Eldest

Eldest, the second book in Paolini's Inheritance trilogy just came out and I picked it up yesterday. It took me all day to finish it because the thing was Harry-Potter sized. Almost 700 pages (the book is across the room, or I'd give you the exact number.... but I distinctly remember seeing page 666...).

It's very similar in style and tone to Eragon, it's predecessor. One difference is that since much of the plot of Eldest revolves around Eragon's time in the company of elves MANY MANY new words in the ancient dialect are presented, and although there is a glossary in the back, it's kind of a pain in the ass to have to flip back and forth to figure out what's being said in some cases.

Like Eragon, Eldest is also clearly a product of a modern writer. The influence of Tolkien and Lucas remains strong. In the case of Tolkien, his influence is clear in the races of elves and dwarves, their language and culture, their interaction. Although I must say that it's kind of unnerving to read words in "elvish" that should be "dwarvish" (if you're used to Tolkien). As for the influence of George Lucas, let's just say the kid really SHOULD get out more. More on this below the fold (SPOILERS, mostly from Eragon, but key ones from Eldest, too)

If you've never read Eragon, let me give you a summary:

An orphan boy raised on a farm by his uncle meets his destiny when he finds something precious in the forest. His find turns out to be a dragon egg, revealing his destiny as the last of the Riders, the ancient group of men, elves, and dragons that until recently had served as the protectors of Alagaesia, their homeland. Too soon, the Emperor Galbatorix discovers that Eragon has a dragon egg and sends assassins after him. They kill his uncle and burn the farm, but Eragon escapes, under the guidance of a mysterious old man named Brom, who we later discover is a former Rider in exile. Under Brom's tutelage he receives a magnificent gift: his father's sword (ok, this is sort of a cheat, you find out who Eragon's father was in Eldest, but you probably were thinking it, right??) Meanwhile, Eragon has begun having visions of a beautiful dark haired woman...

Is this starting to sound familiar? Not yet? Ok, here's more.

Eragon and Brom track the assassins across Alagaesia, discovering their lair and then preparing for battle. At this time they meet a mercenary named Murtagh who agrees to help in their quest. They are attacked by the assassins, and Brom dies. Eragon is imprisoned. He uses his powers as a Rider to break out (with some help from Murtagh and Saphira, his dragon) and at the same time rescues the beautiful woman, an elf princess, who was also imprisoned there. Upon leaving the prison, Eragon, Murtagh, Saphira, and the elf fly to the hidden encampment of the Varden, the rebellion against the Empire. Once there, the elf, Arya, is healed, and Eragon learns that Murtagh is in reality the son of the main servant of the Emperor, a former Rider called Morzan. Morzan had been the emperor's closest ally and chief enforcer, and when Murtagh refused to serve him and fled, the Emperor began chasing him too.

Sound familiar yet? It should. Because it's also the plot of Star Wars Ep IV A New Hope. Farm Boy orphan has a chance encounter with his destiny that brings him into a new relationship with a crazy old man he has known all his life and destroys the family's farm in flames. He has a vision (robot-provided) of a beautiful dark-haired woman in trouble. The old man gives him his father's sword, and they depart together to thwart the Emperor's plans. They meet up with a mercenary who