The most surprising thing about this otherwise flat, overlong retread of ground blazed by Tolkien and Campbell is its atheist agenda. You see, the elves in this book are atheists, which would be fine in and of itself, but they're also an entire race of Mary-Sues. They're the most beautiful, magical, and good creatures in Paolini's derivative world, and anyone who disagrees with them is either stupid, evil, or both. This is a relatively minor issue in the book, though, and were the content worth reading, it wouldn't be enough to stop me from recommending the book. But, as many other reviewers have said, Eragon is a shameless copy of Star Wars: A New Hope cloaked in generic high fantasy tropes. Actually, that may be giving Paolini too much credit. Had he ripped off Star Wars more closely, Eragon might have been a gripping narrative, if nothing else. But the author has pretensions to, well, pretentiousness. So he plumbs the thesaurus for fancy synonyms without understanding their connotative meaning, claims to have invented a new language when all he's done is made up a couple dozen words, and sends his protagonist on a textbook hero's journey without any idea how to make that journey compelling. In lieu of organic characterization, the reader is bluntly told what characters are supposed to be like. Magic, rather than operating according to coherent rules, works (or fails to work) as the plot demands, in often self-contradictory ways. The story is so full of plot holes that it only functions because characters--ones we've been told are intelligent--consistantly make the stupidest possible choices. If you're easily frustrated by bad writing, you'll hate this book. If not, you'll likely just be bored.
Eragon
(2003, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Christopher Paolini)Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you read it? 
Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Not Too Objectionable, Just Bad
I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:- Excessive violence
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
One of the most overblown books I've ever read
When I look at all of the popularity that this book has garnered, I ask myself, "Is the audience a bunch of kids who have never even picked up a real fantasy book before?" The number of cliches, and words thrown in in Paolini's own "language" is ridiculous. In the later books, it only gets worse. I am forced to constantly (especially in Eldest) turn to the reference page in the back that details the meanings of his "words of magic". This alone shows pure inexperience. There is also great evidence that he used a thesaurus in numerous places in order to "expand his vocabulary". Sometimes the words he interjects may be classified as synonyms, but they do not mean the same thing. Lastly the plot is painful obvious as being imitated straight from the epic Star Wars series. Not worth the buy, or the time you waste reading it.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Awesome Eragon
This story is very well written. If I had not been told it was someone so young, I would never have guessed. I have read Eragon and Eldest and am waiting impatiently for the last book to come out.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
A boy and his Dragon
Eragon is the first novel in the magical trilogy Inheritance by young writer Christopher Paolini. Paolini began writing Eragon, his debut novel, at the age of fifteen. It is an impressive piece of literature from such a youthful imagination. The story, set in fantasy land Alagaesia, tells of a poor farm boy called Eragon who finds a strange blue stone in the forest that turns out to be a dragon’s egg. The egg hatches and the dragon inside changes his destiny forever. This first novel takes the reader through Eragon’s trials and tribulations as he trains to be a dragon rider and practises his newfound magical skills. Eragon is forced to grow up as he loses those he is close to, has to justify himself to those who doubt him and he has to learn to fight like a dragon rider in order to take on Galbatorix (a powerful and aggressive king of a large proportion of Alagaesia and one of the last dragon riders) and his Empire. Fans of Harry Potter, Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy or Lord of the Rings should definitely give Eragon a try The first few chapters are slightly tiresome as they follow Eragon through his daily life but I urge readers to persevere. As soon as Saphira the dragon hatches, the plot livens up and things get a bit more exciting. It is well worth the wait of trawling through the first few chapters because the action comes thick and fast from then onwards. Eragon may be marketed as a children’s book but I would say that it is more suited to an older audience. Paolini packs the novel with words he has invented which may prove a little difficult to read for a younger audience. Paolini creates three different languages in the book: The Ancient Language (used by Dragon riders, Elves and magicians) for example “Eka ai fricai un Shur’tugal!â€Â- I am a Rider and friend; the Dwarf Language “Az Knurl deimi lanokâ€Â- Beware, the rock changes; and the Urgal Language (though Urgals don’t have much of a vocabulary) “drajlâ€Â- spawn of maggots. There are also some unusual pronunciations of names of characters and places in Alagaesia to contend with but, I don’t think that these difficult pronunciations or the use of a made-up language are off-putting for a reader. Instead they add interest to the book and I found myself quickly adjusting to the use of these in Paolini’s style. A useful glossary of meanings and pronunciations is provided at the back of the book. There is also a map of Alagaesia at the front on the book so the reader can track Eragon’s travels. The variety of characters in the plot proves a little difficult to keep up with at first, especially as many of them have rather unusual names but, when the reader gets used to them, they all add flavour to the plot. Ultimately this is a fantasy book but, Eragon seems to have something for lovers of other genres. There are many humorous moments, many moments of gore and also some very moving scenes. The death of one of the main characters will dampen the eyes of many readers. Paolini handles the death with delicacy and beautifully portrays the relationship Eragon and Saphira had with the character. Eragon has recently been made into a film, but it doesn’t do the book justice at all. With the exception of some excellent camera angles and techniques and the casting of the very scary John Malkovich as Galbatorix., the film fails to live up to the standards of Paolini’s imagination. Perhaps if I had seen the film before reading the book I would’ve enjoyed it more but, doing it the other way around left me sitting in the cinema thinking ‘That didn’t happen in the book!’ and ‘Why did they miss that bit out?’ For example, I thought the sequence where Saphira takes to the skies and grows several feet as she flies was ridiculous. Obviously the film wouldn’t have time to show her growing up slowly like the book but, that scene did things a bit too fast for my liking. The film was also lacking the character of the werecat, who I was looking forward to seeing on screen. I was a bit sceptical about whether I would enjoy Eragon but, after reading it I just had to get the second book Eldest- which is thicker, packed with more gore and battle scenes, but just as gripping as the first book. The concluding novel is yet to be named as it is still being written. Eragon is an excellent read for people of all ages. Paolini transports you to the magical world of Alagaesia and captures your imagination with his every word.
- I rate this title off for age 11 and give it
Biggest thief of great works of art!!!
This book and the others are a waste of paper. Having the same plot as Star Wars, and adding a dragon, sheesh I should write the same thing a make a fortune, stealing other peoples hard work. I could barely read the book, cause it was so boring, the story didn't move fast enough. If you want to read a real story, read Lord of the Rings than this junk.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Thick fantasy books are worth reading
I love the fact that people are beginning to realize kids can read longer books. It does have some things that remind you of other books but it's an enjoyable read with interesting characters and a few new twists.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
An Engrossing Book
I loved the book. From the beginning to the second book. I hate how everyone is so determined to bring Mr. Paolini down. Yes, his books are somehow related to star wars or what other common book there is but it's definily not the same. I certainly have to give him credit for his work, eventhough he was very young then. All i have to say is Keep the books coming!
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
This book is 2nd on my favorites books list.
This book is so good its allmost as good as the lord of the rings and thats saying somthing when thats my favorite book. The story line was great even if it seem a lot like Star Wars. I definetly think that you should read this book.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Ooooh i really liked this one
I really liked this book! I've heard people say it was a copy of star wars and lord of the rings, but it was much much more. The more you read the more you will be hooked with this series. It has something for everyone, a little magic, romance, action and of course adventure.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Best book ever written
I have to give great praise to Chris Paolini. Eragon (and it's sequel Eldest, and I'm sure the third and last) is the best book I've ever read. I was enthralled with the story after the first chapter, which doesn't happen often. The characters and the plot really draw you in and once you're there, it's hard to leave. I found myself up at all hours of the night from a lack of being able to put it down. I would give this one a hundred stars if I could. If you're a fan of fantasy this book is a 'must have'. Make sure you pick up Eldest as well, because when you're done with Eragon you won't want to wait a whole car trip to keep the story going.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Best book written in a long time.
I loved this book. Being a David Eddings fan I found this to fill the void left when Eddings books came to an end. Dragons have a place in our world too!
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
You just don't care...
Eragon is the epitomy of deriviative high fantasy. If you are a fan of the genre then you will certainly be familiar with many of the plot devices, locations, characters and races present in Paolini's work. If you enjoyed the works of Tolkien, McCaffrey or the other giants of such literature, then you might find something to keep you going. You see, the trouble with Eragon is that unlike the great authors of fantasy, Paolini seems incapable of generating any feeling for the plight of his characters in his reader. They are cardboard cut-outs, look good from afar but lacking the technical properties of 3D characters. I just simply did not care about the resolution of any crisis Paolini could throw at me.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
A wonderfull book!!!
I love the book and I am only on page 35!!!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Challenging, original fantasy for middle school children and their parents.
As an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy, I couldn't believe I was enjoying a "children's" book. An engaging central character, intelligent writing and a thrilling plot kept me interested to the end. I recommend you read it before your child does to judge whether some of the violence ( father figure viciously dispatched) will be too emotionally charged.
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
An AMAZING book!!!!!
This book is GREAT!!!! It is thrilling, and keeps you interested the whole time, there is only a little bit of violence, but of course there would be, considering there is war in the book. And unlike other fantasy books, everything is described in full detail. And, there is a spell/language glossary that tells you the meanings of everything. Christopher Paolini is an amazing author, and I would reccomend Eragon to anyone 9 and up.
- I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
for kids over 9.
Eragon is a book for FANTSY lovers. if you don't like fantsy then you will be bored stupid! i think this is an awesome book. can be a little violent in places ( like a pile of dead bodies and torture but other wise its really good!
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Great book, but for older kids.
It's got it's share of violence, the whole series does, but not in excess as some more mature novels. It's good for kids 12 and older, and can be found in the "Young Adults" section in many bookstores, which should tell you something itself. I've rarely, if ever, found it in the kid section of any bookstore. This book, as many, helps build vocabulary, so in that way, it is educational, and it can encourage some to learn a foreign language. I loved the book, have read all three novels so far, and on average, I'd say they're all appropriate for kids 13+.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Older kids.
This contains graphic violence and some language. It's a great book, though!
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Negative role models
Good but cheap!
Good book! But not original. Total Starwars and Tales of Earthsea rip-off.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Some people allege that the book(s) overly resemble Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. So read all of them. Overall an interesting book that's more than worth the time.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
i really liked this book but they get violent so if u dont want your kids to read brisinger dont let them read eragon and its confusing
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
The writing is a bit choppy, and it is copied off of The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars for sure, so it seems, but I loved it anyway!
Many people automaticaly hate this book series because of its similarities to The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. The world of Alagaesia is very much like Middle Earth, and the plot itself is almost identical to Star Wars at first. However, Paolini brings to the table many of his own twists and turns, so to speak. I personally really enjoyed this book, and I reccomend it to fantasy lovers who can get of its similarities to other great works, to be sure.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
AMAZING!!!
I loved this book!!! It was all action, all the time!! I couldn't put the book down!! The series just keeps getting better and better! And what's even more amazing is that a TEENAGER wrote it!! I would give this book 5 stars!!
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
AWESOME!
I LOVE THIS BOOK!! IM ON THE THIRD BOOK OF IT AND SO FAR ITS AWESOME!!!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
BORING
I like this book, but it was WAY TOO BORING! It took me a month just to read it. The most action is in the last 10 pages of the book so it's basically just traveling the whole time.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
A awesome book
I looooooove this book! If you get really into it then it can get pretty graphic. There is a lot of violence and the plot line can be pretty hard to follow for younger kids.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
A Timeless treasure for fantasy-lovers
eragon was a great book. the beginning was a little boring, but at the end, you reflect and say,"WOW what a great book!" It is captivating and if you are like me and looking for some great book, this is the one I recommend. Parts of the book are sad yes, but there is also a fiery crush that the main character (eragon) has on somebody. (its a secret. you have to find out yourself) 5 stars and you will want to read more. TRUST ME!
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
How does he do it?
It's like he churns out random words. He reminds me of Orpheus from Inkdeath- the way everything is exactly like LOTR. The dragon thing is cool, and Eragon by itself is cool, but the next two books are about as cool as reading a telephone book. Srry.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Book Rules All!!!
This is the best series ever! There are violent parts, like a dead baby with a spear in it though. The book is a 7th grade level, but most people can read it anyway. It is a world of magic and swords combined. Sprits take over bodies and creatures fight humans.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Meh, I've seen better efforts by teen writers
I have to say, this definitly isn't my favorite fantasy book. Nor is it the worst, but I've seen alot better. By writers at least five years younger. (I have several friends who aspire to publish books and as such I am often called to critque their writings.) The plot of this book feels like Fantasy's Greatest Hits or alternativly a Star Wars/Lord of the Rings love child. Not only that but it also suffers from "Hey, that looked really cool in that one book, maybe it'll look cool in my book too," syndrome plus stilted dialogue and a predictable plot. Kids around the age between ten and 12 will eat this effort up, however anyone older is going to notice these flaws and may in fact find themselves glancing at their watch every so often during slower scenes. Now this book is somewhat enjoyable, with the menagery of familiar fantasy creautes and action/the use of the Force (er I mean the Ways of the Dragon Riders) but that isn't enough to propell this book to the top of my hit list. You want to read the best fantasy book? You could read Lord of the Rings and pretened Frodo has a giant magical blue dragon following him around or something.
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Eragon: A Boring Review
Eragon is the first of a trilogy of fantasy books written by the author, Christopher Paolini. This book was chosen by me because it was recommended as a fantasy novel that was rich in creativity, themes and surprises with lessons of life to be learned. The main character is supported by a variety of smaller secondary characters that are extremely diversified. This is what made me want to read this novel. The main character, Eragon is a poor farm boy whose destiny changes upon discovery of a polished blue stone that ultimately hatches a dragon that he names Saphira. Gifted with only an ancient sword, his loyal dragon and fatherly advice from an old storyteller named Brom; Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, power and glory. He is confronted with choices to save, destroy or be swallowed by the evil Empire of King Galbatorix. Eragon is transformed into a Dragon Rider through his bond with Saphira. He develops distinctive abilities such as sword fighting, magic and the ancient ways of the Dragon Riders and their Elven Language. The author captivates the reader by leading the main character through a variety of character testing encounters as he travels across harsh terrain in his quest to avenge the death of his uncle and the destruction of their village by King Galbatorix. The storyline is injected repeatedly with supporting characters that possess phenomenal abilities. I loved this book because of its distinction and difference from the other fantasy novels I have read in the past. Paolini has gone through great trouble to construct the plot of this fantasy. The introduction, however, is understandably confusing because a myriad of fictitious locations, mystical characters and unusual encounters forces the reader to really concentrate in order to develop a visual picture of what is happening. The author tries to make this easier with a map, printed on the inside cover of the novel. I found myself having to refer to the map numerous times in order to keep on track with the introduction. Even though it is difficult to understand the interaction of several of the characters, there are many small, but exciting events that escalate as part of the rising action of the novel. Examples of these include: the hatching of the dragon from the “polished blue stone”, the revelations by the storyteller, Brom, and the sudden invasion and destruction by the King’s servants as they search for the dragon egg. The rising action of this fantasy simulates the northern face of the Himalayas with jagged peaks pointing into the sky, which leaves the reader anxious for the fall. Almost the entire novel consists of a rising tension with gentle drops depicted by Eragon’s battles until the very end when his quest to become the ultimate Dragon Rider is fulfilled. The climax of the novel is very distinct when Eragon encounters the full force of the King’s army using all the skills that he has learned from Brom with the support of his dragon. Interestingly, the climax is not as enchanting as the rest of the novel and its rising action. Following the climax, the denouement is extremely brief, depicted as Eragon’s collapse with exhaustion and pain following his successful duel with Durza, the dark sorcerer. Subsequent to the denouement, the reader is found searching for a resolution that doesn’t exist as Paolini leaves the story at a hook. This hook prompts the reader, quite convincingly to read the next book in the series, Eldest. The main character, Eragon, is supported by a vast array of secondary characters. Confusion arises in the reader as it is difficult to keep track of each character and the rather small amount of time devoted to develop each individual. This is part of Paolini’s plot to replace many of the protagonists that are lost by death in each fight. Nevertheless, this keeps the book fascinating. Eragon, his dragon called Saphira and the elderly storyteller named Brom are put forward as the main characters around which many segments of the novel revolve around. Eragon is a brave, young, inquisitive warrior that receives guidance from Brom. He receives great support from his dragon Saphira, whose constant presence gives continuity to the novel. As some characters are lost in the battles, Paolini constantly introduces new ones. The theme of this tale can best be described with the words family, love, bravery and redemption. The concept of family serves as a driving force in the novel because the death of Eragon’s relatives by brute force propels him to seek out the evil doers and avenge his uncle’s death. It gives the reader something to relate to because we can empathise with him. Secondly, love allows us to see a very human part of Eragon in that he is not just a warrior. His love of family and in particular, the point in the novel when he falls in love with the poisoned elf, Arya allows the reader a chance to connect with the main character. Thirdly, bravery is seen repeatedly in every battle and in particular, his long journeys into the unknown where he is forced to prove himself. Finally, the theme of redemption is shown when Eragon assumes full responsibility for the death of his Uncle and hence, tries to make up for this tragedy by seeking revenge. The author brings up these themes of the book repeatedly and gives the reader an ability to predict Eragon’s next move because he acts by his conscience. The genre of this book is fantasy and fiction. The problem with fantasy is that it appeals to only a certain audience. I usually do not like fantasy very much, but this book was excellent. I liked almost every aspect of it; which was a pleasant surprise to me. The issue of fantasy allowed Paolini to introduce a tremendous amount of creativity into the novel resulting in a storyline that was quite unique. The use of fiction in this novel enabled a variety of fascinating settings, characters and moods. Hence, the use of fantasy and fiction was an excellent way to captivate the reader. The mood of Eragon was very similar to an emotional roller coaster ride that travelled mostly upwards into the climax. Discovery of the dragon egg, the assembly of the members of his expedition and learning that Saphira had supernatural abilities were really high points in Eragon’s travels. Unfortunately, there were many losses to Eragon and in particular when Brom dies, there is a powerful mood of sadness. When Saphira gets injured, not only is the reader disheartened but also, I felt like the book could easily lose a very fascinating character and its interest if she is killed. Finally when his friend, Murtagh is taken prisoner, and Arya is sent away by the dwarf king, it is very melancholy because this places the burden of the importance of this quest on his and Saphira’s shoulders alone. The emotional ride through this fantasy land really keeps the reader riveted. The tones that Paolini sets for the novel are sombre and solemn. The deep ambition of Eragon to avenge the death of his beloved family and the destruction inflicted by the King is depicted repeatedly throughout the novel creating a strong contrast of good and evil in every chapter. I really feel that although this is a fiction and fantasy novel, the tone gives it a lot of credibility. I think that this is an excellent choice of tone because when a happy event occurred, it created a great relief to me, even though I knew a sad event will follow. Paolini carefully describes a medieval type of setting in which his fictitious land through which Eragon travels is free of technology. There are no mechanical means of transportation and no machines described. One can not find any description of any electricity or artificial lighting and the people seem to keep themselves warm with the use of fire. This medieval setting is fascinating and creates an excellent background for the use of magic, witchcraft and sorcery. This setting also allows many battles to happen with the use of only swords and spears. These battles enable Eragon to display his wit, physical capabilities, and skill as a Dragon Rider. Inside the front cover of the novel, Paolini has produced a map of the villages in relation to the deserts, mountains and forest that can place the individual at a real challenge. In his journey, Eragon passes through many villages and cities. At each stop, he develops a new skill and learns crucial information. Arrival at each destination also results in an opportunity for a suspenseful encounter. He perfects his flying skills as a Dragon Rider by flying on Saphira from place to place. Hence, Paolini’s organization of the cities and towns are perfectly matched with the storyline and timeline. In conclusion, Eragon turned out to be a surprisingly riveting fiction and fantasy novel. The main character is one we can emulate and empathise with. I was surprised by how captivating it could be, despite my previous history of disliking fantasy novels. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an imaginary escape.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A great book! Recommended for all people 8 and up
I read this book when I was in third grade and it is still my favorite book today. The violence was a little iffy sometimes and one part with the dead bodies scared me a little. Over all it was a great book!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A Must Read For All 9 -10 up
When it first came out all of the "nerds" lyked this so i was kinda worried to reade it. But i picked it up when i got it as a birthdya presant and couldnt put it down. i read the second one and it was jus as good. The movie does a goood job of capturing the affect or the bond between the two friends. ily, me
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I LOVE ERAGON!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE ERAGON!!!! this book is seriously one of the best i've read. if you want action, its got it; romance? its got it. drama? its got it. ITS GOT EVERYTHING! its great 4 kids my age because the vocab is definitely challenging, but not enough 2 stop reading the book. ELDEST, the 2nd book is just as good if not better. but dont get me started cuz i'll never stop!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
thriller
With this book I was at the edge of my seat. I couldn't put the book down. I thought that the auther did an exelent job writing this book. I was so glad I gave it a try.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
This is an awesome book!!!!!!!!
I know that some people say that it is a copy of star wars and other books but so are a lot of books. Take Harry Potter for example. it copied off The Lord Of The rings, wizard's hall(The plot of the first HP book is almost a copy of it), and many other books. We still call it good. so if you don't like Eragon, please give an actual reason, not just "it is a copy". because this is total crap!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A must-read for all tweens and teens
Eragon is a terrific book. I finished reading it recently, and have just started the second book, and think that the Inheritance series is terrific. People have said that Brom, an important character, smoking a pipe is an issue, but if pipes are a huge issue, then why does Frosty the Snowman have "A corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal"? Violence is a pretty small issue.
