Eragon

by Christoper Paolini

Knopf, August, 2003.
Hardcover, 509 pages.
ISBN: 0375826688

Eragon by Christoper Paolini

Eragon lives a tough, yet simple life on the farm with his father and brother. Although he is only fifteen, he is an excellent tracker and hunter. But his life changes forever when he discovers a mysterious blue stone in the Spine, the wild mountains that run through much of the land of Alagaesia.The blue stone turns out to be a dragon egg and soon Eragon has a new companion: a beautiful and intelligent sapphire blue dragon. But the evil king of Alagaesia has his terrifying Urgals on the trail of the dragon egg, for dragons and their Dragon Riders are powerful and magical people that the king is determined to control. Eragon and his dragon are forced to flee their home and set out on a quest to find his destiny, and avoid capture by King Galbatroix.

Christopher Paolini began writing Eragon, the first book in a projected trilogy, after he graduated high school at the age of fifteen (he is now nineteen). Paolini takes the accepted Celtic mythos laid down by J.R.R. Tolkien (elves, dwarves, humans, dragons etc.) and uses them to create his own, unique story. The influences of Tolkien and Anne McCaffrey are felt here, but the style, plot and feel of the story are very much Paolini's own creations. The plot is interesting (especially the elves and the legendary Dragon Riders), the mythos is well-crafted and the secondary characters sparkle. The stunning cover art by John Jude Palencar, as well as the beautiful maps, illustrations and glossary add to this impressive debut.

Eragon is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the September-October, 2003 of The Internet Writing Journal.