Eragon

[PippinTook]

Eragon is an amazing fantasy novel written by Christopher Paolini when he graduated from high school at fifteen. He is working on the second book, Eldest. The book is about a fifteen year old boy that finds a dragon egg, and becomes a dragon rider, which have been lost for years. anywho, it is truly amazing that a fifteen year old boy wrote a novel that surpasses any I have any read, save by tolkien himself. It is based in a world, Alagaesia, that he created. Has anyone else read this book? I'm actually only half way though, but I would recommend this for anybody!

[cee2lee2]

Haven't read the book, but Newsweek had a very positive story about the book and it's young author.

[Goldberry1]

haven't read and and had never heard of it... but i'm looking for a book to read and it sounds interesting. i might just have to go out and buy it.

[Silpion]

I have put a hold on this book at the library. Unfortunately, there are currently more people that want to read the book than there are books they have to lend out. I've been waiting about 2 1/2 weeks and I am almost ready to just buy the book.

Of course, I know as soon as I buy the book, I'll get a notification from the library telling me they have the book for me to borrow.;)

[Rose Chubb]

Quite honestly, if you've read LOTR and the Wheel of Time series, you probably don't need to read Eragon. It doesn't have all that much to add. While the author is obviously quite talented, the book isn't exactly original, the characters are flat, and the language-making-up needs some work. (Although who am I to speak? I can barely handle English!)

On the other hand, there are only so many original ideas available in fantasy literature (or any literature, for that matter), so some things are bound to be repeated. Eragon isn't a bad book, so I think once Christopher Paolini gets a little more experience, he'll be a great fantasist, rather than a blandly mediocre one.

[Lady Ravyn]

i'm going to read it alous to my brothers. haven't started yet, but it sounds really cool
i gotta give credit to young authors like paolini and amelia atwater-rhodes who get published; wish i could! ;)

[webwizard333]

I tried to read Eragon two weeks ago and I just couldn't find any reason to finish it. To me it had the quality of "been there, done that" with nothing really new to get my attention. I suspect if the book had been released by an adult author it would not have recieved nearly as much attentiion as it did. Still, I have to give the author credit for having the drive to write his own book, it'll be interesting to see how his writing progresses as he grows older.


On the other hand, there are only so many original ideas available in fantasy literature (or any literature, for that matter), so some things are bound to be repeated.
I must disagree, there are always new ways to innovate and create new subject matter in literature.

[Lief Erikson]

I've heard Eragon is selling very well. Also those that criticize it ought to note that it was written for a specific age group, which is younger people. My younger brother read it, and he loved it. I'm planning to read it too, eventually.

[Lady Ravyn]

you know what though, the names are kinda....corny. i mean, i was reading it aloud and i broke into giggles every time i said one of the made-up words. the plot is intriguing though

[Gulio, Strength of Many]

I hate dragons. That's all there is to it. Sorry Pip, but I'll probably skip this one:)

[Miranda]

I think Eragon is amazing! I'm absolutely hooked- whenever I get a two minute breather at work I'm sat on my desk reading it! I agree that at times it parallels Lotr etc but all fantasy novels borrow off eachother here and there- I loved Tolkein but his ideas weren't all his own, he borrowed off old tales and probably other writers as do all in the world of literature. The author here is just doing the same. Great book and I can't wait for the next one. Nice to see someone is still writing decent fantasy stories out there. Mx

[ethuiliel]

I thought it was a great book, and even more amazing because it was written by such a young author. I did not mind that he borrowed some ideas, because he put them together in his own way, and made a good story. There are so many books out there that you can't really write anything without using something that someone, somewhere used before, but you can still write a story that is completely your own, which is what Paolini did. I thought it was great and can't wait to read the sequel.

[Rosie Gamgee]

I started reading Eragon the other day. I think it's pretty good so far. Dispite the fact that i love LOTR, I really don't read that much fantasy, so I can't really rate it by anything but Tolkien.
It's an interesting story so far, though. I think the writing could use some help, as the author seems to want to use old, elegant English (like Tolkien), but doesn't quite have a handle on it.

Um, a tiny off-topic question- ethuiliel, I like your avatar; it looks like a pic of Faramir and Eowyn. I was wondering if the original picture (like a full-sized version, something easier to make out) was availible for viewing anyplace?

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Miranda
I think Eragon is amazing! I'm absolutely hooked- whenever I get a two minute breather at work I'm sat on my desk reading it! I agree that at times it parallels Lotr etc but all fantasy novels borrow off eachother here and there- I loved Tolkein but his ideas weren't all his own, he borrowed off old tales and probably other writers as do all in the world of literature. The author here is just doing the same. Great book and I can't wait for the next one. Nice to see someone is still writing decent fantasy stories out there. Mx

Tolkien got some of his ideas based off of mythology from what I understand. However, there are many components to his books that a genuinely original.

[Miranda]

Originally posted by Ragnarok
Tolkien got some of his ideas based off of mythology from what I understand. However, there are many components to his books that a genuinely original.

I agree that many aspects of Tolkien is completely original and I think that is one of the reasons he stands out a lot more than other fantasy writers. Maybe I shouldn't have said he borrowed specifically from old tales but more age old themes- if that makes sense.

[ethuiliel]

Exactly....good authors, like Tolkien, like Christopher Paolini, don't take any specific story, but they take themes, from mythology, from other books, etc., and use it in their own ways, unique to their stories, yet with a basis in something else. Does that make sense?