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Eldest
File:Eldest-usa.jpg
AuthorChristopher Paolini
Cover artistJohn Jude Palencar
GenreFantasy
PublisherAlfred A. Knopf
Publication date
August 23, 2005
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback) and audio-CD
Pages704 (hardcover edition)
ISBNISBN 037582670X (hardcover edition) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
Preceded byEragon 

Eldest is the title of the second book in the Inheritance Trilogy, written by Christopher Paolini. Eldest was first published in hardcover on August 23, 2005, and is scheduled for release in paperback in September 2006. Eldest has also been released in audiobook and ebook formats. Like Eragon, the previous book in the trilogy, Eldest became a New York Times bestseller.

The story follows the continued adventures of Eragon and his dragon Saphira, centering around their journey to the realm of the Elves in order to further Eragon's training as a Dragon Rider.

The book includes a pronunciation guide to the Ancient Language, a glossary, and a synopsis of Eragon, the previous book in the series. A deluxe edition will be released on August 22, 2006, which will include a sneak peek at Empire, a fold-out poster of the dragon Glaedr by artist John Jude Palencar, a revealing excerpt of the history of Alagaësia, never-before-seen art by the author, including an image of Brom’s elf ring, and a complete and comprehensive list of people, places, things, and dwarf clans.[1]

Critical reaction

Critical reaction to the book was mixed. The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the wonder of Paolini's invented world, saying "The real beauty of his novel is just that - the beauty...Paolini demonstrates an awesome, and sometimes awe-struck, knowledge of all the wonderful things the world has to offer, from farming to metalworking, to linguistics, philosophy and art." [2] Teenreads.com asserted that "Wizards, monsters, dragons, elves, dwarves, magic forests, witches, storytellers, enchanted swords and powerful spells all combine to make Eldest a sure winner for fantasy fans." [3] Common Sense Media, on the other hand, found the book exciting but overly detailed:

"Eldest could have been several hundred pages shorter without harming the plot at all just by cutting some of the lengthy descriptions of nothing important to the story that Paolini loves to write and that give him a chance to show off his vocabulary." [4]

A reviewer in Entertainment Weekly said, bluntly, "I have not for many a year read anything so mind-numbingly silly as Eldest". The magazine gave Eldest a D+ grade and later awarded it the Worst Book of 2005. [5]

There was also criticism over the inclusion of strong anti-religious sentiments ("Evidently Paolini thought it imperative that he show the world that not all homeschoolers are Christians" [6]) and clumsy allusions to sex in what is touted a "children's book".

Plot synopsis

Template:Spoiler The book begins with Ajihad's death, the disappearance of Murtagh and the Twins (they are captured and thrown into the Pit of Doom, supposedly dead), and the election of a new leader of the Varden - Nasuada, to whom Eragon swears fealty. Meanwhile, in Carvahall, Roran is being pursued by Galbatorix, who has sent the Ra'zac and a unit of Imperial soldiers to capture him and thus lure Eragon out. After repelling many attacks, they manage to drive the army away, but Katrina, Roran's fiancée, is captured. They decide to leave Carvahall and travel to Surda. Roran hides his identity by calling himself "Stronghammer." By that time, Eragon has decided to go to Ellesméra to further pursue his training. After many adventures on the way, he comes to his destination and meets Islanzadí, the elven queen.

It is revealed that Arya is Islanzadí's daughter. Eragon is introduced to another Dragon Rider, Oromis; the Mourning Sage or Osthato Chetowa; The Cripple Who Is Whole, Togira Ikonoka; who shielded Eragon in the first book. Eragon and Saphira begin their training with Oromis and his dragon Glaedr. Eragon learns how to read and fluently speak the Ancient Language, as well to use various spells and magic skills. While Eragon's feelings for Arya increase, he continues to train under Oromis's wing and suffers repeated bouts of pain from the scar on his back. Nevertheless he and Saphira grow steadily more powerful. On a traditional elvish celebration day of the pact with the dragons, called the Blood-oath Celebration, or the Agaetí Blödhren in the ancient language, Eragon is healed of his wound and, as a gift from the dragons, gains the powers and appearance of an elf.

In the meantime, Nasuada has made a momentous decision and moved the Varden to Surda, and the threat of war with Galbatorix seems imminent. Upon hearing of this, Eragon immediately leaves for battle in Surda, but not before receiving gifts from Oromis and Islanzadi. During Eragon's travel to Surda, Roran meets Jeod Longshanks in Teirm.

Jeod, as a member of Varden, helps Roran lead his group of Carvahall villagers to Surda. Eragon arrives to find the situation poised on the edge of battle. The armies of the Varden, together with the army of Surda, camp on a plain opposite the vast armies of Galbatorix. Before the battle, four Kull offer to act as a bodyguard to Eragon during the fight. Angela the herbalist poisons the enemy's drinks and bread, killing many soldiers, and causing the officers to hallucinate. The battle begins, and Eragon is able to repel the opposing armies for some time with his new forces, but the tide soon turns. During the fighting, Roran arrives at Surda, and his group of villagers join themselves to the forces of the Varden. Then, with the appearance of the dwarves from the east, the situation changes again, until the appearance of an unknown Dragon Rider who kills Hrothgar, the dwarf king. Eragon faces off with him in both aerial and ground fights and ultimately unmasks his opponent, revealing Murtagh. Murtagh tells Eragon that the Twins had betrayed the Varden and taken him to Galbatorix. Galbatorix made Murtagh and Thorn, his red dragon, swear to try to capture Eragon; Galbatorix knows the true names of both Murtagh and his dragon, and thus is able to control them mentally. Murtagh also reveals that Galbatorix is working to save the dragon race by capturing Saphira and having her mate with the third dragon hatchling, still lying dormant in its egg. He and Thorn prove to be more powerful than the battle-weary Eragon and Saphira, while Murtagh displays the great and terrible potency of his magical prowess, using spells that would have killed a normal human. Murtagh decides to have mercy on them, but before leaving them, he reveals that Eragon was the youngest son of Morzan and Selena, and that therefore Murtagh is Eragon's elder brother. Murtagh takes Zar'roc away from Eragon, saying it should rightfully have been his, an inheritance from Morzan.

In the end, Galbatorix's army is routed, mainly because of the sudden entry of the dwarf troops. Eragon is then reunited with Roran, and he agrees to help Roran save Katrina from the clutches of the Ra'zac, which they believe to be in Helgrind.

Release versions

Knopf is releasing a "deluxe edition" of Eldest in August 2006. This version includes art by the author.

Publishers in other countries

Characters

Ajihad
Father of Nasuada, Ajihad was the leader of the Varden for fifteen years before he was slaughtered by Urgals a few days after the Battle of Farthen Dûr. He was one of the most effective Varden leaders.
Angela
Angela is a witch who uses herbs to perform magic. She resides with the Varden, accompanied by the werecat Solembum. Before the Battle of Burning Plains, she poisons many of the Empire's soldiers.
Arya
The ambassador of the elves to the Varden, and once the egg courier. She has worked with the Varden for seventy years, and has been in service nearly as long as Brom. She is the elf Eragon rescues in the first book, Eragon, and whom he falls in love with. She turns out to be the daughter of Queen Islanzadi and princess of Ellesméra. In the book, Eragon fully reveals his attraction towards her, forcing her away from him, in an attempt to keep him from distraction.
Brom
An agent and founder of the Varden, Brom was once a skilled Rider. He had a female dragon also named Saphira, who was killed long ago. He stole the dragon egg from Galbatorix, which ultimately hatched for Eragon as Saphira, and trained Eragon. He died in the first book saving Eragon from the Ra'zac.
Elva
Elva is an orphan child of the Varden. Eragon had tried to bless her, but he accidentally used the words "May luck and happiness follow you and may you be a shield from misfortune" instead of "May luck and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune" because of his ignorance of the Ancient Language. She was also given a silvery dragon mark on her forehead by Saphira. She can sense the pain of people around her and becomes physically ill if she does nothing to help - this is due to the magic words which instruct her to shield others from misfortune, even at her own cost. However, the dragon magic in her blood enabled her infant body and mind to grow unnaturally into a four year old, as she can help people more easily if she can walk and talk. Because of her curse, she was able to save Nasuada from an assassin, although she felt the assassin's pain when he committed suicide. Eragon promises to do what he can to undo the curse after the Battle of Burning Plains.
Eragon
The sixteen-year-old main character of the book, Eragon is sent to Ellesméra, the capital of the elves, to continue his training as the new Dragon Rider. During the Battle of Burning Plains, he finds out that a dragon hatched for Murtagh. Murtagh reveals that they are brothers. Morzan and Selena are Eragon's and Murtagh's parents.
Galbatorix
King Galbatorix is the ruler of Alagaësia. He slaughtered the Riders with the help of his twisted dragon, Shruikan. He knows Murtagh's and his dragon Thorn's true names, so controlling them utterly, and hunts for Saphira so that he can breed her with one of the other two known dragons, one of which is Murtagh's, who are both male, to restore the Riders under his control.
Glaedr
Glaedr is the gold dragon who was bonded with Oromis. One of his forelegs was severed long ago in a fierce battle, so he cannot risk fighting in a real battle again. He teaches Saphira while they are in Ellesméra. Saphira shows an interest in him during Eldest, but he turns her away, as he understands that she is young and merely infatuated.
Morzan
The first and the last of the thirteen Forsworn. Also the father of Murtagh and Eragon. He was killed by Brom in the race for Saphira's egg.
Murtagh
Murtagh is Morzan's firstborn son. He ran away from Galbatorix and rescued Eragon from the Ra'zac. After the battle of Farthen Dûr, Murtagh accompanied Ajihad underground, and was later captured by Urgals. He was believed to be dead, until Eragon ripped the helm off the red Rider at the Battle of Burning Plains, discovering him to be Murtagh. It was Murtagh who revealed that Eragon was Morzan's younger son. Murtagh learned from The Twins that Eragon is his brother. Their parents are Selena and Morzan. Murtagh is currently Galbatorix's unwilling servant, enslaved by magic.
Nasuada
The daughter of Ajihad, Nasuada is elected by the Council of Elders of the Varden to become the new head of the Varden after her father was ambushed and killed by Urgals. A brave and highly intelligent leader, she makes risky yet shrewd decisions and quickly establishes her leadership over the Varden.
Oromis
Aside from Galbatorix, Oromis is the only remaining Rider of old. He lives in a secluded area by Ellesméra and becomes Eragon's teacher in the arts of the Riders, preparing him to fight Galbatorix. He is terminally ill and no longer has the strength to perform large amounts of magic.
Ra'zac
The Ra'zac are powerful beings who are the natural predators of humans. They killed Roran's father Garrow and are now in pursuit of Roran. They are weak in sunlight, and have a fear for deep water.
Roran
Roran is Eragon's cousin. When his fiancee, Katrina, is captured by the Ra'zac and Carvahall is attacked, he leads the villagers away to Surda. He later joins the Battle of Burning Plains and kills the The Twins. He tells Eragon to help him rescue Katrina.
Saphira
Saphira is Eragon's dragon that had been inside of the blue "stone" which he found in the Spine. She shares a special bond with Eragon. She is just as intelligent as humans and has secret knowledge that Brom intrusted her with before he died. She can add to Eragon's powers through her mental link. She can breath fire and is the only female dragon left alive although no one knows it.There may be more dragons.
Thorn
Thorn is the red dragon ridden by Murtagh. He hatched for Murtagh after Murtagh was taken to Galbatorix by The Twins. He is the second dragon to hatch of the three eggs that Galbatorix had captured, one of which was Saphira.
The Twins
The Twins are two powerful bald magicians who worked with the Varden. Although they seemed suspicious and untrustworthy, the Varden needed them because of their higher magical power, as they lacked anyone with advanced experience in the Ancient Language. They are presumed to be killed, although at the end of the book, they reappear to slaughter their old allies. Roran kills them in the battle. The Twins were controlling the Urgals that killed Ajihad and captured Murtagh, and had been the Imperial spies the Varden were looking for. After severely punishing Murtagh in Urû'baen, they managed to extract the information from him that they needed to discover that Murtagh and Eragon shared the same biological mother and father.
Vanir
An elf that helps Eragon with his swordsmanship. A rather petty and immature elf, he does not like Eragon because he thinks Eragon is a disgrace to the Riders due to the fact that he is human, but realizes Eragon is worthy when the dragons give Eragon some elf abilities.


List of chapters

Each chapter in the book deals with either Roran or Eragon, as they are now dual protagonists. Also some chapters describe Nasuada's progress as she is now leader of the Varden. The Nasuada chapters tell of her work in Surda and her counsels with the Surdan king as they prepare for battle, but little of her personal struggles.

File:Alagaesia.jpg
Map of Alagaësia
  1. "A Twin Disaster" - Eragon
  2. "The Council of Elders" - Eragon
  3. "Truth Among Friends" - Eragon
  4. "Roran" - Roran
  5. "The Hunted Hunters" - Roran
  6. "Saphira's Promise" - Eragon
  7. "Requiem" - Eragon
  8. "Fealty" - Eragon
  9. "A Sorceress, a Snake, and a Scroll" - Eragon
  10. "Hrothgar's Gift" - Eragon
  11. "Hammer and Tongs" - Roran
  12. "Retaliation" - Roran
  13. "Az Sweldn rak Anhûin" - Eragon
  14. "Celbediel" - Eragon
  15. "Diamonds in the Night" - Roran
  16. "Under a Darkling Sky" - Roran
  17. "Down the Rushing Mere-Wash" - Eragon
  18. "Drifting" - Eragon
  19. "Arya Svit-kona" - Eragon
  20. "Ceris" - Eragon
  21. "Wounds of the Past" - Roran
  22. "Wounds of the Present" - Roran
  23. "His Enemy's Face" - Roran
  24. "Arrow to the Heart" - Eragon
  25. "The Dagshelgr Invocation" - Eragon
  26. "The Pinewood City" - Eragon
  27. "Queen Islanzadí" - Eragon
  28. "Out of the Past" - Eragon
  29. "Conviction" - Roran
  30. "Repercussions" - Roran
  31. "Exodus"-Roran
  32. "On the Crags of Tel'naeír" - Eragon
  33. "The Secret Lives of Ants" - Eragon
  34. "Under the Menoa Tree" - Eragon
  35. "A Maze of Opposition" - Nasuada
  36. "Hanging by a Thread" - Nasuada
  37. "Elva" - Nausuada
  38. "Resurgence" - Eragon
  39. "Why Do You Fight?" - Eragon
  40. "Black Morning Glory" - Eragon
  41. "The Nature of Evil" - Eragon
  42. "Image of Perfection" - Eragon
  43. "The Obliterator" - Eragon
  44. "Narda" - Roran
  45. "The Hammer Falls" - Roran
  46. "The Beginning of Wisdom" - Eragon
  47. "Broken Egg and Scattered Nest" - Eragon
  48. "The Gift of Dragons" - Eragon
  49. "In a Starry Glade" - Eragon
  50. "Landfall" - Roran
  51. "Teirm" - Roran
  52. "Jeod Longshanks" - Roran
  53. "An Unexpected Ally" - Roran
  54. "Escape" - Roran
  55. "Child's Play" - Nasuada
  56. "Premonition of War" - Nasuada
  57. "Red Blade, White Blade" - Eragon
  58. "Visions Near and Far" - Eragon
  59. "Gifts" - Eragon
  60. "The Maw of the Ocean" - Roran
  61. "Running the Boar's Eye" - Roran
  62. "To Aberon" - Eragon
  63. "The Burning Plains" - Eragon
  64. "The Clouds of War" - Eragon
  65. "Nar Garzhvog" - Eragon
  66. "Witch's Brew" - Eragon
  67. "The Storm Breaks" - Eragon
  68. "Convergence" - Roran
  69. "Eldest" - Eragon
  70. "Inheritance" - Eragon
  71. "Reunion" - Eragon

References

  1. ^ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037594060X/002-3887219-6824856?v=glance&n=283155
  2. ^ http://www.macon.com/mld/inquirer/entertainment/books/12449504.htm
  3. ^ http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/037582670X.asp
  4. ^ http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/review.php?id=4319&type=Book
  5. ^ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/book/0,6115,1095866_5%7C110283%7C%7C0_0_,00.html
  6. ^ http://www.pax-romana.net/refracted/eldest.html


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