Riders A Magazine for
the Future Riders
Talk about Eragon’s adventures with Eragon himself!
Re-live what he’s done!
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A special issue focusing on ERAGON
$3.99
February 2012
Contents GET TO KNOW ERAGON
HISTORY OF THE RIDERS
PAGE FOUR
PAGE THREE
TOGETHER
WE ARE ONE PAGE SIX
WHERE I AM FROM PAGE EIGHT
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The Inheritance Cycle: Review PAGE NINE
The Dragon Riders (Shur’tugal in the Ancient Language) were an alliance of elves and dragons formed at the end of Du Fyrn Skulblaka to create peace and order between the elves and dragons. The Riders were created because treaties between the two races would prove useless to stop fighting: a signed piece of paper meant nothing to a dragon. So, an irrevocable bond was made by the elves and the dragons; the elves provided the structure of the spell and the dragons provided the strength, thus creating the Dragon Riders. When a fleet of humans sailed across the sea thousands of years later, they too were added to the elite order of the Dragon Riders. The role of the Riders became more than uniting the Elves and Dragons; they became keepers of the peace throughout the land of AlagaÍsia, and were respected and honored by the people they served. There were both male and female Riders, all of whom were able to use magic. The Riders not only were peacekeepers, they were healers, scholars and the strongest magicians throughout the land besides Shades.
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E R A G O N
GET TO KNOW
E
ragon is a young handsome man, being at the age of 19. He lived a sparse life on a farm with his uncle Garrow, and his cousin Roran, until he reached the age of 15. His mother came to Garrow pregnant, and dressed richly. Shortly after Eragon was born, she begged Garrow to raise him. Garrow agreed, and she disappeared to never been seen again. His father was Morzan, the first and last of the forswan. His brother is Murtagh, who was raised by their mother and father, and escaped only to be distrusted and always on the run. He had drunken rages, and was killed by Brom in a battle. While out hunting in the Spine, the range of mountains, a polished blue stone dropped in front of him changing his life drastically. 4
Q.
Has your opinion changed since when you were traveling with Murtagh to the Varden, the safe haven, and he killed the slave sellers leader, and you opposed to this as he was defenseless?
A.
ergy and I would fear that many people could die from their limited knowledge of the power of magic. When I said it could turn deadly, I mean that someone could develop his skill, and then attempt to take over the empire as Galbatorix did.
It is a very controversial action, killing someone who is defenseless. I was not used to the way the world now works for me. Murtagh killed Do you think that by advancing one’s him from his beliefs. That he was a risk, and it was growth, as Galbatorix did with his dragon best to have no risks. I think that in some cases it Thorn, enhances or diminishes one’s chance of sucmust be done, but in others avoid it as well as you cess in battle? can. Again, another difficult question. It does give one an advantage in size, strength, and speed. When you were 15, and you were raising The disadvantage is that you have a new body and Saphira, do you think that letting Garrow in skills that you are not yet aware of, which may throw on it would have saved his life? you off when you come across them. It is hard to say if this would benefit you, but I believe that it would I am not sure if it would have affected the out be more beneficial to let yourself develop at a rate come at all. The Ra’zac are deadly, and neither your mind can develop a the same speed, rather he nor I had the knowledge or weapons that would then superficial growth. have let us escape them. I wish that I could bring him back, and I feel terrible that it was brought on because of me, but there is nothing that I could have or can do.
Q.
A.
Q. A.
Q.
You were starting to become very uncomfortable with the fact that you were killing people, do you think that if this emotion had not arisen it would have changed the outcome of things?
A.
It is hard to say. Everything plays a role, and I think that this has benefited me as well as been a curse. It is a very difficult emotion to deal with, but I think that it has had some good outcomes. I have learnt to push it to the back of my mind, to only have it rise when necessary.
Q. A.
Do you think that it would be a valuable skill if everyone was able to use magic?
This is a hard question to answer. In someways yes, it would give people a new advantage around daily life, but it could also go horribly wrong. Some minds are deadly enough with just a sword, much less the use of magic. It drains your en5
TOGETHER WE ARE ONE HERE WE ARE SHARING OUR LIVES WE MADE IT THROUGH THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES AND STILL WE STAND WITH HOPE IN OUR HEARTS NO MATTER WHAT WE WILL PLAY OUR PART AND NOW WE’VE COME SO FAR ONE CHANCE TO TOUCH A STAR GO HIGHER AND HIGHER
DEEP INSIDE YOUR HEART AND SOUL YOU WORK SO HARD TO REACH YOUR GOAL WITH EVERY STEP WITH OUT REGRET YOU GAVE IT ALL TILL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT SEEK OUT THE STRENGTH TO WIN NO THOUGHTS OF GIVING IN GO HIGHER AND HIGHER
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FIND YOUR GUIDING INSPIRATION IN A PLACE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE WITH A LIFETIME’S PREPARATION THERES NO TIME TO BE AFRAID PUT OUR DIFFERENCES BEHIND US WHILE WE SHINE LIKE THE SUN SEE WHAT WE’VE ALL BECOME TOGETHER WE ARE ONE Delta Goodram
Everything has a message, from shallow, “bring that for me”, to deep, “everything happens for a reason.” In this song, the message is easy to detect. Delta, the singer, is trying to send the message of putting your differences behind you, and you will reach the stars together. This is fairly easily stated in the song, for example, one of the lines is ‘Put our differences behind us While we shine like the sun.’ I think that the song is expressing a simple message of teamwork. By putting our differences behind us, we can show everyone how much we can do. To back this up, the song also says ‘No matter what We will play our part And now we’ve come so far One chance to touch a star.’ I believe that it is saying that by playing your parts, you have come this far, and you only have on chance to touch a star, so keep going strong. A relationship between a dragon and their rider is almost inexplicable. Together, they will go through many ups and downs, and many memories will be created. This is the first place where the books relate to the song. One of the song’s lines is ‘We made it through The good and bad times And still we stand’. I think this closely relates to the relationship between Eragon and his dragon Saphira. They have been though a lot, and those shared experiences will remain with them forever. They have both taken and they have both saved lives. The song is saying that we understand what we’ve done, and what we will do. A quote from the book that relates to this is from Eragon, where he states “I will fight when needed, revel when there’s an occasion, mourn when there is grief.” He understands the times to come. Another quote from within the book that closely relates to the lyrics is ‘Find your guiding inspiration In a place where dreams are made’. This is when Eragon confesses his feelings to the whole situation. “It’s overwhelming. I feel as if I am living in an illusion, a dream where all things are possible.” Here he is living his dreams, and has found his inspiration. 7
~Eragon
Where I am From I am from the proud legend which rose above the others and helped to keep the land at peace and fell to the dark lord from the impossible choices and daunting paths with no right choice I’m from the harsh and bleak stew filled with chunks of deer and chopped up vegetables and the freshly oven baked, golden topped, steaming bread which filled the stomach faster than a rain storm fills a dry creek from the worn and soft leather clothes to the stiff fur lined coats with a pearl trim I am from hours crouched in the baking sun waiting for the perfect shot to make the kill and the blistering winds that cover the forests top with caps of white sending you home shivering and teeth chattering sitting by the fire the hot flames licking away at the latest kill and spreading its hazy heat deep into your soul I am for the unknown past dropped in hesitant arms from the mysteries being unraveled to more questions being raised than answered the untrusting eyes to the welcoming hugs From the running home, excited for the grins awaiting to discovering ruins and a body of a beloved murdered and destroyed by the last silent two From revenge vows being set in stone to setting off to become a rider 8
~Eragon
With 270 chapters, and 2,773 pages, the Inheritance Cycle is an epic opus. This four part series is written in a mystical land filled with dragons and elves, where Eragon’s adventures are told with an impressive amount of detail. Each stage of his innovative heroic trials are recounted with substantial word choice. The character’s backgrounds and personalities are twisted and complicated, to the point were it is hard to find something to connect with. With the book’s original ideas, thought provoking, dramatic, and captivating plot, one may ask why wouldn’t we include this book in the Grade 8 Language Arts curriculum. In response, although this series might be good for some, it is not suitable for all to read. This is because, even with the impressive detail, innovative ideas, substantial word choice, thought provoking, dramatic, and captivating plot, there are some major shortfalls. I found the characters that the plot circles, to not be very relatable. Further, our world is changing, and becoming more complicated in the process. I believe that it is best for students to have as much experience and views on the world before we step into it. However, this book does not accomplish this. Overall, I think that although Eragon has many good features, but the shortfalls mount up and therefore it should not be included in the grade 8 curriculum.
The
nheritance Cycle
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H
ow often will you read a book that has dragon riders, or battles between elves and urgals? Or where a stone containing your future drops out of a flash of blue in the middle of making the kill? Christopher Paolini made the plot over the four novels so unique that they aren’t likely to be found in any other novel. Of the popular novels that are written these days, these stand out by being original. In no other books that I have read, and I am a reader, have I seen this idea involving dragon riders and battles within the Empire. Exceptional language was written in these four books. The characters word choice and the vivid details are all impressive. For example, one character describes Eragon as “You are an enigma, Eragon, a quandary that no one knows how to solve.” In books, when cliché story lines are written, the brain connects the dots with negligible effort. This is definitely not the case in Eragon. The complex plot has you re-reading previous pages and constantly exercising your brain. The action-packed scenes have you hanging on the 10
edge, just wanting to keep turning the pages, so that you can find out how the dramatic events conclude.
H
ow excited would you be to read about dragons and their mythical companions? Would you rather be reading a thrilling mystery story, or a dramatic romance novel? Although these books are wonderfully written and original, not all students find this specific genre enjoyable. In fact, some find it to be rather cheesy. Now I’m not saying that all students do, but although there is a percentage that would love to read this book, the rest of the class would prefer to read something more literal. Authors of books that are more realistic and literal need to write in a more sophisticated manner, as they can not sell their book on the theme. After reading books that are written with more sophistication, readers may find it too easy to comprehend books of this genre, and toss them aside in the hopes of finding something more challenging to read.
O
A
ne of the short falls in the Inheritance cycle is that the characters are not relatable and are not realistic. What’s the point in reading a book in which you could never relate to any of the characters? I, and many others, find and enjoy that in the books that we are reading, the characters personality is clear, and as the story goes on, you learn new things about them and become more attached to them. Eragons personality at the start is vague, and rather than becoming clearer, it becomes more complexed up to the point in which I found him unrelatable. Some students already find the fantasy genre cheesy, and by having unrealistic actions it simply adds to their distaste. Each day something new and big happens in the world, making more or solving complicated issues. Not in one of the four books was I able to relate the plots twists and problems to the outside world. I believe that the more experience or ideas that we can take with us when we enter the world by ourselves, the better, And the Inheritance Cycle fails at accomplishing that task.
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s I have explained, I do not think that this book should be assigned to every grade 8 student as a reading project. The book is original and innovative, but falls short in the other categories. The ideas that are explored in the book are not often written by other authors or found in other books, and make us think in a different way, not always in a good way. Not all grade 8 students find the fantasy genre exciting or captivating. They would easily take these books, and write them off as cheesy. The characters that make up the cast in the four books are only so relatable, and students may find themselves being drawn to characters that disappear and are not revisited, and becoming bored with the main character, Eragon. Therefore, even though I enjoyed the Inheritance Cycle, the shortfalls ultimately out rule the impressive factors, and it should not be included in the grade 8 curriculum.
If you could wish for anything in the world, would you wish for a world full of Skittles?
I would
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