Inheritance Trilogy
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The Inheritance Trilogy is about a 15-year-old boy named Eragon and his dragon Saphira, written by homeschooled author Christopher Paolini. It is set in the fictional land of Alagaësia. Both of the first two books, Eragon and Eldest, became New York Times bestsellers.
Christopher Paolini began writing Eragon in 1998, when he was fifteen. The book was originally self-published in 2002, and was promoted by Paolini and his family. On a recommendation from Carl Hiaasen, Knopf Publishing Group took on Eragon and the rest of the Inheritance trilogy; a second edition of the book appeared in 2003.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Books
[edit] Eragon
The first edition of Eragon was self-published by Paolini's family in 2002; the second edition was published in 2003 by Alfred A. Knopf. Eragon was released in paperback in 2005.[1]
[edit] Eldest
Eldest was released in hardcover in 2005. It is also available in paperback.[2]
 Eragon |
 Eldest |
 Mock of Book 3 cover page, (Note: the title Empire is not confirmed nor denied as the title of Book 3 in the Inheritance Trilogy.) |
[edit] Book 3
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This article or section contains information regarding scheduled, forthcoming or expected future book(s). It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the product release approaches and more information becomes available. |
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The third book has not been officially named. The deluxe edition of Eldest had an excerpt from the third chapter of the third book.
[edit] Important people and places
[edit] Places
- Alagaësia - Fictional land where the story takes place
- Farthen Dûr - The dwarves' hollow mountain-city in which the Varden are hiding from the Empire
- Helgrind - A strange formation next to the city of Dras-Leona that is home to the Ra'zac.
- Carvahall - The small village where Eragon was raised by his Uncle Garrow.
- Ellesmera - The hidden capital city of the elves.
- Gil'ead - The barracks for Galbatorix's troops. Also where Arya was sent when the shade Durza captured her.
[edit] People
- Ajihad - Leader of the Varden until his death in Eldest
- Angela - Witch/herbalist who helps Eragon. Solembum is a constant companion of Angela
- Arya - The Elvish princess rescued by Eragon, for whom he develops an infatuation.
- Brom - Former Dragon Rider and Eragon's mentor. Thinks the King has much to answer for. Has defeated many of the thirteen Forsworn, a group of Dragon Riders who betrayed their order and helped Galbatorix make himself king.
- Dragon riders- One-time keepers of the peace in Alagaësia
- Durza - A "Shade"-- once a normal person who lost control of his mind when a spirit entered his body. His human name was Carsaib
- Eragon - The protagonist. His quest begins when he finds a dragon egg during a hunting trip.
- Elva - The little girl that Eragon accidentally cursed. Her forehead was marked by Saphira.
- Galbatorix - The evil king of the Empire; a Dragon Rider.
- Hrothgar- Dwarf king who is one of the wisest in the books. Is killed by Murtagh on the burning plains
- Jeod - Brom's friend in Teirm who helped Brom steal Saphira's egg. Helps Roran flee to Surda with the others from Carvahall
- Katrina- The woman that Roran is in love with. She gets kidnapped by the Ra'zac
- Kull - Elite urgals, who posess even more strength than the former.
- Murtagh - The son of Morzan, the most powerful of the thirteen Forsworn. Rescues Eragon and takes him to Farthen Dûr; also Eragon's brother, later becomes a Rider who is forced to work for Galbatorix.
- Nasuada - Daughter of Ajihad and leader of the Varden after Ajihad dies.
- Orik - Nephew of Hrothgar and Eragon's companion/personal guide in Farthen Dûr.
- Ra'zac - Evil creatures who prey on humans.
- Roran - Eragon's cousin, and revolutionary leader of Carvahall.
- Saphira - Eragon's dragon, also name of Brom's dragon
- Solembum - The werecat that choses to travel with the herbalist, Angela
- Urgals - A tribal race of creatures with troll-like qualities; fought against the other races for many years, later to be betrayed and enslaved by Galbatorix and Durza. Released by Eragon.
- Varden - A group of rebels against the Empire and King Galbatorix who fight for freedom for the people of the Empire.
[edit] A compressed synopsis of Eragon
Eragon, a 15-year-old farmboy, is shocked when a polished blue stone appears before him while he is hunting in the range of mountains near his village, known as "The Spine." Eragon takes the 'stone' back to his uncle's farm near the village of Carvahall, where he lives with his cousin Roran, as well as his uncle, Garrow. Garrow and his late wife, Marian, raised Eragon, and very little is known of his parentage, save that his mother was named Selena, and has not been seen since shortly after Eragon's birth. Soon after Eragon returns from hunting, the 'stone' hatches, revealing a baby dragon, which Eragon names Saphira. Eragon is now the sole bearer of the ancient responsibility of the Dragon Riders, or Shur'tugal.
The Shur'tugal were destroyed long ago by a maniac named Galbatorix, whose defeat will eventually become Eragon's quest. After Eragon and Saphira have spent a short time together, during which Saphira grows in size and mental ability, Eragon's home is attacked by creatures called Ra'zac. Garrow dies as a result of wounds sustained during the attack. Eragon and a mysterious old storyteller named Brom escape with Saphira, and embark on a quest to find the Ra'zac and avenge Garrow's death. Brom teaches Eragon how to fight with a sword and use magic (or gramaraye, as it is properly called). On the way, they visit the seaside city of Teirm, and Eragon has his fortune told by an herbalist named Angela. Unfortunately, a turn of events causes them to not be able to journey to the Ra'zac's base for quite some time. Later Brom dies and Eragon loses hope when he is ambushed by the Ra'zac and a young man named Murtagh, later revealed to be the son of Morzan saves his life; he becomes Eragon's ally. Brom is fatally wounded in an attack by the Ra'zac; in his final words, he reveals that he was a Rider before the Fall, and that he is an agent for the Varden. He also tells Eragon seven special words from the Ancient Language, but both the words and their meanings are as yet unrevealed.
Shortly afterwards, Eragon is captured and taken to prison. Murtagh comes to his rescue, and whilst pulling off an escape from Gil'ead, the duo also manage to rescue a beautiful female elf named Arya, who has been poisoned. They travel many leagues over the Hadarac Desert to find the antidote for her. They are taken in by the Varden, and Eragon is tested by the smarmy, bald-pated Twins. They ask him to perform an act of magic that is impossible at his skill level, but Arya intervenes in time to stop them from killing him. The forces of Galbatorix attack the Varden's hideout, and during the battle that follows, Eragon kills a Shade named Durza, suffering a terrible wound which will cause him endless grief during the next book. Whilst he is immersed in a healing sleep, he converses mentally with a being who calls himself Oromis, "Togira Ikonoka", or "The cripple who is whole". He also calls himself "The Mourning Sage." When he awakes, he decides to go with Arya and complete his training with the elves, following advice from the Mourning Sage.
[edit] A compressed synopsis of Eldest
Following the battle of Farthen Dur, Ajihad, leader of the Varden, is killed in a sudden surprise attack by Urgals. Murtagh and the Twins disappear during the attack, and are presumed dead. After swearing fealty to Nasuada, Ajihad's daughter and new leader of the Varden, Eragon then sets out on his journey to Ellesmera, the Elf kingdom, accompanied by Orik.
Much of the book is devoted to Eragon's training with the ancient Dragon Rider, Oromis, and his unsuccessful attempts at wooing Arya, who is dedicated to her mission and considers his feelings misplaced. The elves heal Eragon's scar in a ceremony honoring the Riders. Eragon wakes up the next day with elfish qualities that make him much stronger and more agile. While this is going on, Roran returns to Carvahall after learning of his father's death, and discovers that he is wanted by Galbatorix. Consequently, his presence is endangering the entire town, which has come under attack by the Ra'zac. He convinces most of the villagers to follow him in an attempt to reach sanctuary in Surda. Before they can make good their escape, however, Roran's fiancée Katrina is captured by the Ra'zac. Forced to leave without her, Roran and company join up with Jeod at Teirm and set sail in pirated ships for the southern coast.
Eragon returns to the Varden to help them in the approaching battle against Galbatorix's army. Thanks to the timely arrival of Roran, Jeod, and the villagers, the battle is a victory for the Varden. During the battle, Murtagh resurfaces alive, riding the second dragon hatched of the three eggs, Thorn. He reveals that he is now Morzan's successor as Galbatorix's second-in-command. Murtagh and Eragon begin to fight, and Eragon is defeated, but he manages to convince Murtagh to let him go. Eragon offers to kill Murtagh and his dragon for the sake of helping the people under the rule of their king, Galbatorix, but refuses it because he loves his newfound power. Eragon loses because he has lost too much energy in the battle before and was not expecting another Dragon Rider to come this late in the game. Murtagh then reveals that they are, in fact, brothers, Morzan being the father of both. He relieves Eragon of the sword Zar'roc, claiming it as his inheritance. The book ends with Eragon promising to accompany Roran and free Katrina.
[edit] Magic in Alagaësia
[edit] Derivative nature of the books
Numerous critics have cited the books for their derivative nature. The two most commonly discussed sources are Star Wars (due to a strikingly similar plot[3]) and The Lord of the Rings (due to the setting, elven[4][5] and dwarven races[4], the language[4] and character names). Even many positive reviews note that the work pulls strongly from the conventions of fantasy, in character, dialogue and concepts.[6]
School Library Journal's review of Eragon was positive, yet lukewarm, noting that it compares unfavorably to Tolkien and is overly simplistic in its resolution of plot issues[7]. The Journal's review of Eldest was more negative, noting the book drew heavily upon fantasy conventions and the work of Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings), Anne McCaffrey (Dragonriders of Pern), and George Lucas (Star Wars), but still thought it would find reception among fans despite its lack of originality.[8]
Common Sense Media, a family-friendly review site, was particularly scathing, calling Eragon's dialogue long-winded and clichéd, with a plot "straight out of Star Wars by way of The Lord of the Rings, with bits of other great fantasies thrown in here and there." The website did concede that the book is a notable achievement for such a young author, and it would be appreciated by younger fans, but still labeled it "overblown and derivative."[3] USAToday also alleged strong echoes of Star Wars in Eragon's plot[4], while Entertainment Weekly writes that the plot closely resembles that of the original The Lord of the Rings saga.[9] Generally, Eragon was seen as a moderately worthwhile venture into the genre, while Eldest offered little Eragon had not already given - generally the books are recommended for younger readers.
[edit] References
- ^ Eragon, second edition, 2003. Christopher Paolini. ISBN 0-375-82668-8, ISBN 0-375-82133-7 (paperback), ISBN 0-375-82133-7 (hardcover)
- ^ Eldest, first edition, 2005. Christopher Paolini. ISBN 0-375-82670-X (hardcover)
- ^ a b Commonsense Media: Review of Eragon
- ^ a b c d "More of the 'Rings' magic", USA Today 1/20/2004
- ^ Books 2005: The 5 Worst", Entertainment Weekly
- ^ Barnes & Noble Editorial Reviews
- ^ School Library Journal
- ^ School Library Journal
- ^ Book Review: Eldest, Entertainment Weekly, 08/19/05
[edit] See also
- Project Page
- Category:Inheritance Trilogy
- Category:Inheritance Trilogy characters
- Category:Inheritance Trilogy locations
[edit] External links
[edit] Official
- Official website, which includes autobiographical comments from Paolini
- Eragon summary, from Random House
[edit] Interviews
- Video clip from the Amazon.com website
- [2] Audio Interview with Christopher Paolini
- Interview with Eragon Author, Christopher Paolini
- Philip Pullman, Tamora Pierce, and Christopher Paolini Talk Fantasy Fiction, from Powell's books
| Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Trilogy | |
|---|---|
| Books | Eragon | Eldest | Book 3 |
| Films | Eragon |
| Main Characters | Eragon | Brom | Arya | Galbatorix | Murtagh | Roran | Ajihad | Nasuada | Angela | Saphira | Oromis | more... |
| Places | Alagaësia | Beor Mountains | Carvahall | Dras-Leona | Ellesméra | Farthen Dûr | Hadarac Desert | Helgrind | Surda | Teirm | Urû'baen | more... |
| Events | Blood-Oath Celebration | Battle of the Burning Plains | Battle for Carvahall | Dagshelgr Invocation | The Fall |
