As far as I can tell, there is no hint that Galbatorix is Eragon's father, but he did take a handful of like-minded riders and slaughter the good guys before becoming king. He also allies himself with a monstrous race called Urgals, who have a decidedly orc-ish air about them. As for the evil man himself, well, we never see him. He is holed up in the capital city of Uru'baen, and it is unclear whether or not he is especially interested in Eragon for most of the story. In this, I saw strains of Sauron, who never leaves Mordor even when the hobbits are on his doorstep.
Despite the similitude, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. I'm not even saying the resemblances are a bad thing. This is a tried and true story type that has entranced millions over the long years of its telling and retelling. Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings weren't the originals, just the most significant in recent memory. I think any author would count himself lucky to write this kind of story with the high degree of execution that Paolini achieves.
The characters are rich and dynamic, and they are interesting in and of themselves, as opposed to merely being stereotypes. His pacing is superb, with the plot moving along at a breathless speed for much of the time. Then there is Saphira. Eragon's dragon is not a gimmick or a prop or a pet. She is a fully developed character whose relationship with the rider adds a unique air to the story. In his writing of Saphira, Paolini manages to balance the moods and thoughts of a sentient being with the instincts and inexplicable depth of an animal. Impressive. Most impressive.
At story's end, we are treated to a satisfying, stand-alone novel. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done. Galbatorix hasn't even entered the scene, let alone been defeated, while Eragon and Saphira still have plenty to learn before reaching their potential. Then, of course, there's the matter of the love affair. It has been predicted, but remains to be seen. Perhaps Eldest will begin to answer that particular question, among others.
Article comments
1 - anonymous
Hmm... Yeah I got a Lord of the Rings feel when I read it, and consider the fact that I know hardly anything about Star Wars. Overall, for a 15 year old kid author, it was pretty good. I don't think it was the greatest book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.