Random Thoughts on "Eragon"

It just goes to show how important it is to preview a book before you read it. At the beginning of the book was a fairly detailed map of the terrritories where the story takes place, but what I didn't notice, to my chagrin, was that at the end of the book is a pronunciation glossary and a translation of some of the old language. I would have felt much less frustrated if I had noticed these things earlier in the story.

About the story... I see lots of similarities between Eragon and the Star Wars mythology, also that of Harry Potter. It all focuses around a reluctant hero, who has much to learn to accomplish his goals. He is fortunate to have many older, wiser people around him who help prepare him for the challenges ahead.

I can't help but feel that Eragon is destined to be a hero from the beginning. As this book is the first of a series (or maybe only 2) there is some of the history & much of the future that are not shared with the reader.

Paolini doles out the history of his created world in fragments, that create a fairly satifying picture when all the pieces are put together. I have to say, that the ending was a real cliff-hanger, and I am eager to read the next adventure to see what happens to Eragon and his dragon.