Book Review : Eragon

Eragon

The inside cover of Eragon informs us that it's author, Christopher Paolini, was 15 years old when he wrote the book. In a way this presents a peculiar problem. It makes it a touch unfair to hold him to the same standards as CS Lewis or Tolkien. Still, a published book is a published book and it needs to be judged on its own merit.

Eragon doesn't break any new ground as far as fantasy literature is concerned. There is a strong sense of deja vu about the whole thing. If you've read enough of the Fanatasy Classics and played enough Role-playing games, you basically know what you're in for. The characters are a touch caricatured and the writing varies from being very gripping to being rather hackneyed.

It traces the story of a farm boy called Eragon who stumbles upon what happens to be a dragon-egg. When the egg hatches, he becomes one of the powerful, mythical dragon-riders and starts off on a journey that involves a head-on collission with the all-powerful King Galbatorix, aided by an old Magician and a young man of questionable parentage. He also falls in love with a powerful elf-princess and allies himself with a mysterious witch.

The problem is, it all sounds rather familiar.

Paolini may or may not go on to become a remarkable writer. I am inclined to think not, but far better reviewers than me have been proven wrong. For now, it's best to treat Eragon as a fun way to spend a few hours. Expect no more and you will be pleasantly surprised. Expect a debut on the lines of Ray Feist's Magician and you'll be sadly disappointed.

Buy it here