Rating: 
Summary: Should Have Put This One Away For A Few Years
Review: Unfortunately, there is nothing unique about this book. Characters are poorly drawn, action is predictable, language is overdone-ie what you would expect from an inexperienced author. Mr. Paolini should have put this one away on a shelf for a few years, then reexamined it. I'm sure he will agree in five or ten years that this was a good first effort, but not publishable material.
Rating: 
Summary: Ummmmm. . . . . Beautiful Jacket, I guess
Review: Before I begin, I have to give a nod to the author who, after all, is only 19 years old. If any of my students wrote this well, I'd be very impressed. That said, I still don't think young Paolini is anywhere near ready for publishing, and I'm frankly a little confused as to both how and why this book was accepted and marketed so lavishly.
The plot line is predictable, the diaglogue trite, and the writing style very clearly that of a beginner. I read to page 200, hoping and hoping that something would happen to justify the glowing reviews featured on the dust cover. Unfortunately, nothing did, and I just can't make myself go on. This book may interest very young teens (although in our post-Harry Potter world, perhaps not), but otherwise, I would caution against wasting either the money or the time.
Rating: 
Summary: A writers "Dragon Egg" hatches
Review: Eragon is an excellent book mastering the daunting field of fantasy writing. Focusing on the (Arguably) the most famous creature in the style, Eragon shows most of what Paolini may be capible of. He shows a couple of fractures in what would be an interesting plot, and it is enough to get most people reading. And keep them reading. Most of my class agrees that the book is worthy of the price. Somhow, things feel a little wierd in parts and some of the sentences were just SO ANNOYING. I still look forward to the next book and hope to see the same Tolkien-esque magic that made this a real winner.(Add one star if you enjoyed Tolkiens LOTR trilogy. Eragon isn't nearly as slow, but its akin to the tail and should thrill some of them...)
Rating: 
Summary: Read this book !!!
Review: I saw this book in the store and it caught my attention because of the dragon on the cover. After reading the back cover I was hooked. The idea is great. The world that he has created is very interesting and the action in the book keeps the pages turning. I can't wait for the next book. I am about to start reading this one again.
Rating:
Summary: Hey all you fantasy lovers!
Review: I am a huge fantasy/sci-fi reader and I have to day that out of all the books I have read: From J.K. Rowling to Tamora Pierce, from Philip Pullman to Patrica C. Wrede, from Eoin Colfer to Tainth Lee, Eragon has to be the best book I have ever read.
This book is everything a fantasy lover needs, from dragons to magic, from elves to dwarves. It ends abruptly and makes you scream for more!
I highly recommend Eragon to all fantasy lovers to read!
Rating: 
Summary: Eragon: Winner or Loser?
Review: I didn't really like this book in the beginning. It all seemed to be taken from the Lord Of The Rings. The only difference is in the names. There's a big evil guy who "controls" these ugly (Orkish) things called Urgals. And there's an evil wizard. I mean, come on, would it kill Christopher Paolini to use some of his own material? He relies almost completely on the L.O.T.R. series. So the beginning really kind of ... But as I got farther into the book, I became quite interested. As the story progresses, Paolini starts to use more of his own ideas. Yay! I finished the book quickly, cause i couldn't put it down. Not that it was an excellent, but it kept me entertained. So, I guess i wouldn't sneer at reading this book, cause the bad beginning and the good ending sort of even things out. Give it a try!
Rating:
Summary: attractive cover belies contents
Review: I saw this in the bookstore and was drawn to the cover. I got it out of the library and was very glad I didn't buy it. I find it strange how the reviews either love or hate it. Given that the author was in his teens when he wrote it, one has to give him credit. Beyond that, though, it was nothing special. The editorial reviews are correct when they find elements similar to McCaffrey and Terry Brooks; I was also reminded of the Dragon Riders in Raymond Feist's Magician, but in no way does the caliber of writing approach any of these authors. It is certainly not "comparable to Tolkien" except for similar kinds of characters which appear (elves, dwarves, "urgals"). My sister thought the plot was very similar to Star Wars, and upon examination, she is absolutely correct ... The writing is sometimes disjointed, with extraneous information the reader files away thinking it may be useful - but it isn't (perhaps in the next novel?). There is some quite graphic violence in a book that seems to be marketed to younger people. The "ancient language" for the magic is rather tedious to read and not very convincing. The descriptive similies fall somewhat flat at times; one example is "White mist wafted up from the surface of the river, like blood steaming in winter." ? I would get this one out of the library if it interests you but don't waste your money on the hardcover with the pretty dragon on it. I will probably read the next one; perhaps as the author matures he will be able to hone his writing and really make something that holds together.
Rating:
Summary: Not terrible, but "don't judge a book by its cover"
Review: I am an adult fantasy reader. I was very excited to see Eragon in a local Barnes and Noble a few months ago. In its hardback version, the cover is very attractive, featuring a blue dragon against a rich blue background. The title is embossed in gold. I inferred from its nice design that it would be to my liking. It was obviously being taken very seriously by Knopf, a distinguished publisher. I ordered a copy immediately. Eragon was written by young Christopher Paolini. Paolini began the project when he was but fifteen, just after graduating high school. This information is prominent in a short bio of Paolini inside the back cover. I am quite impressed at his tenacity, and do feel his age is noteworthy. However, I can't help but conclude that the success of this novel has more to do with the rarity of its author than the quality of the work itself. Eragon is not written horribly, it is just poorly conceived. Despite very descriptive language at times, Paolini fails to set his novel apart from numerous other fantasies. In fact, he relies entirely too heavily on clear influence from Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. Eragon is at once Frodo Baggins and Luke Skywalker. Unfortunately, numerous plot elements and characters are borrowed from these two stories, creating a distracting mess that is anything but unique. Additionally, setting aside the regrettable dependence on the two fantasy classics, Eragon is not a solid story. Eragon himself does not adequately grow in an interesting way as a result of his new responsibility. Many other characters are hollow copies, unmotivated and blurry. The plot is clear, but not good. I wondered numerous times why the characters were taking the action they were. I read, hopeless with boredom at times, as they visited one locale after another with similar encounters. The plot seemed false and contrived at many points. In the end, I realized I wasn't really rooting for the good guys. I didn't know enough about them or who they were to care. A very common (and good) piece of advice to fiction writers is "show, don't tell". Paolini failed to show the behaviors, emotions, or motivations of his characters. He failed to show the conflict Eragon faced and why his readers should care. He failed to show much of anything. He simply told. In the book's favor, I found the concept of such intimacy and communication between a dragon and her rider interesting. Unfortunately, it wasn't explored in a way that satisfied my curiosity. Readers really don't get to know the dragon very well. After a short while, Eragon seems to take his position and abilities for granted. He becomes cruel at times, arrogant, and his motivation is unclear. We never get to see that relationship blossom into the terrific partnership that is implied with dragons and riders. I hope this will evolve more fully in the sequel. With these story weaknesses revealed, I would think Paolini's editors could have tasked him with a rewrite fixing these issues and the result might have been a very good novel. Unfortunately, that was not the case. This novel might be terrific for the younger audience, but it is will not give satisfaction for a more sophisticated critical reader.
Rating:
Summary: Fun but lacks originality - plot is from 1st Star Wars movie
Review: This is a decent book for the target audience of older children and preteens, who have finished the Harry Potter books and The Hobbit but might find Lord of the Rings too difficult. Its strong points are a good pacing and excitment level. But the big downside of it is the lack of originality. Alagaesia is very much a simpler version of Tolkien's Middle Earth, especially the Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs/Urgals. The noble Dragonriders who are telepathically bonded to their dragons are straight out of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern; she must have been flattered by this imitation to have given the testimony on the back cover. But most important and most annoying is that the plot and characters are lifted straight from the first STAR WARS movie. Luke Skywalker was a young man of uncertain parentage whose uncle was killed by soldiers of the Empire, who turned to a wise Jedi Master and began his training in the ways of the Force and joined the Rebellion, until the old Jedi Master was killed and passed his powers on to Luke. Along the way Luke teamed up with a scoundrel who helped him rescue a beautiful princess from the clutches of the Empire. The movie ends with the Rebellion acheiving a great although not final victory over the evil empire, and Luke leaves to go to Dagobah to complete his Jedi training with Master Yoda. In this book, the sf world is changed to a Tolkien-fantasy world, Luke is renamed Eragon, Obi-Wan is renamed Brom, and Han Solo is Murtagh. If the second and third books of this trilogy continue to follow the Star Wars trilogy, the second book will start with Galbatorix's forces attacking a secret base of the Varden again, but Eragon will travel to the Mourning Sage in Ellesmera to complete his training; however he will get a warning that Murtagh and Arya are in danger and leave his training before he has full control of his powers. Book two should end with Eragon confronting Galbatorix and learning to his horror that he is Galbatorix's son, while Murtagh is captured by the Empire. But Eragon will rescue him early in Book three, then go back to the Mourning Sage who will die, and Book Three should end with Eragon defeating Galbatorix and the Varden defeating the Empire, and Eragon founding a new order of Dragonriders to bring peace and justice to the Galaxy (err, Alagaesia). Anyway, you get the point. But it's still a fun book, and younger readers won't mind the lack of originality as much as adults will.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down
Review: ...I wanted to read Eragon so much I didn't want to put it down to do my homework. [That is NOT like me!] I think the author did a great job! My grandma gave it to me a week ago and I didn't put it down until five days later, when I finished it. All of my friends think I am nuts for reading costently and not playing, but they haven't read it. I could only say that a few books are equally good. When you read Eragon, in the middle you find yourself in suspenion and can't get out of it until the very end. I hope Eldest comes out soon! [Meanig in the next few days!] I was shocked at times, wishing the next event would have been more surprising at others. I thought it was cool that there was a glossery in the back! I've been trying to covince my friends to read it, but they are to stubborn. I know I must have said this a thousand times, but I LOVE this book!!!
|
