The Fork, the Witch and the Worm
Author: Christopher Paolini
When Paolini wrapped up his Inheritance Cycle series he said he would like to someday return to Alagaësia and the world of Eragon. This wonderful world of fantasy and adventure had sprung from his imagination and there was so many more stories that could be explored. Paolini has made good on his promise. The Fork, the Witch and the Worm is a much welcomed collection of three short stories which, I believe, have greatly contributed to the richness of Paolini’s world of dragonriders and elves.
In The Fork reunited with Murtagh still on his self-imposed exile but considering wether staying away from the world and people he should be living with is really a good thing. In The Witch, with help from his sister Angela Paolini, readers will reconnect with the mysterious and enigmatic Angela. In The Worm, the task of humanizing the fearesome urgals continues.
These tales are fun and have greater meaning when placed within the frame of Eragon’s world. The tales contribute to further building up the character of Eragon, a young farmer-turned-dragonrider now tasked with rebuilding Alagaësia and training future dragonriders while trying to keep the peace between the races. He is such a rich and compelling character that you can’t help but be interested in the most menial tasks he performs.
The Fork, The Witch and The Worm will remind previous Eragon fans of why they fell in love with Christopher Paolini’s world in the first place. The language has been perfectly selected for the type of stories told and the characters are nuanced. With plenty of magic, dragons and mystery, it will satiate fans’ need for more Eragon, even if just for a short while!
> Naomi Round
