Editing Eldest (section)

{{Short description|2005 book by Christopher Paolini}}
{{About|the 2005 book|the 2024 television episode|Eldest (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power){{!}}Eldest (''The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'')}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox book | 
| name = Eldest
| image = Eldest book cover.png
|alt=Head of a dragon staring at the viewer. He has spikes on his curved neck and antler-like projections over his eyes.
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Cover of USA first edition, featuring the red dragon [[Thorn (Inheritance)|Thorn]]| 
| author = [[Christopher Paolini]]
| illustrator = [[John Jude Palencar]]
| cover_artist = John Jude Palencar
| publisher = [[Alfred A. Knopf]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| series = [[Inheritance Cycle]]
| genre = [[Young adult fiction]]<br >[[Fantasy]]<br >[[Bildungsroman]]
| release_date = August 23, 2005
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] and [[Paperback]]) and [[Compact disc|audio-CD]]
| pages = 694 (hardcover edition)
| isbn = 0-375-82670-X
| isbn_note = (hardcover edition)
| dewey= [Fic] 22
| congress= PZ7.P19535 El 2005
| oclc= 58919923
| preceded_by = [[Eragon]]
| followed_by = [[Brisingr]]
}}

'''''Eldest''''' is the second novel in ''[[The Inheritance Cycle]]'' by [[Christopher Paolini]] and the sequel to ''[[Eragon]]''. It was first published in hardcover on August 23, 2005, and was released in paperback in September 2006.<ref name="Eldest paperback">{{cite book | title = Eldest paperback | isbn = 978-0375840401 | last1 = Paolini | first1 = Christopher | date = 13 March 2007 | publisher = Random House Children's Books }}</ref> ''Eldest'' has been released in an [[audiobook]] format,<ref name="Eldest audiobook">{{cite book | title = Eldest audiobook | isbn = 0307280721 }}</ref> and as an [[ebook]].<ref name="eBooks.com">{{cite web | url = http://www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_display.asp?IID=233277 | title = Eldest eBook | work = eBooks.com | access-date = 2007-10-29}}</ref> Like ''Eragon'', ''Eldest'' became a [[New York Times bestseller list|''New York Times'' bestseller]].<ref name="eBooks.com"/> A deluxe edition of ''Eldest'' was released on September 26, 2006, including new information and art by both the illustrator and the author.<ref name="Eldest deluxe Amazon">{{cite book | title = ''Eldest&nbsp;— Deluxe edition'' | isbn = 037594060X | last1 = Paolini | first1 = Christopher | year = 2006 | publisher = Random House Children's Books }}</ref> Other editions of ''Eldest'' are translated into different languages.<ref name="Gailivro"/><ref name = "Gramedia"/>

''Eldest'' begins following several important events in ''Eragon''. The story is the continued adventures of [[Eragon (character)|Eragon]] and his [[dragon (Inheritance)|dragon]] [[Saphira]], centering on their journey to the realm of the [[Ellesméra|Elves]] in order to further Eragon's training as a [[Dragon Rider (Inheritance Cycle)|Dragon Rider]]. Other plots in the story focus on [[Roran Garrowsson|Roran]], [[Eragon]]'s cousin, who leads the inhabitants of [[Carvahall]] to Surda to join the Varden, and [[Nasuada]] as she takes on her father's role as leader of the Varden.

Reviews pointed out the similarities between ''Eldest'' and other works such as ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'',<ref name="Amazon"/> while praising the themes of the book, such as friendship and honor.<ref name="Themes"/> Several of these reviews commented on the style and genre of ''Eldest'',<ref name="BookBrowse"/> while others considered the possibility of a [[film adaptation]] similar to the first film.<ref name="Hollywood">{{cite web |title=Eragon films review |url=http://www.hollywoodvideo.com/movies/movie.aspx?MID=142841 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928084106/http://www.hollywoodvideo.com/movies/movie.aspx?MID=142841 |archive-date=2007-09-28 |access-date=2007-07-12 |work=Hollywood Video}}</ref>