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Eragon

The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1

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Eragon

By: Christopher Paolini
Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
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Brought to you by Penguin.

Gerrard Shale's reading turns this magnificent adventure into a thrilling audiobook for fans of all ages.

When Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.
Overnight his simple life is shattered and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands...

 Action & Adventure Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Scary Stories Science Fiction & Fantasy Scary Destiny Dragons Funny
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Critic reviews

A compelling and action-filled adventure . . . A galloping good example of its genre
This book is an achievement. Readers will be transported
A portrayal of true affection between boy and dragon - Paolini writes like someone gripped by his own story
A stirring fantasy of epic proportions
Christopher has created a complex and fascinating world in this first book of his Eragon trilogy . . . Filled with history, ancient tales, magic, magical creatures, and with a superbly crafted story "Eragon" is sure to delight many lovers of fantasy tales
It's a story of mystery, excitement and magic . . . A riproaring story (also featured in Haverhill Echo)
This is an action-packed fantasy adventure that will appeal to both adults and younger readers
My 12-year-old son loves fantasy and adventure novels, and after reading Eragon on his suggestion, I now understand why: this book creates an alternate world... Emerging out of it to face ordinary life in 2006 London is a startling wrench
All stars
Most relevant

Would you listen to Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1 - Part 1 again? Why?

I think the story is engaging and it has elements that mean you could listen to it over and over.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Eragon the central character is growing and learning and does not get dull

What about Gerrard Doyle’s performance did you like?

Gerrad Doyle's performance overall is good; characters sound different and speech is clear.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

There is already a film to this book which I have seen before getting the audio book and so far they are very different, but I am enjoying it.

Any additional comments?

I don't like the fact the books are split into two parts! There are longer books un-split!

Great start - shame they split the book in two !

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Would be great to have a female voice for the dragon. but love it all the same. still great to listen to.

Great

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the voice for zafira was irritating to me, not sure why but lacked personality somewhat but that's the only downside I found everything else was fabulous.

great story. hated the dragons voice

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I really do enjoy Eragon. The story and pace a good, and it seems to keep me coming back to it even all these years later.
As an audiobook, it’s good. Obviously it’s unabridged which always makes it better in my opinion. The narration on the whole is good… I hate Saphira’s voice though, it’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. There’s a little distracting music at the beginning and end which make it difficult to hear the narrator properly which is another reason the performance is only getting four stars. Overall it’s good.

MASSIVE SPOILERS:

Durza, a particularly nasty Shade, attempts to get the dragon egg held by the rebel Varden back by attacking the three elves who are travelling with it. He kills two and captures the third, though not before she sends the egg to somewhere safe.
Eragon is a simple fifteen year old farm boy. His mother left him to be raised by her brother and aunt when he was a baby and since finding out he feels a bit displaced.
When out hunting, a ‘strange blue stone’ appears scaring the deer Eragon had tracked and hoped to kill. He takes the stone out of the mountains and try’s to trade it for meat at the butchers. The butcher refuses so Eragon gets to keep the stone.
Eragon shows the stone to the blacksmith, his uncle, and his cousin. When the travelling traders arrive, Eragon and his uncle approach a jewel merchant to see if he’ll trade them for the stone. Again they’re refused.
Eragon is woken in the night and finds that the pretty, hollow stone is actually an egg and it’s hatching! Saphira bonds with Eragon, leaving a silver mark on his palm.
Eragon does all he can think of to keep Saphira safe and well fed.
Eragon approach’s Brom, the village storyteller, and asks him some questions about dragons and riders including names of the dragons of old.
Soon the Ra’zac start searching the village and meet the butcher who tells them of Eragons stone. They take an interest in Eragon and visit his Uncles farm.
Eragon wasn’t there, he had been taken for a ride by Saphira. Unhappy about the situation, Eragon finally goes home the next day to find the farm destroyed and his Uncle near death.
Eragon tries to save the only father he’s ever known, and between him and Saphira they get him to the village. The healer does all she can for both of them, but Garrow loses the battle.
The people in the village aren’t certain that Eragon has told the truth of what happened. There are foot prints of a giant monster around the farm and again down the road from the farm to the village. The footprints are where the first signs of Garrow being brought on the litter Eragon was pulling began… but there’s no signs of Eragon in the snow before there.
Eragon knows that he can’t answer those questions without revealing Saphira and he’s unwilling to do that, so steals some essentials and try’s to leave… but Brom stops him, then convinces him they should travel together.
Brom teaches Eragon a lot. He tells him of the dragon riders, he teaches him to fight with a sword, he teaches him magic… and eventually to read, as they hunt for the Ra’zac. It takes many leagues and a few surprises and stops (not all good) along the way for them to find them.
Captured by the Ra’zac, Brom and Eragon are saved by a man called Murtagh. But Brom was mortally wounded, and after their escape Brom speaks to Eragon before his strength completely leaves him.
Eragon and Saphira make a beautiful tomb for Brom, then travel with Murtagh to Gil’ead in search of a man who should be able to help them contact the Varden.
Eragon is captured outside the city and taken to the dungeons. There he sees the elf he has dreamed of being taken back to a cell. He realises his thoughts are fuzzy and there is a drug in his system preventing him from accessing his magic, speaking to Saphira, or even thinking right. He fasts and begins to feel better.
Durza attempts to discover Eragons ‘true name’ so he can control him. Eragon gives him a fake one, then later when he finds himself able to access his magic, he knows he has to leave before Durza tries anything.
Unknown to Eragon, Murtagh and Saphira are also trying to break him out. Luckily just as Eragon comes face to face with six guards, Murtagh appears and helps him defeat them. Murtagh wants to leave straight away but Eragon saves the Elf, then they make there way up to a banquet hall.
Murtagh leaves to collect Eragons sword and returns with the elf’s sword and bow too… but Durza catch’s them.
Eragon tried me to buy time by fighting Durza, but Murtagh shoots him with an arrow and they all escape on Saphira.
For days they don’t stop running, worrying all the time about the elf who had been badly tortured by Durza. Eragon speaks to her telepathically and discovers her name is Arya and where the Varden are.
As they make there way there Kull, an elite form of Urgal who stand over eight feet tall, chase them.
They are saved by the Varden and dwarves, many of whom welcome them. Arya is tended to by their healers, Eragon, with Saphira’s help, passes the test to game n access to the stronghold, but Murtagh refuses to allow another person into his mind. He ends up placed in a cell with no windows.
Eragon and Saphira find themselves asked many questions, tested, and put into meetings with influential people. Arya recovers enough to help them and pledges her sword to protect them.
The Urgals attack under the influence and orders of Durza and an almighty battle rages.
At the end, when the dust settles, Eragon resolves to go to the Elven city, Ellesméra.
We leave them all still with the Varden and dwarves, and look to the next instalment, Eldest, to travel to Ellesméra and discover more about the Elves.

An adventure with a dragon - who wouldn’t love it!

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I have read the cycle before but really enjoyed listening to this whilst driving to work and back

Loved It

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