Audio of the Week--Eldest (unabr.)
From SLJ February 2006
Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT -- School Library Journal, 1/23/2006
14 cassettes or 20 CDs. approx. 23:27 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2005. cassette, ISBN 1-4000-9863-7: $65; CD, ISBN 0-307-24652-6: $85.
Gr 5 Up–Eldest (Knopf, 2005), Christopher Paolini's much-anticipated sequel to Eragon (Knopf, 2003; Listening Library, 2004) is filled with the magic of elves, dwarves, and dragons, as well as the human struggles of villagers beleaguered by the dark forces of Galbatorix, a tyrannical king. Opening on the battlefield where Eragon and his dragon companion, Saphira, have been victorious, the novel splits into two story strands that meet in the midst of another combat engagement at the book's conclusion. In the interim, Eragon and Saphira are involved in a bit of political intrigue, a little romance, and long periods of rigorous training, while Roran, Eragon's older cousin, joins with other farmers and tradesmen to defend and then flee their remote hometown of Carvahall. Ra'zacs, the treacherous creatures who killed Roran's father, are not only after him, they have also snatched his true love, Katrina. Eragon has not forgotten his friends and kin, but he is absorbed with his responsibilities as Dragon Rider. When the cousins' circuitous paths converge, they fight beside an army both human and magical to repel Galbatorix's forces again. The two strong-willed young men also resolve past misunderstandings surrounding the death of the man who raised both of them. Even with a plot that covers many detailed passages and a huge cast of characters, narrator Gerard Doyle masterfully sustains the intense personalities of the two questing men and the gravelly-voiced dragon. The sound quality and case are as solid and sturdy as the powerful-looking dragon who stares out from the cover. Reading and recalling Eragon will be very helpful for listeners as they try to follow the sequel's complex series of events and myriad characters. This fantasy/adventure has enough bloody battles and heroic rescues to keep fans of the genre happily engaged. Sure to be popular, especially since there's still one more book to come in the Inheritance trilogy.
