Eragon

After receiving his high school diploma at the age of 15, the homeschooled Paolini started planning a novel which he would enjoy reading himself. After a month of planning out the trilogy, he started writing the first draft of Eragon, initially by hand, but after writing the first sixty pages he continued writing it on a computer. After a year of writing, Paolini finished writing the first draft of Eragon and commenced writing a second draft.

Paolini never intended that the novel be published. However, after finishing re-drafting the story he gave it to his parents, who decided to self-publish it. A further year was spent proof-reading and editing the novel, in addition to creating a cover and map of Alagaлsia (both the first cover and the map were drawn by Paolini).

The following year was spent promoting the novel, touring across the USA. Paolini and his family gave over 135 talks at bookshops, libraries and schools. Many of these events were done with Paolini wearing a "medieval costume of red shirt, billowy black pants, lace-up boots, and a jaunty black cap". In summer 2002 the author Carl Hiaasen brought Eragon to the attention of his publisher Alfred A. Knopf after his stepson read a copy of the self-published novel. Knopf went on to acquire the rights to the entire trilogy. The novel was once again edited, and a new cover was drawn by John Jude Palencar. [1][2]

[edit] Plot summary

Eragon, a 15 year-old boy, lives with his uncle Garrow and cousin Roran on a farm on the outskirts of a small village, Carvahall. While hunting in the Spine, a large range of mountains running down the West side of Alagaлsia, which is believed to have mysterious happenings, Eragon is surprised to see a polished blue stone appear in front of him. After failing to sell or trade the stone, Eragon witnesses a baby dragon hatch from the "stone," which was in reality a dragon egg. He questions Brom - the elderly town storyteller - about the Dragons and the history and ways of the Dragon Riders. After this talk, Eragon names the dragon Saphira after hearing Brom mention the dragon's name. He raises the dragon in secret until two of King Galbatorix's servants, the Ra'zac, come to Carvahall looking for the egg. Eragon and Saphira manage to escape by hiding in the forest, but Eragon's uncle Garrow is fatally wounded and the house and farm are destroyed. Once Garrow dies, Eragon is left with no reason to stay in Carvahall, so he goes after the Ra'zac, seeking vengeance for the destruction of his home and his uncle's death. He is accompanied by Brom, the mysterious and seclusive town storyteller, who insists on helping them.

Eragon becomes a Dragon Rider through his bond with Saphira. On the journey, Eragon learns sword fighting, magic, and the ways of the Dragon Riders from Brom. They travel through several cities, and Eragon is shocked by the way that the Empire is harming the land and its people. Finally, after infiltrating a tower and acquired information in the town of Teirm, Brom, Eragon, and Jeod (Brom's old friend) conclude that the Ra'zac reside in the city of Dras-Leona. There, the Ra'zac lure Eragon, Saphira, and Brom into an ambush. Although a stranger, Murtagh, rescues them, Brom is gravely injured and dies shortly after -- but not before finally revealing to Eragon that he was a Dragon Rider, whose deceased dragon shared Saphira's name. Saphira knew this from the moment she met Brom, but didn't tell Eragon because Brom requested her not to.

Murtagh becomes Eragon's new companion. The three of them travel in search of the hidden hideout of the Varden, a strong rebel faction that Brom had mentioned on their journey. On the way, Eragon has dreams of a strikingly beautiful elf, all of which feature her suffering in a prison. While stopping near a city with an inhabitant that could potentially reveal the Varden's whereabouts, Eragon is captured, drugged, and imprisoned in the same jail that holds the elf. Murtagh and Saphira stage a rescue and Eragon escapes with the unconscious elf. During the escape Eragon and Murtagh battle with a Shade - a sorcerer possessed by evil spirits. The fact that a Shade is walking freely in the land deeply disturbs Eragon and he suspects that Galbatorix is planning something terrible. The Shade is shot between the eyes by an arrow from Murtagh and disappears in a mist.

After escaping, Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh go in search of the Varden across the Hadarac Desert into the Beor Mountains, carrying the unconscious elf with them. When she does not wake after a week, Eragon becomes increasingly concerned and tries to reach her using a form of telepathy. He discovers that her name is Arya and that she has been afflicted with a rare poison. She tells Eragon that she has put herself into a self-induced coma, to slow the poison, but also mentions that if they do not reach the Varden soon, she will die. She then tells Eragon how to find the Varden.

The party are pursued by an army of extremely large Urgals, called Kull, as they travel to the Varden's fortress, hidden deep within the Beor Mountains. Along the way, Eragon discovers that Murtagh is the son of Morzan, the first and last of the