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Plot
The story takes place in a fictional world, Alagaësia, dominated by humans, elves, dwarves, and an Empire led by an evil king, Galbatorix. The book begins with a prologue setting a base of the story. A Shade, with red hair and maroon eyes, accompanied by a band of Urgals, hulkinh, horned beasts, intercept an eleven convoy. In the heat of the ambush, an elven woman teleports a sapphire-blue dragon egg with magic. Meanwhile, a 15 year-old boy is hunting in a mountain range called the Spine. as he draws his bow on a small deer, a flash of blue light indicates the arrival of the egg, which Eragon believes to be a stone. Perplexed and confused, Eragon takes the stone with him and returns to Carvahall, a small village in Palancar Valley. Once he passes through Carvahall he attempts to bargain with Sloan, the town butcher, offering the blue stone as trade for meat. Sloan doesn't except the offer and Eragon returns to the farm where he lives with his Uncle, Garrow, and his cousin, Roran.

Weeks later a baby dragon hatches from the stone and Eragon takes care of it, building it a home in the forest beside his house. The dragon grows rapidly and it becomes difficult for Eragon to hide. A mental connection develops between Eragon and the dragon and they briefly talk to each other. With the help of Brom, the village storyteller, Eragon names the dragon Saphira. The Ra'zac, mysterious bird-like creaturs serving Galbatorix, arrive in Carvahall and begin interrogating villagers on the whereabouts of the dragon egg. Before Eragon can worn his family, his house and farm are burnt to the ground he finds Garrow lying in the rubble. Brom accompanies Eragon and they flee Carvahall in puruit of the Ra'zac, seeking vengeance for Garrow's death. They begin a long journey along the western coast of Alagaësia and Brom trains Eragon in magic, combat skills, and the Ancient Language. He also begins to have frequent dreams and visions of the beautiful elf who teleported the egg, held up in a cell.

In a major trade city, Teirm, Brom meets with an old friend, Jeod, for shipping records of a poisonous oil used by the Ra'zac. Eragon encounters a fortune-teller, Angela, and receives odd advice from her werecat, Solembum. The head for Dras-Leona, where they suspect the Ra'zac hide. In Dras-Leona Eragon comes face-to-face with the Ra'zac and they capture him and Brom. Before the Ra'zac can kill Eragon, a young stranger saves him. As one of the Ra'zac escape, it hurls a knife at Eragon but he is protected by Brom as he jumps in front of the projectile.

Eragon and Saphira mourn over Brom's death and decide to join the Varden, the last standing rebellion against the Empire. Guided by his visions, Eragon saves the beautiful elf in Gil'ead, the capital of the Empire. Barely escaping a horde of Kull, a special breed of Urgal, Eragon and Murtagh reach the Varden. After being tested by two bald twins, Eragon is excepted into the Varden, but Murtagh is imprisoned after it is revealed he is the son of Morzqn, the Kings most faithful servant before the fall of the Dragon Riders. Eragon meets Ajihad, leader of the Varden and explores Tronjheim, the Varden's main city. Orik, son of the dwarf king, King Hrothgar, serves as a guide for Eragon. Angela and Solembum mysteriously show up, confusing Eragon.

The Kull break into the Varden and the battle begins. During the battle, Eragon encounters Durza, the pale, red-haired Shade. Eragon suffers a blow to the back, which leaves a long scar from his shoulder to his hip. Saphira and Arya cause a distraction by breaking the sixty-foot long Star Sapphire, a ruby gem, carved to look life a blooming rose, that acted as a roof to Tronjheim. As Durza's is distracted, Eragon stabs Durza through the heart and the Kull are released from the spell that ound them to the Empire's rule. Eragon falls unconscious and his approached by another mental presence in his mind. The Cripple Who is Whole tells Eragon to find him because he as answers to all of Eragon's questions.

Major Themes
In an interview by Forbes magazine, Christopher Paolini stated that "it's a coming of age story" and "[Eragon's] friendship with the dragon, Saphira" is what appeals most to young readers. Eragon has to accept his responsibilities and his place in the world. The novel has been identified as a story about the battle of good vs. evil, and uses the general template of a fantasy story.

Background
Christopher Paolini was home-schooled by his parents in Montana. Paolini began writing the book at the age of 15. Eragon was self-published. Paolini had a variety of writes and books he was inspired by. Philip Martin, an author for The Writer, says Paolini "chart[ed] out a trilogy in the style of his favorite writers, who include J.R.R. Tolkien, E.R. Eddison, and Anne McCaffrey." Paolini also says "[he] was inspired by Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, by Bruce Coville."

Publication History
Eragon was self-published by Christopher Paolini and his family. After Paolini wrote Eragon, his parents told him "You can go to college, or we can try to [publish Eragon]." He chose to publish. Paolini promoted Eragon in high schools and libraries. Carl Hiassen, a famous writer, recommended Eragon to his publisher, Knopf. Knopf's edition of Eragon was released in 2003.

Reception
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, received a wide range of mixed reviews. As the critic, Liz Rosenberg put it, it is a familiar plot and [Paolini] often falls into clichéd descriptions. Rosenberg slammed the novel further when she wrote, "the plot stumbles and jerks along, with gaps in logic and characters dropped. . . " Despite Rosenberg's negative critique, she states "[Eragon] is an authentic work of great talent."