•   News  
• Business
• Entertainment
• Pics
• Blogs
• Sports
• Obits
• Redskins
• Real Estate
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Search Local
• Shop
• Bride & Groom

CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI'S debut fantasy novel, "Eragon," was a runaway bestseller, pitting a young boy and his dragon, Saphira, against an ever-shifting mix of elves, humans, dwarves and an evil king. The long-awaited film version opens this weekend, and teens and their younger siblings will undoubtedly be lined up around the block to see it.

If an "Eragon" fan is on your holiday shopping list, you have a wealth of terrific fantasies to choose from. You'll want to make sure that your young reader owns "Eldest," the sequel to "Eragon." Then take a look at some of the classic fantasies that obviously inspired Paolini, who was only 17 when the first book was published.

Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," the ultimate quest fantasy, is perfect for teens and motivated younger readers, while Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" series about telepathic dragons and humans is recommended for readers who are especially drawn to the bond between Eragon and Saphira.

Patricia Wrede has fun with the world of dragons in "Dealing With Dragons," the first entry in her "Enchanted Forest Chronicles." Cimorene is a tomboyish princess who finds castle life boring, so she runs off to live with the dragon Kazul instead of being captured by one, as is common in her country. In between turning away princes who try to rescue her from Kazul, Cimorene discovers a wizardly plot against the dragons, and of course she plays a central role in foiling their dark schemes.

Readers in the 10 to 14 age range will enjoy this book and its three sequels, available in paperback, hardcover and audio.