The Inheritance Cycle facts for kids
Cover of The Inheritance Cycle collection
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Eragon (2003) Eldest (2005) Brisingr (2008) Inheritance (2011) |
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| Author | Christopher Paolini |
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| Cover artist | John Jude Palencar |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult fiction High fantasy |
| Publisher | Paolini LLC (early edition of Eragon) Alfred A. Knopf |
| Published | 2002–2011 (fifth book in the works) |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) and audio |
The Inheritance Cycle is a series of four exciting fantasy books written by American author Christopher Paolini. These books take place in the amazing world of Alagaësia. They follow a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon, Saphira. Together, they fight to defeat the evil King Galbatorix.
The series was first planned to be three books. But on October 30, 2007, Paolini said the story was too big for just three books. So, it became a four-book series. The books got mixed reviews from critics. However, they became very popular and sold many copies.
The first book, Eragon, was first published by Paolini himself in 2001. Then, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers republished it on June 25, 2003. The second book, Eldest, came out on August 23, 2005. Both of these books became New York Times bestsellers.
Brisingr, the third book, was published on September 20, 2008. The fourth and final book, Inheritance, was released on November 8, 2011. The whole series has sold over 33.5 million copies around the world! In 2006, a movie based on Eragon was released.
Contents
How the Books Were Made
Homeschooled by his parents, Christopher Paolini finished high school at age fifteen. He felt he wasn't ready for college yet. So, he spent his free time writing Eragon. He wrote the first version in one year. Then, he spent another year making the story and characters better.
His family's publishing company, Paolini International, published the book. Paolini then traveled to different schools to tell people about his novel. In 2002, author Carl Hiaasen found the book. His stepson was reading it. Hiaasen told his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, about it. Knopf republished Eragon in 2003.
Brisingr means "fire" in the ancient language of Alagaësia. This word comes from Old Norse. The book was published on September 20, 2008. When Paolini announced the book's release, he also said the series would have four books instead of three. This is why it was renamed "The Inheritance Cycle."
Inheritance was announced by Random House on March 23, 2011. It came out on November 8, 2011. It was released in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Main Books in the Series
Other Stories
- Tales from Alagaësia: The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (2018)
Story Overview
In the land of Alagaësia, there was a group called the Dragon Riders. They rode dragons and kept peace. Riders and dragons formed a special bond. Humans later joined the Riders too.
One Dragon Rider, Galbatorix, lost his dragon, Jarnunvösk. This made him go crazy. The Elder Riders would not give him another dragon. Galbatorix blamed them and wanted to destroy the Riders. He teamed up with a young rider named Morzan. They killed another rider and captured his dragon, Shruikan. Galbatorix used magic to force Shruikan to serve him.
Galbatorix gathered more Riders to his side. They were called the Thirteen Forsworn. With their help, he took over Ilirea, the capital city. He also destroyed Doru Araeba, the Dragon Riders' main home. Galbatorix killed most of the Dragon Riders and their dragons. He also took many Eldunarí, which are special gems inside dragons that hold their minds even after they die.
The remaining dragons found out that some of their own kind helped Galbatorix. So, they cast a spell on the Forsworn's dragons. This spell stopped them from being named. Elder Rider Oromis and his dragon Glaedr escaped to Ellesméra, the elves' capital. Morzan fought his old friend Brom and killed Brom's dragon, Saphira. But Morzan spared Brom, who later escaped.
After the Riders fell, Galbatorix declared himself King of all Alagaësia. He then tried to find the elves and dwarves, but he couldn't. Over the next hundred years, many of the Forsworn died. Galbatorix spent over forty years making the Eldunarí obey him. Because he was so focused on this, a southern region called Surda became independent.
Brom created the Varden, a group of rebels fighting the Empire. He personally killed three of the Forsworn. He also helped cause the deaths of five more. While working secretly for the Varden, Brom fell in love with Morzan's wife, Selena. Selena was already Morzan's son's mother. She became pregnant with Brom's child. She went to her brother Garrow's home in Carvahall to have the baby. She asked Garrow and his wife to raise her son, Eragon, as their own. Then, she went back to Morzan and her first son. She died soon after. When Brom needed to hide, he went to Carvahall. He pretended to be a storyteller to be near his son, Eragon, who didn't know Brom was his father.
The first book begins when a Shade named Durza attacks three elves. Arya, one of the elves, is carrying a dragon egg. Only two other dragon eggs are left, held by Galbatorix. Arya tries to send the egg to Brom. But hidden Eldunarí change the spell. The egg goes to Eragon instead. They believe the egg might hatch for him.
Eragon finds the egg while hunting. A few days later, the egg hatches. Eragon touches the baby dragon, which gives him a silver mark on his palm. This makes him a Dragon Rider. The dragon chooses the name Saphira from a list Eragon learned from Brom. Eragon's cousin, Roran, leaves for a job to earn money. He wants to start a family with Katrina.
King Galbatorix's servants, the Ra'zac, kill Eragon's uncle, Garrow. Eragon flees Carvahall with Brom. They plan to hunt down the Ra'zac. Eragon doesn't know Brom is his father. Brom gives Eragon Morzan's sword, Zar'roc.
During their journey, Brom teaches Eragon how to fight with a sword. He also teaches him magic and a bit of the ancient language. They become close friends. The Eldunarí send Eragon dreams of Arya, who is trapped. The Ra'zac ambush their camp. A stranger named Murtagh saves them, but Brom is badly hurt. Before he dies, Brom tells Eragon that he was once a Dragon Rider. His dragon was also named Saphira.
Eragon decides to follow his dream of Arya. He goes to Gil'ead with Murtagh. They rescue Arya, and Eragon fights Durza. Arya is unconscious for days. Eragon takes a risk and talks to her with his mind. Arya tells him how to find the Varden, a rebel group. They flee, chased by Kull, who are giant Urgals.
Murtagh is revealed to be Morzan's son. A dwarf named Orik saves them with help from the Varden. One of The Twins, two bad men, tries to read Eragon's memories. Murtagh refuses to let anyone into his mind. Eragon and Murtagh are taken to Tronjheim, a city inside a hollow mountain. The Varden leader, Ajihad, locks up Murtagh.
Eragon meets Ajihad, his daughter Nasuada, the dwarf King Hrothgar, and Orik. An army of Urgals attacks the Varden. Eragon gets separated and fights Durza alone. Eragon gets a cursed scar on his back. Arya and Saphira break a giant gem, distracting Durza. Eragon stabs Durza through the heart. After the battle, Ajihad is killed by Urgals. Murtagh and The Twins are captured.
Meanwhile, Roran is wanted by the Empire. His friends help him defend Carvahall. He later moves to Surda with most villagers. He plans to join the Varden.
Eragon, Saphira, Orik, and Arya go to Ellesméra, the elves' capital. They meet Queen Islanzadí, Arya's mother. Eragon is trained by a Rider named Oromis and his dragon Glaedr. During an elvish celebration, a symbolic dragon changes Eragon. He gains elf-like abilities and his injuries heal. Eragon tells Arya his feelings, but she rejects him.
Nasuada moves the Varden to Surda, ruled by King Orrin. Roran moves the Carvahall villagers to Surda after their village is destroyed. The Ra'zac also capture Katrina. Eragon returns to the Varden. Nasuada allows Urgals to join the Varden, despite protests. The next day, there's a big battle. Roran arrives with his village. Roran kills The Twins, who planned Ajihad's death.
Eragon and Saphira fight an enemy Rider. This Rider kills King Hrothgar. It turns out to be Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn. Thorn hatched from the second egg. Galbatorix made him grow fast. Murtagh says he is sworn to Galbatorix. He also says he and Eragon are brothers. He says this in the ancient language, so he cannot lie. He takes Zar'roc from Eragon but shows him mercy.
Eragon, Saphira, and Roran go to Helgrind, near Dras-Leona. They free Katrina. Eragon and Roran kill the Ra'zac. Saphira kills the Lethrblaka, the adult Ra'zac. Eragon stays behind because he finds Katrina's father, Sloan. Sloan betrayed the villagers. Eragon learns Sloan's true name. He uses it to make Sloan go to Ellesméra.
Eragon catches up with the Varden. He goes to the Beor mountains and helps Orik become king of the dwarves. Saphira fixes Isidar Mithrim, a broken gem. Eragon returns to Du Weldenvarden. He creates his own sword, Brisingr. It bursts into flames when he says its name. Oromis and Glaedr tell him that Brom is his real father. This means Eragon and Murtagh are only half-brothers. He also learns about the Eldunarí, which are the source of Galbatorix's power.
The Varden capture several cities. Oromis and Glaedr are killed by Murtagh and Thorn. But Glaedr gave his Eldunarí to Eragon and Saphira for their training. After a city is defeated, Murtagh captures Nasuada. He becomes fond of her and heals her injuries. This breaks his oath to Galbatorix.
Eragon travels to the Vault of Souls. This secret cave has many hidden Eldunarí and dragon eggs. Taking the Eldunarí, he faces Galbatorix. Galbatorix uses the true name of the ancient language against Eragon. Eragon duels Murtagh and wins. Then Eragon and Galbatorix have a fierce mind battle. Eragon accidentally forces Galbatorix to take his own life with a magic spell.
Murtagh and Thorn go north to be alone. Eragon finds him. Murtagh tells him the name of the ancient language. Nasuada becomes the High Queen of Alagaësia. She changes Urû'baen back to Ilirea. Arya returns to Du Weldenvarden to help choose a new elf monarch. Queen Islanzadí died in battle. Arya is chosen as the new queen. She takes the rescued green dragon egg. It soon hatches for her. Arya becomes a Rider with her dragon, Fírnen. Arya tells Eragon this and her True Name. Saphira tests Fírnen. The two dragons become mates.
Eragon changes the magic of the old pact between elves and dragons. Now, dragon eggs can hatch for dwarves and Urgals too. Eragon decides there's no safe place in Alagaësia to raise dragons and train new Riders. He plans to move the Eldunarí and eggs far away. Two eggs stay in Alagaësia: one for the dwarves, one for the Urgals. Future Riders will travel to Eragon's new home for training. New eggs will be sent back to Alagaësia. At the end of the book, Eragon and Saphira leave Alagaësia forever.
Where the Story Takes Place
The series is set on the magical continent of Alagaësia. The author made up its name. However, some other place names in the books come from real places.
Lands and Locations
The Beor Mountains are huge and very tall mountains in the southeast of Alagaësia. They have rivers and many dwarf cities. The city of Tronjheim is inside the hollow mountain Farthen Dûr.
Du Weldenvarden (The Guarding Forest) is a thick forest covering northern Alagaësia. The elves live here. Their cities of Ceris and Ellesméra are in this forest.
The Empire covers western Alagaësia. King Galbatorix controls this area. Humans live in many cities and towns here, like Carvahall and Urû'baen. The Empire is split by a wild mountain range called The Spine. The Palancar Valley, where Eragon's hometown Carvahall is, is in The Spine. This is where the story begins. Helgrind is a large black rock mountain near Dras-Leona. This is where the Ra'zac live.
South of The Empire is Surda. This country broke away from The Empire while Galbatorix was busy. Surda has cities like Aberon and Cithrí.
The Hadarac Desert is a giant desert in the middle of Alagaësia.
Northwest of the mainland is Vroengard Island. It has the city of Doru Araeba. This used to be the home of the Dragon Riders. Now, strange creatures live there, and it is mostly empty.
Who Lives in Alagaësia?
Alagaësia has many different kinds of people and creatures:
- Humans
- Elves (also called the Fair Folk)
- Dwarves
- Dragons
- Urgals (large, brutish humanoids; those over 8 feet tall are called Kull)
- Werecats
- Spirits (beings made of pure energy)
- Shades (humans taken over by strong spirits)
- Ra'zac (creatures that look like giant insects)
There was also an old race called the Grey Folk, but they are now gone.
Languages Spoken
Many languages are spoken in Alagaësia:
- Ancient Language: This language is used to control magic. Elves speak it a lot. Only Eragon, Arya, Murtagh, and Galbatorix know its true name. You cannot lie when speaking this language.
- Common Language: Everyone speaks this, especially humans. Dragons can speak it through thoughts.
- Dwarvish: Spoken by the dwarves.
- Urgal Language: The Urgals speak their own rough language. They also speak a simpler form of Common.
- Nomadic Language: Spoken by tribes that travel around Alagaësia.
- Ra'zac and Lethrblaka: They communicate with clicks, hisses, and rattles. No one else can understand it.
- Werecats: They speak like other cats.
Eragon's Guide to Alagaësia
Eragon's Guide to Alagaësia is an extra book for the series. It was published in November 2009. The book is written as if Eragon wrote it after the main story ends. It is for a "young Dragon Rider" (the reader). It has facts about the characters, places, and items from the Inheritance novels. It also gives hints about the end of Paolini's fourth book. This colorful book has fifteen artworks showing cities and creatures of Alagaësia. Over 100,000 copies were sold in 2009.
Future Stories
Christopher Paolini has said he might write more stories set in Alagaësia. He plans one to continue The Inheritance Cycle. Others might be new stories, like a book about Brom's past. A new book called The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm was published on December 31, 2018. A sequel about Murtagh is also planned for November 2023.
Movies and TV Shows
A film adaptation of Eragon was released on December 15, 2006. The movie starred Ed Speleers as Eragon, along with Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and others. 20th Century Fox produced it. The movie got negative reviews. People complained about the writing and that it copied The Lord of the Rings. Even though the movie made money, all planned sequels were canceled.
In June 2021, Christopher Paolini tweeted #EragonRemake. He wanted Disney to make the book series into a TV show for Disney+. Disney now owns the rights to the books. The hashtag quickly became popular as fans wanted a better adaptation.
On July 25, 2022, Variety reported that a live action TV series based on Eragon was being developed for Disney+. Paolini is helping to write the series.
See also
In Spanish: El legado para niños
