Eragon

This article is about the book. For other media, see Eragon (disambiguation)}}

Eragon

File:Eragon.jpg First edition cover
Author	Christopher Paolini
Illustrator	John Jude Palencar
Cover artist	John Jude Palencar
Language	English
Series	pooop
Genre	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Alfred A. Knopf
Publication date	August 26, 2003
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardcover and Paperback) and audio-CD
Pages	544 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-375-82668-8 (first edition, hardback)
Followed by	Eldest

Eragon is a novel written by Christopher Paolini. It is the first book of the Inheritance Trilogy. The sequel is Eldest, which was released in mid-2005. The third book is rumored to be called Empire but the title has not been confirmed. Eragon is set in the land of Alagaësia, and is a story about a teenager named Eragon and his dragon Saphira. The book has been adapted into a film, which was released on December 15, 2006.

Publication history

Christopher Paolini was home schooled in Paradise Valley, Montana, and graduated from high school at the age of fifteen. He and his parents felt he should wait before attending college, so meanwhile he began writing Eragon. His parents' publishing company, Paolini International, LLC, published his book when he was nineteen. The book was then discovered by Alfred A. Knopf and was republished under Knopf in 2002. With Knopf as the publisher, Eragon became a success and a New York Times Bestseller. After release of the film for the movie, a new cover was released for the book. The new cover art shows the actors standing together and Saphira flying in the background. It was released at $6.00-$10.00 per book.

List of characters

Main aricle: List of characters in the Inheritance Trilogy

• Ajihad: Master swordsman, brilliant tactician, and leader of the Varden. He is the father of Nasuada and is the perfect example of a King in Alagaësia — the opposite of Galbatorix.

• Angela: A powerful witch who supports the Varden and specializes in herb-based magic. She foretold Eragon's future in Teirm by using dragon knuckle bones, and lives there beside Jeod's place as a herbalist. She also has for company Solembum, the werecat.

• Arya: An elf who was the guardian of Saphira's egg. She was imprisoned by Durza in Gil'ead on King Galbatorix's orders, and Eragon rescued her.

• Brom: Eragon's mentor. Brom plays what is possibly the most important role of Eragon's growth. Earlier in life, Brom was a Dragon Rider fighting against Galbatorix, but in Carvahall he disguised himself as a storyteller. Brom later gets killed by the Ra'zac, leading Eragon to face the world of reality.

• Durza: A main antagonist in the book, he was a powerful Shade who controlled the Urgal army. He was killed by Eragon, with the help of Saphira and Arya, at Farthen Dûr.

• Eragon: The main character in "Eragon". Son of Selena and raised by his Uncle Garrow in a farmhouse near Carvahall in Palancar Valley with his cousin, Roran. One of the last Dragon Riders other than King Galbatorix.

• Gertrude:the town healer of Carvahall.

• Garrow: Farmer of Carvahall, Eragon's uncle, and Roran's father. He was killed by the Ra'zac and died at the house of Horst, the Carvahall blacksmith.

• Horst: Horst is the father of Baldor and Albriech, and is a father figure to Eragon and Roran when Garrow died. He is a blacksmith with a wife named Elain.

• Hrothgar: King of the Dwarves who befriends Eragon. He adopted Eragon into his clan of blacksmiths and metalworkers.

• Jeod: A merchant of Teirm, Jeod is Brom's old friend, and also a member of the Varden. He secretly smuggles supplies to the Varden since farming is not possible in Farthen Dur.

• Katrina: Daughter of Sloan and a romantic interest of Roran's.

• Murtagh: Son of Morzan, who was the first of the thirteen Forsworn (betrayers of the Dragon Riders); he becomes good friends with Eragon and travels with him to the Varden's hidden stronghold.

• Nasuada: Daughter of Ajihad, leader of Varden. She befriends Eragon and Murtagh in Farthen Dûr.

• Orik: Hrothgar's nephew; he befriends Eragon, and is his guide through Tronjheim and Farthen Dûr.

• Roran: Eragon's cousin and good friend.

• Saphira: Saphira is Eragon's dragon. She is the first dragon to hatch in a century. As an egg, she was kept locked up by Galbatorix. There are only two dragon eggs left in Galbatorix's hands because of this.

• Sloan: Butcher of Carvahall who hates Eragon's family. He is Katrina's father. He is also the one who relayed information to the Ra'zac about Eragon and his dragon egg.

• Solembum: The werecat who lives with Angela; he helps Eragon in various parts of the book, occasionally taking human form.

• The Twins: Un-named twin magicians with strong magical abilities who work for the Varden. They are both very wary of Eragon and Saphira, and don't seem to completely trust the young rider and his blue-scaled friend.

Unseen characters

• Galbatorix: The antagonist, an insane, corrupt emperor who rules Alagaesia from the capital city Urû'baen with dark magic and his enslaved black dragon Shruikan.

• Morzan: The first and the last Forsworn, he is also the father of Murtagh. He was killed by Brom and afterwords Brom took Murtagh's inheritance, Zar'roc (a sword).

• Selena: Eragon's mother. She arrived at Carvahall, alone and pregnant, and implored her brother, Garrow, to raise Eragon. Upon his birth, she left and was never seen again.

• Shruikan: Galbatorix's evil, black dragon whose first rider was killed by Galbatorix.

Reviews

Main article: List of derivative natures in the Inheritance Trilogy

Stephen Samara world renowned author of fantasy novel series The Crown of Dominance is quoted as saying: "Absolutely marvelous. I couldn't put it down at all, I read it day and night! 10/10" (Daily News, 29th January 2006, Vol. 8 Issue 100)

Anne McCaffrey is quoted as saying: "Full praise to Eragon, and I want more."

The New York Times Book Review stated that the novel was, "an authentic work of great talent."

References

• ISBN 0-375-82668-8 (hardcover, August 2003)
• ISBN 0-8072-1962-2 (audio cassette, August 2003)
• ISBN 1-4000-9068-7 (compact disc, February 2004)
• ISBN 0-9666213-3-6 February 2003