; Joy Bean, ASSOCIATE EDITOR and Jeff Zaleski, FORECASTS EDITOR
Roback, D., Brown, J.M., Bean, J., & Zaleski, J. (2003). [Review of the book Eragon, C. Paolini]. Publishers Weekly, 250(29), 196. Retrieved from EBSCOHost Database. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=10323253&scope=site
Library Uses:
From the book jacket, I learned that Christopher Paolini started writing Eragon when he was fifteen and published it when he was nineteen. For that reason, this book might be a great way to inspire students to write their own fantasies. Perhaps Paolini could visit the library in person or via Skype and talk about the experience of writing the book at such an age, giving tips and pointers on the publication process. Then, student authors could participate in a writing workshop where they write their own creative short stories. Students’ works could be displayed on the library blog, or a wiki space, with parental permission.
Another programming possibility for this book might be to have a special magic event in the library, or to offer magician’s workshops for students to learn some basic magic tricks.. Connecting the presentation to the magic in the book, a magician could first put on a performance. Afterwards, students could learn simple card tricks and light of hand by going around to different learning centers set up in the library. Later, they could practice on their friends and family members while enjoying refreshments.
Eragon, a fifteen-year old orphan, lives with his Uncle Garrow and cousin Roran, always wondering about his past. He spends his days hunting a remote area of Algaesia called the Spine until one day he finds a curious blue stone in the forest. Roran, who desires to marry, leaves the town and goes to work for local miller, while Eragon stays behind with his uncle. Sure that he can sell the stone for a profit to keep the farm going in Roran’s absence, Eragon is nonplussed when the traders refuse to even offer him a price. The traders also bring strange rumors of unrest throughout the kingdom. Urgals, gross monsters with horns are appearing more frequently, and there are rumors that the Varden are seeking overthrow the devious King Galbatorix. From a song sung by a local bard name Brom, Eragon learns that Galbatorix was once a dragon-rider who plunged into madness when his own dragon was killed. He then killed the other riders who would not join his cause.
All of these grand events seem far from Carvahall until one day, Eragon’s stone hatches, revealing a baby dragon, creatures that have been longed believed to be extinct. Eragon keeps the dragon, whom he names Saphira, a secret from even his uncle. After leaving the farm on Saphira’s back, he returns to discover Uncle Garrow murdered and the farm burned by the mysterious strangers who have been wandering the area asking questions about the stone. With Saphira’s help, Eragon manages to transport his uncle---who is barely clinging to life-- to Carvahall and the home of a kindly blacksmith named Horst, who has come to Eragon’s aid on numerous occasions. Yet, Eragon’s injured legs and strange markings near the farm threaten to reveal Saphira’s presence, so after his uncle dies, he decides to run away to protect her. Eragon steals leather to make a saddle and is caught in the act by the bard, Brom, who demands to come with Eragon.
The two narrowly escape Carvahall and head out in pursuit of the mysterious strangers, the Ra’zac, whom Eragon vows to kill in revenge for his uncle’s death. Brom vows to help him on his quest. On their long journey, Brom teaches him about dragon lore and the complicated history of Algaesia. He also begins instructing Eragon in his newly discovered magical abilities, which made an appearance in a battle with some Urgals. As they travel, they witness the growing unrest in the land and discover atrocities committed by the Urgals. During their journey, Eragon has series of dreams about a mysterious woman who is imprisoned.
After one of the Ra’zac leaves behind a lethal potion, the pair turns towards Teirm, a busy seaport on the coast, hoping to track the source of the poison and thereby determine the Ra’zacs’ lair. During their stay in Teirm, Eragon has curious encounter with a soothsayer named Angela and her mysterious were-cat, Solembum, who both reveal part of Eragon’s fortune and some of his past to him. While in Teirm, Brom is also reunited with an old friend named Jeod, who helps them break into the local records office to get a map and information about the source of the poison. From the stolen records, Brom and Eragon head south to the city of Dras-Leona and the mysterious rock formations of Helgrind, where they believe the Ra’zac base is located.
Brom’s poking around draws suspicion and both are caught by the Ra’zac in a trap. Eragon is drugged. When one of the Ra’zac attempts to kill Eragon, Brom steps in front of the dagger, saving his life. Both Brom and Eragon are both then saved by a mysterious stranger, Murtagh, who claimed to also be hunting the Ra’zac.
Despite escaping the Ra’zac, Brom succumbs to his wounds, but before he dies, he reveals his true identity as a former Dragon Rider and current member of the rebellious Varden. In fact, working for the Varden, he is the one who stole Saphira’s egg away from the sick King Galbatorix, who still holds two eggs. After building a diamond tomb for the fallen Rider, the three set out for Gilead, searching for a Varden contact. On the way, they are waylaid by Urgals and Eragon is captured and imprisoned by an evil Shade, named Durza.
Denying himself food and water, which are both drugged, Eragon clears his mind to do magic. He is questioned by Durza who is working for King Galbatorix, but he manages to evade Durza’s wiles. Eragon discovers that the woman from his dreams, an elf is imprisoned in the same place. With the help of Murtagh and Saphira, Eragon manages to save both him and this mystery woman, who is named Arya. She was responsible for keeping Saphira’s egg safe at one point. She is gravely injured and in a comatose state, but Eragon refuses to abandon her.
The small group heads out across the vast desert seeking the Varden in the Beor Mountains on the other side. In the desert, Eragon, using his magic, he draws water from the ground to keep them alive. When they are nearly captured by slave traders, Murtagh murders the slave driver, which appalls Eragon and forces him to question his loyalty. Murtagh is also adamant about not going to the Varden, which also raises Eragon’s suspicions. Eventually, Murtagh reveals that Brom killed his father, Morzan, one of the Foresworn riders who joined Galbatorix, and that Eragon wields his sword. Eventually, he sticks by Eragon since the Varden are the only ones who have the antidote to save Arya’s life.
Leaving the desert behind, the crew find themselves in lush forest valley and pursued by Urgals who are hot on their trails. With information from the still unconscious Arya, they barely escape through a waterfall into a hidden realm and dwarf bastion of Tronjheim. A dwarf named Orik rescues Eragon from near drowning. Although the dwarf is kindly towards the new arrivals, others are keenly suspicious and fear that they may be spies from Galbatorix. Once inside, Eragon protects Murtagh’s identity, and both are examined by the court magicians, an evil pair of twins. They are also brought before the leaders Ajihad, and King Hrothgar, king of the dwarves. Murtagh refuses to cooperate and reveal his memories, though and is separated from Eragon. Eragon and Saphira are housed in the former Dragon Rider’s accommodations in the tower. Eragon learns more about Saphira, the egg, the Elves, and Brom’s role in this whole intrigue.
Crisis erupts a few days later when it is discovered that Urgals, led by the Shade Durza, are tunneling underground to invade Tronjheim. Eragon uses his magic to help by collapsing tunnels, but ultimately it is not enough. A massive battle follows, during which Eragon comes face to face with Durza. When Saphira and Arya distract Durza, Eragon is able to use is magic and pierce Durza’s heart. Without their leader, the Urgals begin to turn on one another and the Varden and the dwarves carry the day to victory. Eragon awakes a few days later, under the care of Angela, the healer. The book ends as Eragon remembers all that he has gone through and decides to go on to visit the Elves and learn more about his destiny.
APA Reference:
Paolini, C. (2003). Eragon: inheritance, book one. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Impressions:
Like The Hobbit, to whom it owes much, Eragon is a classic, archetypal tale of good versus evil. Paolini’s world of Algaesia is consistent and realistic, allowing the reader to suspend disbelief when magic acts occur. Paolini does a good job of providing just enough detail to set a mood without going overboard. Furthermore, his universe abides by certain rules; for example, Eragon cannot use magic without becoming physically exhausted. Despite the fact that many characters lack complexity and are often clearly divided into “good” and “evil” camps, Eragon himself is someone who is hard not to love. Although I do not typically enjoy much fantasy, I found myself rooting for Eragon all the same. Eragon’s character development in particular, which underscores a heartfelt coming of age story that all readers can identify with, saves this book from being lackluster. True, there are many convenient plot twists and deux ex machina’s along the way. I was more than a little annoyed at the transparent predictability and clumsy foreshadowing. At times the language was a little stilted and overblown as Paolini tried to emulate that epic sound. I also got annoyed whenever magic would suddenly crop up to save the day, but in the end, I cared so much for Eragon that it didn’t really matter. I think the message of hope in this story will resonate with readers and is one of the reasons why fantasy can be so powerful. I am a big fan of The Odyssey and other epics, so I loved seeing this modern manifestation of the heroic quest. Eragon leaves home to get revenge, survives numerous trials, is assisted by his Brom, and in the process matures. We learn and grow with Eragon on his journey through experiences that are completely foreign to our everyday experiences; this is what makes the novel so effective at communicating its themes. I do confess, though, that I was a little disappointed with the ending. I know Paolini wanted to leave us hanging so we will all go read the next book, but I still didn’t get that much closure for the first story. However, I do think most teenagers would thrill to this and would eagerly scoop up the next book in a heartbeat.
Professional Review:
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. (Aug.)
~By Diane Roback, SENIOR EDITOR; Jennifer M. Brown, FORECASTS EDITOR; Joy Bean, ASSOCIATE EDITOR and Jeff Zaleski, FORECASTS EDITOR
Roback, D., Brown, J.M., Bean, J., & Zaleski, J. (2003). [Review of the book Eragon, C. Paolini]. Publishers Weekly, 250(29), 196. Retrieved from EBSCOHost Database. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=10323253&scope=site
Library Uses:
From the book jacket, I learned that Christopher Paolini started writing Eragon when he was fifteen and published it when he was nineteen. For that reason, this book might be a great way to inspire students to write their own fantasies. Perhaps Paolini could visit the library in person or via Skype and talk about the experience of writing the book at such an age, giving tips and pointers on the publication process. Then, student authors could participate in a writing workshop where they write their own creative short stories. Students’ works could be displayed on the library blog, or a wiki space, with parental permission.
Another programming possibility for this book might be to have a special magic event in the library, or to offer magician’s workshops for students to learn some basic magic tricks.. Connecting the presentation to the magic in the book, a magician could first put on a performance. Afterwards, students could learn simple card tricks and light of hand by going around to different learning centers set up in the library. Later, they could practice on their friends and family members while enjoying refreshments.