SSR: Eragon

Title: Eragon

Author: Christopher Paolini

Setting: Eragon takes place in the fantasy world of Alagaesia, throughout about 1 year. Many different types of weather and settings are experienced, from rough mountain trails at high altitudes; a seemingly endless desert with blistering winds; to large seaport cities filled with murk and fog. This world seems reminiscent of medievel times (for example, major weapons are swords and the bow and arrow).

Plot: The story begins with a 15-year-old boy named Eragon hunting in The Spine, a dangerous range of mountains and forestry that seem to be cursed with magical properties. Here he finds a large, blue rock, which eventually turns out to be a dragon egg. Eragon hides the dragon in the woods near his family's farm, because dragons have a horrible history in Alagaesia: Dragon Riders and their dragons were once the leaders and peacekeepers of the land, but were destroyed by the evil Gallbatorix and his demon dragon Shruiken, so Gallbatorix could gain power and become King.
He names the dragon Saphira, and she (the dragon) and Eragon can communicate through their minds. While in the city of Carvahall, Eragon discovers that there are two strange and dangerous-sounding creatures called Ra'zac looking for the dragon's egg. The 15-year-old rushes back to the farm to warn his uncle (Garrow) and Saphira about the strangers, but ends up taking his first flight on Saphira's back. She is in such a rage over the mere thought of these strangers that she flies until it becomes impossible to return the same day. In the morning they return to find his uncle's house blasted apart, and Garrow himself horribly sick and injured. After a few days the beloved uncle passes away. Eragon then decides that there is too much he cannot explain any more, and he and Saphira will pursue the two strangers.
Their plans are interrupted by Brom, who somehow can talk through thoughts to Saphira also, and makes Eragon agree to let him join them on their journey. Brom knows a great deal about almost everything, it seems, and gives Eragon a sword called Zar'roc, tells him the strangers are creatures called Ra'zac, shows him how to make a saddle for Saphira, and teaches him to swordfight. They stop in the next city to buy horses (Saphira cannot carry both men), then continue to track the Ra'zac across the plains, where they meet with a magnificent storm. Finally, the group reach Yazuac, the city to which they have followed the Ra'zac, but find the people of the town slaughtered by menacing creatures called Urgals. Here, whilst fighting these brutes of animals, Eragon discovers he is able to use magic by saying certain words. Once Brom finds out, he is extremely wary of this dangerous power, and teaches Ergaon very strict discipline when using it.
The group continues to travel, to Daret for supplies, then to Teirm to find shipping records of Seithr oil, a very expensive flesh-eating acid that the Ra'zac use. Here, Eragon has his fortune told by Angela, a witch, meets a wise werecat named Solembum, and learns to read and write. Then they continue to Dras-Leona, and along the way Brom reveals to Eragon that a war is waging between the Alagaesian Empire and the Varden (the rebel group) in which Eragon is a key part because he is the first in a new generation of Dragon Riders. Eragon almost kills himself trying to defeat a pack of Urgals with magic, and keeps dreaming of a maiden in a dungeon. After these events, they reach Dras-Leona, where eventually the Ra'zac find them and they are chased out of the city. Outside the city that night, though, they are captured by the Ra'zac, but are saved by a man called Murtagh.
[end of summary: approx. page 269][Note: Though this is my second time reading Eragon, I didn't read enough over the break to review the whole thing for a complete plot summary. This is half of the summary of the entire book. The second half will be in my next SSR Monthly Book Assignment, as well as the plot summary to the sequel, Eldest. So, next month = half of Eragon + whole Eldest summaryand I will answer the questions on Eldest.]

Questions
1. One of the characters I liked the most in Eragon was Murtagh. He was the surprise twist that saved Eragon and Brom from the Ra'zac when I couldn't even fathom how they were going to get free. Obviously a very strong character, Murtagh stands his ground against the Twins' mind probing, saying that it is the only part of him that is his own (or something to that effect). This is one of my favorite lines in the entire book. Also, how he has gained such strong views against the Empire, although he is Morzan's son (Morzan was the equivalent to King Gallbatorix's second in command). I guess the major reason I like Murtagh is that, although he has personality flaws, his character demands respect.

2. I read books in the fantasy fiction genre a lot, and this book is likewise a work of fantasy. The surroundings Eragon takes place in remind me of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, yet the actual plot has bits of such other series as Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Inkheart/spell, and more. It is the first fantasy book I've read that focuses so much on dragons, which makes it more original and gives it a name in an age with so many fantasy reads that each seems to be stealing concepts from another.

3. Though, yes, I would most definitely recommend this book to any of my friends, I doubt any of them would actually take the time to read it. Reasons for this are (1) it would actually take quite a bit of time to read, and (2) none of them are normally into fantasy, other than movies. However, if I had recommended it, I would persist because for a reasonably lengthy book, I feel not very much of it was dragged out. Eragon keeps you enticed and wanting to read all throughout its 513 or so pages.

4. This book in the Inheritance trilogy changed me as a reader by helping me warm up to the idea of reading books that are suggested by people I don't know especially well. It was recommended to me by a "significant other" of one of my close friends, and I decided to try it out. Now, the Inheritance trilogy (or rather, the 2/3 books that have been released) is one of my favorite reads to disappear into a fictional world to for a weekend.

Elizabeth Selinger