Eragon

By: Christopher Paolini

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue 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 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.

Be sure to listen to Eldest, the sequel to Eragon.

©2003 Christopher Paolini (P)2002 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"It's an impressive start to a writing career that's sure to flourish." (Booklist)
"Doyle's range of accents is perfect for the multiple characters of this epic....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." (AudioFile)
"An impressive epic fantasy." (Publishers Weekly)
"An authentic work of great talent. The story is gripping;...it moves with force." (The New York Times Book Review)

Delightful and Enjoyable

I don't hate to admit that I'm over 50 and absolutely loved this book. I didn't want to quit listening, I was saddened to hear it end -- and already started looking for the next part. This was, in my mind, not written for any particular age group - it far transcends that. I've already recommended it to several others and even thinking about listening to it again (and again). I'm sure that the second time around I'll pick up something that I missed or didn't find significant the first time around.
I've definitely formed my opinions on who I think the traitors might be - I'm on pins and needles until I find out.
I highly recommend this book to any that enjoy a good book - I don't even think that most would find the characters that unbelievable.

42 of 46 people found this review helpful

Saphira's voice sounds like Yoda!

What did you love best about Eragon?

I love this book and how unique the story is. However, the reader's use of a growly voice (which sounds disconcertingly like Yoda from Star Wars) is very jarring. Saphira should have a more feminine and regal-sounding voice, in my opinion. I debated returning the book for that reason alone, but the rest of the reading is quite good.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Saphira is my favorite character. She's very witty.

63 of 70 people found this review helpful

Saphira sounds like a goblin with down syndrom

How could the performance have been better?

the performance was aweful and would have been totally fine if Saphira did not sound so stupid

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Utterly Awesome!

This was one of the rare books that so fully absorbed me that I forgot to worry or think of anything else. No "rewind because I've lost track" throughout the entire story. The author is very descriptive in creating the characters, enabling you to envision the events as they unfold. Equally as important, the narrator was more than excellent! While this type of fiction will never make a classic or provoke mind altering thought, if what you want is entertainment value, this is for you.

163 of 186 people found this review helpful

Good Start

Being the first book of a 4 part series, Eragon is a wonderful starting point. This is an exciting book to start out with. It teases in all the right places I find to have you look forward to the books going forward. The title as a whole was not utter perfection but was just good enough to keep me interested.

The story itself was extremely interesting. The imagination that went into making this book and knowing the history of how this book came into being made it all the more an interesting title. I appreciate the fact that the book doesn't shy away from concepts such as death, love and sacrifice. The book is a pretty good experience all together, flows pretty well in general.

26 of 29 people found this review helpful

The Dragon is a GIRL

this is a great book which is only hurt by the nararator's inablilty to create a female dragon's voice. if you think you can get through this though than you will enjoy the read. I would have given it 4 stars but the naration brought it down a notch IMO

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Incredible Experience

This was not only an audio book, but an experience for the listener. The story is awesome and Doyle does a fantastic job of telling the story. I would recommend this audiobook to anyone, any age. It is very entertaining and hooks you from the beginning. My children from age 6 and up loved it too. I have listened to it several times now and it gets better every time.

A must read for Fantasy Fiction fans. Dont forget book 2, Eldest, after reading this one. It was just as good!!

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

A Winner. Captivating from beginning to end.

I downloaded this book mainly for my almost teenage son because it was written by a young man not much older than he is. I decided to go ahead and "screen" it first on my 2 hour daily commute and absolutely enjoyed it immensely. It is written in a simple, straightforward way and is filled with plenty of action and adventure. Besides "Envy", this is the other of my 2 favorite audiobooks I have listened to on audible so far. I can't wait for the next one in the trilogy.

Download this book. It is masterful storytelling. You won't be disappointed!

71 of 86 people found this review helpful

The Narrator ruined it for me.

Ok the story is good! HOWEVER i had a real problem with the way the narrator made the female dragon sound just like Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

it's a telepathic connection. No vocal cords are being used. The Dragon is not straining her throat to mimic human speach. ITS TELEPATHIC!!! Why on earth would you make her sound like that?
I can only imagine what the author reaction would be listening to this (face palm)!
I continued listening anyway because i like the story but the more i listened the more it grated on my nerves and i started thinking of the dragon as a sumo wrestler with laryngitis. I really hope the rest of the books in the series aren't like this. If so i may have to return them.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

MAGICAL CREATURE VOICES SUCKED

Would you consider the audio edition of Eragon to be better than the print version?

BOUT THE SAME JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ SO I LISTEN INSTEAD VERY CONVENIENT.

What did you like best about this story?

IT IS UNABRIDGED SO NOTHING IS MISSING UNLIKE MOVIES WERE THE WHOLE STORY IS CHANGED

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT READING EXCEPT FOR ONE OR RATHER 2 THINGS. THE VOICES FOR THE TWO MAGICAL CREATURES SAPHIRA AND SOLOBUM WERE AWFUL. GERARD DOYLE MADE SAPHIRA SOUND LIKE AND 60 YEAR OLD SMOKER WITH BRONCHITIS AND SOLOBUM SOUND LIKE A HIGH PITCHED YODA WITH STREP THROAT. OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS A GREAT ALL AROUND.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Fantasic!

Absolutely fantasic book, loved every bit of it. The voices I've always read in my head make a bit better but having it read to me is awesome!

Simply the greatest book

I fell in love with this book during my listening. You have to get used to the narrator but once you do he is really good, except for Saphyras voice. But how does a dragon even sound?? Haha

AMAZING

I loved this book so much! and the guy reading it has a beautiful voice that captures your attention without fail ♡ now onto Eldest

Great story.

Loved it. One of my all time favourites. Looking forward to reading the second part again.

An epic journey

As I've read the Eragon book a couple of years ago I thought that it would be fun to re- listen to it as I travel a lot. Just as I remember it, although the characters suddenly had voices!

The worst complaint I can come up with is that there is some void holes when Eragon is traveling, they can travel for over a couple of days without neither Eragon or his companions will say/ do anything but travel, and travel only. They do not speak, they do not chit- chat, they do not rest or anything as far as I'm concerned.

Although the narrator wasn't the best I think that he still tells the story very well and I'm looking forward to the release of the second book!



I still recommend this audiobook very strongly as it is a very intersting universe and story. The magic is very complicated and many characters are myseries and interesting. The enviorment description is sometimes rather thin and short, but that makes it up to you to imagine how the enviorment looks.

Very good series

I read the first two books of the series 6 years ago and liked them, but since the series was not complete then and I don't like reading a volume every 2-3 years, when I no longer remember the details, I waited for the last two to be out and then started again with the first volume. I'm just about to finish the last one and... no matter how it will end, I already know I love this series and I will read it again several times in years to come.

I love the way the dragons are portrayed, I love the world the author created, I wish I could visit and meet all the characters... Someone mentioned their child loved it. Well... I'm 35 and I loved it :) I would venture to say they are not for children, though. Teens, yes, but they are scenes of cruelty and torture and... that's not for children.

These are serious books, very well written. Wisely written, I would say, since they really contain lots of wisdom, in nuggets and... spread throughout. Buy and enjoy, they are well worth your credits!

An very exciting book!

Bought for my 9 yr old who has been glued to my iPod most evenings listening to it. Thoroughly engaging and brilliantly read. Doyle really brings the book to life and has a great feel for the characters. For this series the monthly credits just don't come around quickly enough. Highly recommended