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JUNE 21, 2011
Eragon, I Am Your Brother!
Eragon book coverAlmost everyone knows about the popular series of Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr. The boy, who grew up with his aunt and uncle, discovers that he is to inherit a legacy of the peacekeepers of the land. Then his uncle dies. To survive, he needs to make a journey to rescue a princess with an old man who is more than he seems. I could go on, but I won’t. This story sounds AWFULLY familiar to me, and not because I was talking about Eragon. No, my friends, I am saying that it sounds very similar to – drum roll please – the fourth, fifth, and sixth Star Wars movies! Think about it for a minute.

My comparison will start with the characters. First, Eragon. He is obviously the counterpart of Luke Skywalker, hero of the Star Wars movies. Then comes Brom, the old storyteller. His Star Wars counterpart:  Obi-Wan Kenobi. And, of course, Oromis is the Yoda of Eragon. Then things get a little messy, and I had to try harder to make comparisons. Arya has a bit of Princess Leia in her, for though she is not Eragon’s long-lost twin sister, she has to put up with torture at the hands of the Empire (coincidence? I think not!) before Eragon rescues her.

Next I will take the comparison to the plot, picking up where I left off. Eragon is searching for his uncle’s killers, but he also seeks the woman of his dreams – literally. She is held hostage and tortured for information, but does not give in. This, of course is Arya/Princess Leia. They (as in Eragon, Brom, and Saphira) travel together, Brom teaching Eragon the ways of the Jedi – excuse me, the ways of the Riders – and how to use magic, by *ahem* harnessing the power of nature. Sound familiar? It goes farther when Brom is killed in saving Eragon, and when the four – Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and Murtagh – take refuge with the Varden (or the Rebellion). Thus ends Book 1 of the Inheritance Cycle, and with it ends Star Wars: A New Hope. I’ll admit, in Eldest, the plot strays a little from the path beaten by The Empire Strikes Back. However, the key points are still the same. Eragon goes to learn from an old Rider who no one knows anything about. Then he leaves his master, Oromis, to go save his friends from disaster. Unfortunately, he learns an awful truth during the battle. He fights another Rider, unmasks him, and it turns out to be Murtagh, who he thought was dead (long story). As they fight, Murtagh tells him that they are brothers, and that their father, Morzan, was one of the “Emperor’s” closest followers. Darth Vader/Murtagh:  Eragon, I am your brother! Luke/Eragon:  NOOOOOOO!!! In the third book, Paolini, the author, decides to mix it up a bit by making Obi-Wan Luke’s father, actually. Of course, Yoda/Oromis dies at the end, making it Return of the Riders, Part One.

Who knows what will happen next? Me, I’m betting on Murtagh eventually saving Eragon by killing the Emperor, Galbatorix, at the cost of his own life of course. Beyond that, I can’t really tell. Maybe Eragon will always stay single, as Jedi must. Maybe not. My conclusion:  put together Star Wars, add dragons, and throw in some Lord of the Rings (including the elves) and you get Eragon. What’s yours?


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Comments

Jenna said, on Jun. 21 at 9:19AM
Oh, Elizabeth, I completely agree! I also see a lot of comparisons with Lord of the Rings (mostly in names and setting) and also Anne McCaffrey's Pern series (in the dragons). Paolini was 15 when he started writing this series and it's clear what he was reading for pleasure. :)

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