Reading other reviews of Eragon, it is clear that this is a book that has generated a mixed reaction. Before going on to offer my two tuppence worth, it's worth mentioning that Christopher Paolini was just fifteen when he wrote this, the first instalment of a four part Inheritance Cycle fantasy saga.
Given the genre that it's in, it is inevitable that comparisons will be made with writers such as Tolkien, Feist and Pullman. However, it is perhaps a little unfair to expect Paolini to have matched these great writers with his very first novel, written at an age when most other authors are nowhere near ready to have a piece of work published.
Having provided that background, let's now forget Paolini's age for a moment and consider the merits of Eragon on its own accord. I picked it up on the recommendation of my wife, who had read it and had become thoroughly engrossed by it. Both she and I picked up on the fact that it fits in with fairly standard fantasy conventions. You have a hero (Eragon) who is a teenage boy who doesn't yet know the great destiny and powers that lie in front of him. He's thrust into adversity (and finds himself becoming a dragon-rider) but is helped by an elderly storyteller who turns out to be more than he first appears. There's a bad king and elves and dwarves and sorcery and swords. There's also Eragon's dragon (Saphira), a witch and a werecat, all great characters that you will grow to love.
The fact that Paolini has tapped in so obviously to fantasy norms has been one of the criticisms laid at his door. There are a few times when the reader feels that clichs have been allowed to creep in but the bottom line is that the story flows nicely and certainly succeeded in making me care about the central characters and their welfare. The fact that it's not as original as Philip Pullman's Dark Materials probably prevents Eragon from being considered a true great of the fantasy genre but it doesn't prevent the reader from enjoying the story that unfolds. Sometimes, after all, conventions come into being because people like them.
There is an authenticity to the world that Paolini has created and I like the fact that it includes a Tolkien-esque style map of the world that Paolini personally created. Another good feature is the fact that not all characters are safe. I don't want to give too much away for people who have yet to read it but there are characters that we are introduced to who subsequently die, despite the fact that we have grown to care about them.
If I am to be critical, I think that Paolini's story may be seen as being slightly old-fashioned. For example, its portrayal of women could be seen as similar to Tolkien's. When the threat of battle emerges, the women are packed off for their own safety, with the sole exception of an Elven woman. The depiction of the dwarves is also perhaps a little stereotypical they are all tough gruff warriors. However, these criticisms feel harsh as I still very much enjoyed the characters portrayed and, after all, many fantasy readers will be just delighted to have another talented writer who is so clearly following in the footsteps of the master of the fantasy genre, Tolkien.
Quantifying how good or bad a novel is can be very difficult, given its subjective nature. However, I feel the standard of writing, the fluency of the story and the likeability of the characters justifies a rating of four stars out of five. That's treating the novel on its own merits without using Paolini's tender age as a contributory factor. If anything, as someone who has dabbled in creative writing, I'd almost want to take a star off for him being such a precocious so and so. I'd love to have written something as accomplished as this guy has achieved and one can only wonder what gems he may come up with as he develops his skills as a writer and story teller. I feel as well that we will probably see some more originality as he becomes even more confident in himself and his scope to experiment. This can only be a good thing too.