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Don’t miss the eagerly anticipated epic new fantasy from Christopher Paolini—Murtagh! A new adventure hatches in Book One of the Inheritance Cycle, perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings! This New York Times bestselling series has sold over 40 million copies and is an international fantasy sensation. "Christopher Paolini is a true rarity." —The Washington Post When fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. 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, gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.
Don’t miss the eagerly anticipated epic new fantasy from Christopher Paolini—Murtagh! A new adventure hatches in Book One of the Inheritance Cycle, perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings! This New York Times bestselling series has sold over 40 million copies and is an international fantasy sensation. "Christopher Paolini is a true rarity." —The Washington Post When fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. 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, gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Eragon knelt in a bed of trampled reed grass and scanned the tracks with a practiced eye. The prints told him that the deer had been in the meadow only a half-hour before. Soon they would bed down. His target, a small doe with a pronounced limp in her left forefoot, was still with the herd. He was amazed she had made it so far without a wolf or bear catching her.
The sky was clear and dark, and a slight breeze stirred the air. A silvery cloud drifted over the mountains that surrounded him, its edges glowing with ruddy light cast from the harvest moon cradled between two peaks. Streams flowed down the mountains from stolid glaciers and glistening snowpacks. A brooding mist crept along the valley’s floor, almost thick enough to obscure his feet.
Eragon was fifteen, less than a year from manhood. Dark eyebrows rested above his intense brown eyes. His clothes were worn from work. A hunting knife with a bone handle was sheathed at his belt, and a buckskin tube protected his yew bow from the mist. He carried a wood-frame pack.
The deer had led him deep into the Spine, a range of untamed mountains that extended up and down the land of Alagaësia. Strange tales and men often came from those mountains, usually boding ill. Despite that, Eragon did not fear the Spine–he was the only hunter near Carvahall who dared track game deep into its craggy recesses.
It was the third night of the hunt, and his food was half gone. If he did not fell the doe, he would be forced to return home empty- handed. His family needed the meat for the rapidly approaching winter and could not afford to buy it in Carvahall.
Eragon stood with quiet assurance in the dusky moonlight, then strode into the forest toward a glen where he was sure the deer would rest. The trees blocked the sky from view and cast feathery shadows on the ground. He looked at the tracks only occasionally; he knew the way.
At the glen, he strung his bow with a sure touch, then drew three arrows and nocked one, holding the others in his left hand. The moonlight revealed twenty or so motionless lumps where the deer lay in the grass. The doe he wanted was at the edge of the herd, her left foreleg stretched out awkwardly.
Eragon slowly crept closer, keeping the bow ready. All his work of the past three days had led to this moment. He took a last steadying breath and–an explosion shattered the night.
The herd bolted. Eragon lunged forward, racing through the grass as a fiery wind surged past his cheek. He slid to a stop and loosed an arrow at the bounding doe. It missed by a finger’s breadth and hissed into darkness. He cursed and spun around, instinctively nocking another arrow.
Behind him, where the deer had been, smoldered a large circle of grass and trees. Many of the pines stood bare of their needles. The grass outside the charring was flattened. A wisp of smoke curled in the air, carrying a burnt smell. In the center of the blast radius lay a polished blue stone. Mist snaked across the scorched area and swirled insubstantial tendrils over the stone.
Eragon watched for danger for several long minutes, but the only thing that moved was the mist. Cautiously, he released the tension from his bow and moved forward. Moonlight cast him in pale shadow as he stopped before the stone. He nudged it with an arrow, then jumped back. Nothing happened, so he warily picked it up.
Nature had never polished a stone as smooth as this one. Its flawless surface was dark blue, except for thin veins of white that spiderwebbed across it. The stone was cool and frictionless under his fingers, like hardened silk. Oval and about a...
About the Author-
Christopher Paolini’s abiding love of fantasy and science fiction inspired him to begin writing his debut novel, Eragon, when he graduated from high school at fifteen after being homeschooled all his life. Both Eragon and Eldest, the second book in the Inheritance trilogy, became instant New York Times bestsellers. Christopher is currently at work on the final volume in the trilogy. He lives in Montana, where the dramatic landscape feeds his visions of Alagaësia.
You can find out more about Christopher and Inheritance at www.alagaesia.com.
Reviews-
Look out, Jim Dale! Gerard Doyle's narration of Eragon gives the Harry Potter series a strong rival. While it seems odd that a Brit was chosen to read a fantasy written by an American teen phenom, Doyle's range of accents is perfect for the multiple characters of this epic. Eragon and Saphira grow from being innocent young farm boy and dragon hatchling to dragon rider and his fearsome flying partner, both destined to fight the minions of the evil King Galbatorix. Doyle's voice strengthens with Eragon's conviction to take charge of his fate and to join forces with good. On paper, Eragon is a sprawling fantasy, filled with obvious nods to Tolkien and too many convenient plot devices. But on audio, it fills the ears with vivid characters, witty dialogue, and nail-biting battle scenes set in a magical world where a beautiful blue dragon and her rider are at the noble center of it all. M.M.O. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award, Winner of 2004 ALA/ YALSA Recording (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
July 21, 2003 In the first volume in Paolini's planned Inheritance trilogy, 15-year-old Eragon discovers an odd blue gemstone while exploring an infamous stretch of forest. It is a dragon egg, fated to hatch in his care. Eragon quickly develops a psychic connection with the female dragon that emerges, whom he names Saphira ("His emotions were completely open to her mind, and she understood him better than anyone else"). Eragon narrowly escapes doom with Saphira's help, but the uncle who raised him is killed, setting up a robust revenge/adventure tale. The scope quickly expands: Eragon turns out to be the first of a new generation of Riders, a lodge of legendary dragon-riding warriors killed by the evil King Galbatorix. As a result, he becomes the focal point in a war between Galbatorix's forces and the resistance efforts of the Varden. Paolini, who was 15 years old himself when he began this book, takes the near-archetypes of fantasy fiction and makes them fresh and enjoyable, chiefly through a crisp narrative and a likable hero. He carries a substantial Tolkien influence—fanciful spellings of geographical names, the use of landscape as character, as well as the scale and structure of the story itself. But his use of language dispenses with the floral, pastoral touch in favor of more direct prose. The likeness does not end there: the volume opens with a detailed map of Paolini's world, and ends with a glossary and pronunciation guide for his invented language. An auspicious beginning to both career and series. Ages 12-up.
Cuando Eragon, un joven campesino de quince a–os, encuentra una piedra misteriosa y azul en el bosque, su vida cambia para siempre. De repente se ve enrollado dentro del conflicto entre el bien y el mal en un mundo lleno de dragones y magia. El narrador, Karl Hoffmann, aporta un toque dram‡tico a la historia creando distintas voces, a la vez emocionantes y cre’bles, para los muchos personajes fant‡sticos que aparecen en el cuento. La mœsica que acompa–a la narración aumenta el ambiente en todos los momentos propicios. Esta producción captar‡ la imaginación de lectores jóvenes y maduros, proveyendo una experiencia de que todos los miembros de la familia pueden disfrutar juntos. S.E.G., L.R.P., trans. [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]--When 15-year-old Eragon, a boy from a farming village, finds a mysterious blue stone in the woods, his life is transformed. He soon finds himself caught up in a fight against evil in a world filled with dragons and magic. Narrator Karl Hoffmann brings a dramatic touch to the story, with exciting and believable voices for the many fantastic characters. His narration is complemented by background music that heightens the mood at all the right moments. This impressive production will capture the imaginations of young and mature listeners alike, providing an experience the family can enjoy together. S.E.G. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
April 4, 2005 While exploring the forest, 15-year-old Eragon discovers an odd blue gemstone—a dragon egg, fated to hatch in his care. According to PW , "The author takes the near-archetypes of fantasy fiction and makes them fresh and enjoyable, chiefly through a crisp narrative and a likable hero." Ages 12-up.
Anne McCaffrey, author of The Dragonriders of Pern series
"Full praise to Eragon, and I want more! A winner . . . tip of the hat to young master Paolini."
People
"Christopher Paolini make[s] literary magic with his precocious debut."
─Liz Rosenberg, The New York Times Book Review
"An authentic work of great talent . . . I found myself dreaming about it at night, and reaching for it as soon as I woke."
Booklist, Starred
"Unusual, powerful . . . fresh and fluid. An impressive start to a writing career that's sure to flourish."
Publishers Weekly
"An auspicious beginning to both career and series."
School Library Journal
"Will appeal to legions of readers who have been captivated by the Lord of the Rings trilogy."
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Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
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Look out, Jim Dale! Gerard Doyle's narration of Eragon gives the Harry Potter series a strong rival. While it seems odd that a Brit was chosen to read a fantasy written by an American teen phenom, Doyle's range of accents is perfect for the multiple characters of this epic. Eragon and Saphira grow from being innocent young farm boy and dragon hatchling to dragon rider and his fearsome flying partner, both destined to fight the minions of the evil King Galbatorix. Doyle's voice strengthens with Eragon's conviction to take charge of his fate and to join forces with good. On paper, Eragon is a sprawling fantasy, filled with obvious nods to Tolkien and too many convenient plot devices. But on audio, it fills the ears with vivid characters, witty dialogue, and nail-biting battle scenes set in a magical world where a beautiful blue dragon and her rider are at the noble center of it all. M.M.O. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award, Winner of 2004 ALA/ YALSA Recording (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
