Eldest

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Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance cycle. It was released on August 23, 2005, and, like Eragon, became a New York Times bestseller.

Contents 1 Cover flap summary 2 Plot summary 3 Publishers in other countries 4 Characters 5 List of chapters 6 Inside the book 6.1 Map of Alagaësia 7 Excerpt from the publisher 8 Critical reaction 9 Movie 10 See also 11 External links

[edit] Cover flap summary

Darkness falls… despair abounds… evil reigns…

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesméra, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider. It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspiring new places and people, each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall–one that puts Eragon in even graver danger.

Will the king’s dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .

[edit] Plot summary

Eldest begins with the death of Ajihad, and the kidnapping and apparent deaths of Murtagh and the Twins. Subsequently, the Varden elect a new leader, Nasuada, and Eragon, in deference to Ajihad's last wishes, swears fealty to her.

Meanwhile, in Carvahall, Roran is being pursued by Galbatorix, who has sent the Ra'zac to capture him and thus lure Eragon out. After repelling many attacks from the Imperial soldiers and suffering a number of casualties, Roran and the villagers manage to keep the army at bay, but Katrina, Roran's fianceé, is captured by the Ra'zac.

Nevertheless, Roran decides to leave Carvahall and lead the villagers on an exodus to Surda, a small, independent nation south of the Empire. By that time, Eragon has decided to go to Ellesméra to continue his training as a Dragon Rider. After many adventures on the way, he reaches the elven capital and meets Islanzadí, the queen. It is revealed that Arya is her daughter.

Eragon is also introduced to another Dragon Rider, Oromis, the "Mourning Sage" who shielded Eragon during the battle under Farthen Dûr. Oromis is weak, and therefore cannot take part in the war against Galbatorix, but has woven countless spells around himself to ensure that he will survive long enough to train the next Rider.

Eragon and Saphira begin their training with Oromis and his golden dragon, Glaedr. Meanwhile, Eragon begins to experience strong feelings for Arya, but faces the realization that he cannot join her because of the age gap between them. He is left heartbroken as Arya leaves to return to the Varden. At the same time, he suffers repeated painful attacks from the scar on his back, but is healed of the wound during the Blood-Oath Celebration.

Nasuada has made a momentous decision and moved the Varden to Surda, and the threat of war with Galbatorix seems imminent. Upon hearing of this, Eragon immediately leaves to go to their aid. He arrives to find the situation poised on the edge of war. The armies of the Varden, mixed with the army of Surda, camp on a plain opposite the vast armies of Galbatorix. The battle begins, and Eragon is able to repel the opposing armies for some time using his newfound powers. The tide of the battle shifts back and forth between both sides. With the appearance of the dwarves, the situation changes to favor the Varden. Then, the appearance of an unknown Dragon Rider who kills Hrothgar, the dwarf king, turns the tables once again. Eragon faces off with the strange Rider, and ultimately unmasks him to reveal Murtagh, who had not been killed, but had been taken by the Twins to Galbatorix, and forced to swear allegiance to the king in the Ancient Language. He and his dragon, Thorn, prove to be more powerful than the weakened Eragon, while Murtagh displays an exemplary skill in magic, using spells that would have killed a normal human. Murtagh decides to have mercy on them, however by twisting a way out of his oaths he took in the ancient language; but, before he leaves, he claims Zar'roc as his own and uncovers a terrible truth: Eragon was the youngest son of Morzan, and is therefore Murtagh's brother. Murtagh also reveals that Galbatorix is working to save the dragon race and reestablish the Riders; but in order to do this, he must capture Saphira, who is the last female dragon in existence. In the end, Galbatorix's army is routed, thanks to the timely appearance of the villagers of Carvahall. Eragon is reunited with Roran, and they agree to work together to rescue Katrina.

[edit] Publishers in other countries

• Australia: Alfred A. Knopf
• Bulgaria: Hermes Books
• Canada: Alfred A. Knopf
• China: ???
• Czech Republic: Fragment Publishing House
• Denmark: Sesam
• Finland: Tammi
• France: Bayard Jeunesse
• Germany: Bertelsmann
• Holland: Publisher M
• Indonesia: Gramedia Pustaka Utama
• Italy: Fabbri Editors & Mondolibri
• Japan: Random House Japan
• Korea: ???
• Latin America: Roca Editorial
• New Zealand: Corgi/Random House
• Portugal: Gailivro
• Romania: Rao International Publishing Company
• Spain: Roca Editorial
• Sweden: Bonnier Carlsen
• United Kingdom: Doubleday
• United States: Alfred A. Knopf

[edit] Characters

*Indicates new character

• Ajihad
• Angela
• Arya
• Elva
• Eragon
• Garzhvog*
• Gilderien the Wise*
• Glaedr*
• Helen
• Horst
• Hrothgar
• Islanzadí*
• Jeod
• Jörmundur
• Katrina
• Lethrblaka*
• Menoa Tree*
• Maud*
• Murtagh
• Nasuada
• Orik
• Oromis*
• Orrin*
• Rhunön*
• Ra'zac
• Roran
• Saphira
• Sloan
• Solembum
• Thorn*
• Trianna*
• The Twins
• Vanir*

[edit] List of chapters

• A list of chapters with their respective point of view.

[edit] Inside the book

Eldest contains a concise summary of Eragon, the previous book in the cycle. It also includes a pronunciation guide to the names and phrases used in the book, as well as a note upon the origins of the names.

[edit] Map of Alagaësia

[edit] Excerpt from the publisher

This is a copy of the excerpt. Click [show] to read its contents. The original excerpt may be found here.

[edit] Critical reaction

As soon as the book was released, fans everywhere expressed their opinion. Some praised Paolini's improving talent and better character work. Others found it dull compared to the fast-paced Eragon. Other fans were upset by Paolini's portrayal of elves, which many say were "too perfect" to relate to. Some have also cited the many similarities between Eldest and some of Tolkien's work; Paolini's elves bear a close resemblance to the elves of Lórien in The Lord of the Rings, and several quotes from Eldest bear a striking resemblance to lines in Tolkien's works including the phrase "the ageless elves speak wisdom".

[edit] Movie

A film version of Eldest has not yet been confirmed. If it is, there are many things that would need addressing. Many plot elements crucial to Eldest were left out of the Eragon movie. For example, Oromis does not ask Eragon to come to Ellesmera in the first movie. Also, Brom kills a Ra'zac. Perhaps the most important thing left out is Katrina - the entire part of Eldest that is about Roran and Carvahall cannot take place in Eldest without Katrina.

Luckily, Durza cutting Eragon's back was in the first film, and can still play it's crucial part in an Eldest film. And after the way the first movie ended, there might be another movie. Please see Eldest (movie) for more information and updates.

[edit] See also

• Eragon
• Brisingr
• Book 4

[edit] External links

• Alagaesia.com, the official book site
• Shurtugal.com - Fan site USA
• Eragon1.net - Fan site CZ/SK
• Shadeslayer.com - Fan site USA
• Eragons.com - Fan site spain
• Saphira.pl - Fan site PL
• Eragon.atw.hu - Fan site HU