by Clayton Duncan

Created on: March 08, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Book Review of Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Introduction:

Eragon was just quiet young man until one day while hunting he discovered a big blue jewel in the middle of the forest. Little did he know that later that night after bringing it home it would hatch and change his life forever.

He was confused at first with what to do with a baby dragon, but Eragon kept it hidden deep within the forest and fed it daily. Soon enough though the dragon became too big and needed a lot more than what he could provide. It was around that time when fierce beasts called Ra'zacs set fire to his home and severely injuring his cousin and uncle. Eager for revenge Eragon set off on a journey with his dragon Saphira and the help of a wise old man named Brom. After finally catching up with the Ra'zacs and the eventual death of his mentor Brom, Eragon had no choice but to take his strange destiny into his own hands with only Saphira by his side.

I would recommend this book to readers of all ages and interests. It is filled with fluid writing and is very action-packed. It's very descriptive, often painting vivid images in the readers mind. Even though the storyline is a little clich it still manages to keep you coming back for more. Overall I think anyone would enjoy reading Christopher Paolini's masterpiece.

Main Body:

The intense battles are the most exciting feature included in the book. This is mostly because of the descriptive writing which actually enables you to picture the action as if you were there. Another reason these battles are so exciting is because you never know what to expect next. With all of the magic, weaponry, and beasts such as dragons involved there is endless possibility and Paolini seems to capture it all.

Eragon also includes a lot of vivid writing that often makes it seem as though you can see the world through the protagonist's eyes. While reading it seems as though in almost every sentence there is barely any detail that goes untouched. In addition, the author uses a wide range of vocabulary making the reading flow instead of seeming repetitive. This descriptive writing is just another reason why readers will be so intoxicated with Eragon.

Although the plot of Eragon seems very interesting, it must be said that it isn't the most original. While reading the book some sci-fi/fantasy fans might notice a lot of similarity between Eragon's storyline and others such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. For example, Eragon was a farm boy living with his Uncle, just like Luke Skywalker. He also came home to find his house destroyed as did Skywalker in Star Wars. Plus there are many other similar characters like an old mentor for the hero and a girl saved from imprisonment. While though it's clear that Eragon shares numerous storylines and character archetypes with other famous publications it is still capable of displaying an addictive story.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Eragon is yet another sci-fi/fantasy novel with classic similarities that will capture a wide fan-base. It does lack humor throughout the book but it is made up for with the many dramatic battles. Another good feature of the book is the depictive writing; making you feel as though you are not actually reading the book but experiencing it instead. As stated before, Eragon is a book that should interest all kinds of readers for a long time.

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