Eragon: 1st in the Inheritance' series of books

Paolini, Christopher

ISBN 10: 0552552097 / ISBN 13: 9780552552097

Published by Random House Children's Books / Corgi Books

About this Item

© 2002: 1st in the Inheritance' series of books. Unknown publication date. 11th printing of 2005 edition:- Synopsis:- One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure. When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands:- Review(s): "A compelling and action-filled adventure. A galloping good example of its genre" - Daily Telegraph / "This book is an achievement. Readers will be transported" - Sunday Times / "A portrayal of true affection between boy and dragon. Paolini writes like someone gripped in his own story" - Guardian / "A stirring fantasy of epic proportions" - The Bookseller:- (original cost £6.99).

Seller Inventory # 12.001.00327

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Eragon: 1st in the Inheritance' series of books
• Publisher: Random House Children's Books / Corgi Books
• ISBN 10: 0552552097
• ISBN 13: 9780552552097
• Binding: Paperback: 7¾" x 5"
• Illustrator: Cover Art: John Jude Palencar
• Edition: 2005 Edition
• Printing: 11th Printing
• Condition: Very Good: Light signs of wear
• Weight: 0.37 kilograms
• Seller catalogs:
  • Fantasy

About this title

Synopsis

Paolini, Christopher

Review

Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend. Christopher Paolini began Eragon when he was just 15, and the book shows the influence of Tolkien, of course, but also Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and perhaps even Wagner in its traditional quest structure and the generally agreed-upon nature of dwarves, elves, dragons, and heroic warfare with magic swords.

Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a marvelous blue stone in a mystical mountain place. Before he can trade it for food to get his family through the hard winter, it hatches a beautiful sapphire-blue dragon, a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon, and when his family is killed by the marauding Ra'zac, he discovers that he is the last of the Dragon Riders, fated to play a decisive part in the coming war between the human but hidden Varden, dwarves, elves, the diabolical Shades and their neanderthal Urgalls, all pitted against and allied with each other and the evil King Galbatorix. Eragon and his dragon Saphira set out to find their role, growing in magic power and understanding of the complex political situation as they endure perilous travels and sudden battles, dire wounds, capture and escape.

In spite of the engrossing action, this is not a book for the casual fantasy reader. There are 65 names of people, horses, and dragons to be remembered and lots of pseudo-Celtic places, magic words, and phrases in the Ancient Language as well as the speech of the dwarfs and the Urgalls. But the maps and glossaries help, and by the end, readers will be utterly dedicated and eager for the next book, Eldest. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell