Customer Reviews
so typical its almost unique!!! 
2008-07-06
Eragon is a good book to read when your absoultely desperate for something simple to do. the plot is so elementary, you dont have to struggle at all to follow along. there are no surprises whatsoever and is about as exciting as this review is. the characters are basic and rudimentarily developed. the whole idea is platitudinous and the layout of the story is vapid and predictable. even the sequencing is exactly what one would expect. if your in the mood for a book that follows the fantasy formula we have all come to know and hate with all our hearts, then this is the novel for you. the best thing i can say about this book is that it is well written and moves at a fast pace, so even if you find it as drab as i did, it wont take up that much of your life.
Plagiarism, Plagiarism and......more Plagiarism 
2008-07-01
This book and its entire series should not be allowed to be sold. Reason:
Christopher Paolini has plagiarised all good books known to man. This novels include but are not limited to.
"Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Age of Fire Book Series, and Noviks novels"
C.P is just a phony out to milk everyone for their monies but thats ok, I keep a copy of his book beside my toilet incase I run out of toilet paper and would rather casterate myself than read this squished rotting cockroach of a so called "novel" . Its Published toilet paper, whats america coming to next? Copyrighted Shows of Extreme Retardation?
Pretty good if you're in the mood for a more elementary fantasy novel 
2008-06-20
This is not an adult fantasy. Don't expect one and you might enjoy it. The relationship which develops between Eragon and Saphira is the best part of the book. It moves quickly and the characters are engaging. It's a quick read, so even if you don't like it, it wouldn't waste much of your time.
Awesome Book!!! 
2008-06-17
This book was one of the best I've read in a while! It's story continues in Eldest, then Brisingr!!! It's about how a farm boy named Eragon finds a dragon egg. After a short while a dragon hatches--which he names Saphira. Eragon raises her, and then becomes a dragon rider!!! I recommend this book to everyone!!! (ALONG WITH ELDEST)
A great novel on par with Harry Potter... 2008-06-14
Even though this book is under children's literature I read it and it was surprisingly quasi-adult/child reading which I felt is really great because it reaches a wider audience. I'm not really into the whole science fiction genre although I felt that this was an awesome novel. The story was obviously way better then the movie which skipped over a lot of stuff and changed quite a few things either. I really liked all the characters especially Brom and Saphira although I could have done without the love story drama of Eragon and Arya. Other then that I look forward to the second and third books.
Going dragon-riding 
2008-07-25
Mix together equal parts "Star Wars" and J.R.R. Tolkien, then add a generous helping of Anne McCaffrey's dragon-riders and a few random shreds of Garth Nix for good measure.
Obviously originality is not Christopher Paolini's strong suit, and it shows in his fantasy debut "Eragon," which was penned in his tender teenage years. It swims in fantasy cliches and stilted dialogue, but there's a certain awkward charm in Paolini's fantasy world. The biggest problem is, simply put, Paolini's cardboard cutout of a self-insert hero, Eragon.
The titular character is lucky enough to stumble across a strange blue stone while hunting on the Spine. After failing to sell it, Eragon finds that it's actually a dragon egg, and the baby blue dragon inside selects him to hatch for and remain with forever. All the Dragon Riders were killed off by Evil King Galbatorix long ago, except for the weird old recluse Brom, who becomes Eragon's mentor.
And Luke, I am your father... wait, wrong story.
When Galbatorix's men destroy Eragon's home and family, Brom and Eragon flee to find the mysterious rebels known as the Varden. But Eragon's dreams are being haunted by the beautiful elf Arya, and the little band sets out to save her. Eragon and his dragon Saphira learn many things -- and make new allies -- the journey to the Varden brings them a terrible (and totally predictable) loss, and leads them to Eragon's first battle.
Lofty elves, humble farm boys, ghastly goblinesque creatures, mystical women, special swords, evil tyrants who are evil because they just are, evil minions, wise mentors, and telepathic dragons in a variety of colors. Christopher Paolini never met a fantasy cliche that he didn't like. And as a result, "Eragon" is dripping with Tolkien and Lucas-style trappings, right down to the hero's suspiciously Tolkienian name.
Paolini paints these typical sword-and-sorcery stories with rather stilted but promising prose. "Eragon" has some raw rookie potential, and you can detect Paolini's enthusiasm as he explores his invented fantasy land, much the way many other teenagers have done after reading high fantasy and yearning to explore their own made-up worlds. There's just not much that is new or unique about this story, although Paolini throws in some attempted humorous quirks like a weird fortune-teller.
The biggest problem with Paolini's writing is that Eragon is portrayed as a noble, brave, compassionate soul with a brilliant destiny ahead of him. Well, frankly he shows no nobility, bravery or compassion, and the many characters who gasp in admiration of him does not make him any more impressive. He's a glaring self-insert, with all the dimension of a cardboard standee, and about as sendearing.
The supporting characters are not much better -- Brom is too brief a character to make much of an impact, and he seems to exist mainly to get Our Hero up to snuff in information and ability. And the love interest Arya is glorified only for her otherworldly beauty... which is all she has. Eragon's adoration of her seems unfounded, because er personality is chilly at best, snotty and autocratic at worst.
Christopher Paolini's "Eragon" is pretty much what you'd expect of a teenage boy's fantasy novel -- plenty of Lucas and Tolkien echoes, and a style that hasn't yet gained a sense of humor about itself.
Eragon 2008-07-24
This book was one of the worst I have ever read. Though it is targeted toward 10-15 year olds, its writing makes it almost unbearable for anyone above nine years of age, but its length scares away younger readers. It is, escentially, lord of the rings and star wars cut up and put back together with messy glue.
Absolutely Amazing 2008-07-21
This book is just amazing. Eragon was a masterpiece, but Eldest was much better. Way more battles and events. If you've read Eragon, read this, you will not regret it. This is probably one of my all-time favorite books.
Starwars crashes on earth to create a cheap carbon copy called Eragon 2008-07-13
Ok, I'm not quick to jump on the bandwagon for anything; which is why after hearing of the criticism of Eragon, I still decided to give it a go. However, the simillarities between this book and the first "Star Wars" film were so blatantly obvious, it was hard to come to any other conclusion, other than that Christopher Paolini has realised that, with a little plagiarism, he can cash in on the market with no real thought or imagination required.
So, if no one has noticed the quite unmissable simillarities between Star Wars and Eragon, I thought I'd spell a few out for you. Eragon is a simple farm boy, living in a remote village with his uncle (Wait, didn't luke skywalker do that?). There is a cruel empire that Luke, OOOPS, Eragon and his people dispise (Same in Star Wars, wasn't it?). Then, a curious old man arrives on the scene, and teaches Eragon all kinds of secrets that will help conquer the empire (Okay, in star wars it was about Jedi forces, in this it was about dragons, but the same idea, right?). When Eragon discovers a dragon in his village, the empire are quick to react, and one day whan Eragon is away with his dragon, he finds that the empire have murdered his uncle (Same in star wars, was it not?). Seeing that he has nothing left to stay for, Eragon and his dragon go on a magical journey with the curious old man to defeat the empire. 'Nough said.
So, no original story line; in regards to other issues, the book is very well written, with some quite momorable dialogue (EG "The mind is man's last sanctuary.") Character development is existant as well, although the bond between Eragon and Brom (old man) is all to familiar if you've heard of Frodo and Gandalf. The Dragon, Saphire is a very likeable character, and she is described in a way that makes her quite believable. But for me, there are too many cliches in this book to keep me entertained; if you are looking for effective teen fantasy with a deep meaning, I would reccomend David Clements Davies's "The Sight". While this book may keep young children entertained with large monsters and action packed battles, a reader of fantasy and Sci Fi greats will, after Fifty pages, have "I've heard all this before" ringing in their heads for the remainder of the book.
Not terrible, but not great either. 2008-07-08
People talk a lot about how derivative this book is. That didn't bother me, because at least he seemed to be borrowing from several sources, not just from the Lord of the Rings like far too many fantasy novels seem to do. What bothered me was the slow start, the abrupt finish and the fact that I didn't really end up caring much about any of the characters. If the book had gone on longer, I probably would have kept reading, but I highly doubt I'll ever bother to actually track down the second volume to read more of the story; I just don't care enough.
