Eldest is the second book of The Inheritance Cycle. It is preceded by Eragon and followed by Brisingr. Within Eldest, the plot picked up from Eragon thickens. No more is Eragon a boy that found a dragon. He unwillingly is pulled into political struggles between all the races and nations allied against the dark king. Eragon spends much of the book studying magic; the discipline required constantly distracted by a forbidden love.
Eldest follows three distinct plots: Eragon’s training, the rebellion against the empire, and the call of a new hero, Roran. Roran is Eragon’s cousin, and under the oppression of the Empire he is forced to lead a smaller rebellion from Eragon’s home town. While the two rebellions are politically interesting and a compelling story themselves, the best scenes in the book belong to Eragon’s training. These scenes are remarkable in two ways. First, as a reader we begin to learn the rules that govern the plot more deeply; this allows us to share Eragon’s slightly detached perspective of a Dragon Rider. Second, and more importantly, the scenes are packed with ethical discussions, philosophy, and thought experiments. In other books such as The Alchemist and The Celestine Prophecy the plot only existed to impart the philosophy, the plot itself was rather weak. The Inheritance Cycle however melds the two together, building a fictional mythology around notions normally held by Magical Realism.
Magical Realism
Like most Fantasy and Science-Fiction, there are rules and concepts that govern the plot. The Inheritance Cycle stands out as having woven these rules deep into the plot. The rules themselves are explicitly stated throughout the cycle as Eragon (and others) learn the ancient craft of spell-weaving. Because the rules have such a logical basis in actual laws of physics, linguistics and psychology, it is possible to read The Inheritance Cycle as a work of Science Fiction. In order to have magical power over something or someone in The Inheritance Cycle, one must fully understand the true nature of it. The ability to say something’s true name, gives one power over it. Because of the magical system at work, the basis of the plot depends fundamentally on concepts of physics, linguistics, and psychology.
In traditional Fantasy a magician uses mysterious powers to change the world and thus establish an otherwise impossible plot. The Inheritance Cycle distinguishes itself by not treating magic as mysterious. Power is gained through discipline of thought and dedication to discovering truth. Eragon’s journey to power is, in large part, a journey to self-awareness. In this way, The Inheritance Cycle also reaches into the Magical Realism genre. Overall The Inheritance Cycle is a wonderful series which will appeal to adults and mature children alike.