Not so very long ago, Eragon was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilisation rests on their shoulders in this stunning book which brings the bestselling Inheritance cycle to a breathtaking conclusion. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. Featuring spectacular artwork by cult artist John Jude Palencar.
It began with Eragon . . . It ends with Inheritance. Not so very long ago, Eragon - Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost? Featuring spectacular artwork by cult artist John Jude Palencar, this stunning book brings the bestselling Inheritance cycle to a breathtaking conclusion.
Christopher Paolini was born in 1983 in California where he still lives. Home schooled for the duration of his education, Paolini graduated from high school at the age of 15 through a set of accredited correspondence courses from the American School in Chicago, Illinois. Following graduation, he started his work on what would become the novel Eragon and its sequel Eldest, both set in the kingdom of Alagaësia.
In 2002, Eragon was published in a small way by Paolini International LLC, Paolini's parents' company. However, his big break was to come in Summer 2002, when the stepson of author Carl Hiaasen found Eragon in a bookstore and loved it, and Hiaasen brought it to the attention of his publisher, who subsequently made an offer to publish Eragon and the rest of the Inheritance Cycle. The second edition of Eragon was published in August 2003. At the age of nineteen, Paolini became a New York Times bestselling author. Eragon has since been adapted into a film of the same name.
Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, was published in 2005. The third book in the cycle, Brisingr, was released in autumn 2008. The fourth and final title in the series will be released before Christmas 2011.
Paolini's literary inspirations include the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, E. R. Eddison and the epic poem Beowulf. Other literary influences include David Eddings, Brian Jacques, Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E. Feist, Ursula K. Le Guin. Other favourite authors include Philip Pullman and Garth Nix. Paolini notes that in his writing he ‘strives for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf.’
In this video, Christopher delivers the manuscript for the very last book in the Inheritance sequence to his publisher. Press play to watch:
