December 19, 2006
Book Review: Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pub. Date: April 2005
Series: Inheritance Trilogy, #1
Format: Paperback, 528pp
Age Range: 12 and up
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Eragon, is a work mostly built on other’s shoulders. Little in this book is original, and ideas are almost wholesale lifted from the works of the great fantasists. I found elements of The Earthsea Cycle, a little Raymond E. Feist, some Jordan, and some attempts at humor reminiscent of Terry Pratchett. This does not make this a bad work, only unoriginal. But then, Christopher Paolini alludes to his avid fantasy and SF reading, so one would expect that much of his own story would borrow trace elements from these authors and their works.
Most people who read this review will know that the story of Eragon is the story of a poor young boy (Eragon of the title) of little history who becomes a hero. This is standard fare in the fantasy genre, and each writer who employs it usually does well due mostly to its simplicity and inherent popularity. Paolini is no exception in this regard.
The first book in the Inheritance trilogy, Eragon spends the majority of its pages in character development. Some action interrupts at opportune times, but for the most part, the reader spends his time learning about Eragon himself. We find hints of his history, his future, the world in which he lives, and the philosophy he is beginning to develop. Minor characters such as Brom and Murtagh help him see the world in different ways, allowing Eragon to formulate a philosophy of life.
It is obvious why this book is so popular among teens and is most often sold in the young adult sections of the bookstore. The chapters, especially at the beginning of the book, are very short, appealing to the ADD generation. Secondly, the teen angst that Eragon goes through as he moves from no name boy to hero and the philosophical meanderings would appeal to the current teen generation. Many of the questions he asks deal with the lack of moral absolutes so prevalent in our culture. These questions reveal the nature of what it is like to grow up in such a culture, as Paolini has, and the Eragon character evidences.
Ultimately, this is just a fun book. It is a simple tale of the growth of boy to hero, unoriginal but still a fun romp through a standard fantasy plot.
Posted by John on December 19, 2006 12:30 PM | Posted to Fantasy | Literature and Language
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I pretty much agree with your analysis here. I liked the book better than the film. My sister and I went to see the film yesterday and thought it seemed like one huge edit of smashed together battle scenes. The closing credits come and you go, "What? That's it?? I was just settling into the story!"
I think LOTR has set my standards for fantasy epic to at least two full hours, if not three...
Posted by: funke on December 19, 2006 12:47 PMI haven't seen the movie yet. As I understand it, it is a pretty poorly directed/acted/plotted movie. Maybe they should ahve waited till the trilogy was aout and just done one three hour movie?
Posted by: Otter on December 19, 2006 01:01 PMOh, the trailers for the movie looked horrible: like a Dungeons & Dragons sequel. *shudder* May there never be a sequel.
I read a few chapters of "Eragon" in a bookstore. I reshelved it as soon as Ye-Wise-Olde-Mentor character appeared on the scene. It was all too predictable but fine, I suppose, for kids who are unfamiliar with the genre.
Posted by: Imani on December 20, 2006 10:09 PMImani,
There is a sequel to the D&D movie. It's called "Wrath of the Dragon God" I haven't seen it, but I'm sure its awful!
Posted by: otter on December 25, 2006 08:43 PMActually, the sequel to D&D was better than Eragon, IMO. It's no LotR, but it was much better than the first D&D movie.
I haven't read the book (Eragon), and don't plan to after seeing the movie. I agree that the movie was too short, and I overheard folks talking about how much of the book was left off. However, there was too much Star Wars in the plot for me to think of it as anything more than a rip-off.
Posted by: Kameron on January 26, 2007 07:52 PMi liked this book enough to begin with the second i do however agree that too much of the book is spent on the development of this in my opinion unexciting co-dependent self pitying and slightly self centered character but it is the first fantasy/fiction book that actually interested me and yet id still pick some good historical or realistic fiction any day because as far as i can tell all modern fantasy/fiction is all the same
Posted by: cate on June 1, 2007 12:18 AMi hated the movie it went to fast but loved the book i am on the second book but am not enjoying it because it is so slow 2 move on!!
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