Eragon review

As promised, here is my synopsis of the novels "Eragon" and its sequel, "Eldest". There are spoilers here. You have been warned.


The first scene opens with a young woman on a secret mission to deliver an object of utmost importance to the resistance movement. This item has the potential, if used properly, to bring down the evil empire. Unfortunately, she is captured by agents of the empire, but not before she desperately casts off the object into the great beyond. While she didn't send it where she wanted it to go, at least it is temporarily safe.

Cut to a farm on the outskirts of civilization. A farmboy stumbles across this vital object accidentally. Near the boy's village, yet secluded from it, lives an old hermit who is more than he seems. Later in the story, it turns out he was assigned to stay there to keep an eye on the boy.

Danger comes to the village, so the boy and the hermit set off. On the way, the old man teaches the boy some of the old magical arts, but not nearly as much as the boy will learn later on. The man also gives the boy a special weapon with a sordid past.

The old man dies on the journey, before he can teach the boy everything he needs to know. However, later on the boy takes up with a member of another, older race. This person, despite being crippled, knows even more than the old man and teaches the boy much. The boy leaves his teacher before his lessons are over, however, with a promise to return to complete them. The boy learns how to use the old arts to perform incredible feats such as levitation, communicating telepathically with those close to him, and affecting the minds of others.

The boy eventually meets up with the young woman from the beginning, by rescuing her from the jail, right out from under the eye of the evil empire. He develops a bit of a crush on her, which is unrequited. Later, he finds out she is a princess associated with the resistance movement.

In the second portion of the story, the resistance movement is forced to relocate, since their home base has been discovered.

At some point, the boy receives a crippling blow, which is later repaired.

It turns out that the boy's weapon, given to him by his first teacher, used to belong to the second-in-command of the evil empire. It is later startingly revealed that this man is the boy's father.

During a major battle, just as it appears the resistance is doomed, help suddenly appears in the form of the boy's cousin, who comes unexpectedly from nowhere and distracts the opposing army long enough for the resistance to land a severely disabling blow. There is an evil counterpoint to the boy, someone who can also use the dark arts, on the battlefield, but he escapes in the confusion.


Now, some of you may be wondering whether I just described "Eragon", or whether this is a review of the classic "Star Wars" movies. If you are wondering this.....well, so am I.

Back in the saddle again

It's been too long. Way, way too long, and too much has transpired. There's a lot that I could write, and I could conceivably fill several entries, but let's sum up and see what happens.

1. I'm out of a job.
2. We're having a baby.
3. We've lost someone dear to us.

I've considered leaving it at that, but I think I need to write more, so it's time for some detail. First, the job. As of the middle of October, I am no longer teaching. The reasons are complicated, and I'm legally bound not to discuss details yet, but suffice it to say I'm not happy with the situation. I'm working two part-time jobs, and it feels like I'm working harder than I was when I had a full-time and a part-time. My resume has been sent out, and while I probably haven't sent it to as many places as I should, I'm hopeful about the places to where I did send it. In fact, I've more or less placed all my eggs in one basket with one particular job opportunity. If it comes through, I'll be set for life. If it doesn't....back to the drawing board. I should be hearing any day now. Keep your fingers (and toes, and eyes) crossed.

Second, we're pregnant. On NPR recently they interviewed a guy from East Something-Or-Other University, and each year they compile a list of "banned" words. In other words, phrases or words they'd prefer never to have in the King's English again. Things like "awesome" or "TomKat" and so on. This year, one of the phrases that made the list is "we're pregnant". I know that technically, biologically, only my wife is pregnant. But pregnancy has been made into such a non-biological issue, what with having the proper car seat, the proper doctor, the proper clothing, the proper way to breathe, that there are plenty of books now for the father. "What To Expect When She's Expecting", and so on. And whereas before the dad was expected to pace in the waiting room and hand out cigars, now he is expected to attend the birth, cut the cord, and basically do everything he can except push. I'm all for that, and eager to participate as much as possible. As long as I'm involved, then, I may as well say "we're pregnant".

Oh, and it's a girl. Due early May.

Finally, just today we lost someone dear to us. Our good friend Keith, who we have known for about 15 years, lost his mother to bone cancer. She had been fighting it valiantly for years, and was a dear, sweet woman who made the best seafood chowder in all of New England. We will miss her much. If you are reading this, please hold Keith and his family in the light.


Topic for my next post: Griping about Eragon