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Loading... Eldest (2005)by Christopher Paolini (Author)
My comment on Eragon can be repeated here. ( )Have not read this book yet. See review for Eragon, book one in The Inheritance Series. It was meant to be a Trilogy originally, but with the third book due out soon, the news is that there will be a fourth book. Eldest holds up well following Eragon, it was every bit as engaging as the first and made me impatient for the third. I actually prefer this installment to the first. A decent chunk of the book is dedicated to Roran, Eragon's cousin, as he tries to save his village and escape from the forces of the empire. I like him better. Eragon trains with the elves and learns more about the different races and their/his histories culminating in the battle bw the Varden and the Empire. *The escape that kept me sane this week. Transferring information from 2006 spreadsheet
Nothing wrong with a good thick serving of swords 'n' sorcery, but it needs a hero. In the hands of a writer like George R.R. Martin, Lois McMaster Bujold, Barbara Hambly, or J. K. Rowling, the central characters of fantasy are persons worth knowing: smart, flawed, moral, doomed to love the world more than the world loves back. It's fun that they're kings and queens and wizards, but we read the books because Miles Vorkosigan or Harry Potter are in them, the kind of people we'd like to know and be. Unfortunately, Eragon just doesn't measure up to the standard; he's a Frankenstein video-game hero, clanking with magic armor, charms, and weapons, but long on seams and short that essential spark of life. It's clear that Paolini has drive and talent, and "Eldest" is, for the most part, competently constructed and written. The problem, however, is that anyone committed to reading a 2,000-page epic deserves more than competence and tropes that have been used countless times before. Is contained in
Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0375840400, Paperback)Surpassing its popular prequel Eragon, this second volume in the Inheritance trilogy shows growing maturity and skill on the part of its very young author, who was only seventeen when the first volume was published in 2003. The story is solidly in the tradition (some might say derivative) of the classic heroic quest fantasy, with the predictable cast of dwarves, elves, and dragons--but also including some imaginatively creepy creatures of evil.The land of Alagaesia is suffering under the Empire of the wicked Galbatorix, and Eragon and his dragon Saphira, last of the Riders, are the only hope. But Eragon is young and has much to learn, and so he is sent off to the elven forest city of Ellesmera, where he and Saphira are tutored in magic, battle skills, and the ancient language by the wise former Rider Oromis and his elderly dragon Glaedr. Meanwhile, back at Carvahall, Eragon's home, his cousin Roran is the target of a siege by the hideous Ra'zac, and he must lead the villagers on a desperate escape over the mountains. The two narratives move toward a massive battle with the forces of Galbatorix, where Eragon learns a shocking secret about his parentage and commits himself to saving his people. The sheer size of the novel, as well as its many characters, places with difficult names, and its use of imaginary languages make this a challenging read, even for experienced fantasy readers. It is essential to have the plot threads of the first volume well in mind before beginning--the publisher has provided not only a map, but a helpful synopsis of the first book and a much-needed Language Guide. But no obstacles will deter the many fans of Eragon from diving headfirst into this highly-awaited fantasy. (Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell
Meet Author Christopher Paolini Paolini talks more about the series, and about what inspires him in this video clip.
The Eragon/Eldest Boxed Set Learn the Lingo AH-zhi-hod The Leader of the Varden Argetlam ARE-jet-lahm Elven word to describe Dragon Riders meaning "silver hand" Arya AR-ee-uh A powerful elf who is both beautiful and a master swordswoman Eragon EHR-uh-gahn A Dragon Rider from Carvahall Ra-zac RAA-zack Evil creatures Saphira suh-FEAR-uh Eragon’s dragon *Art copyright © 2004 John Jude Palencar (retrieved from Amazon Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:14:50 -0400) After successfully evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum clan and sent to finish his training in magic and swordsmanship so he can further help the Varden in their struggle against the Empire. |
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