The Inheritance series

  

Eragon, the first novel in the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini, is a story about a farm boy who finds a dazzling sapphire-blue stone which, as it is revealed later, is in fact an egg that hatches a blue-scaled dragon. The dragon, Saphira, establishes an unbreakable bond with the young man who learns that he is the only dragon-rider to have come into existence in many years; and that he will have to choose whether to resist the evil king/dragon-rider Galbatorix or surrender and join him. With his home destroyed and his uncle murdered by the Ra’zac (evil dragon hunters employed by Galbatorix) Eragon sets out on a journey with his mentor, Brom, to learn the dragon riding craft and enact his revenge on the Ra’zac. In essence, Eragon has all the traditional ingredients that make a fantasy novel enjoyable.

While Eragon is a very entertaining story, Paolini’s writing is still somewhat immature. This should be expected as Paolini began writing Eragon at age fifteen and published it through Knopf at age nineteen. His gift for storytelling notwithstanding, Paolini borrows a bit obviously from the authors that inspire him: For example, his mimicry of Tolkien’s proper names

(“Mithrim,” “Farthen-Dur,” “Beor Mountains,” and “Urgals”) is a bit distracting at times.

The following is a list of confirmed facts taken directly from interviews with Christopher since the release of Brisingr. No facts listed on this page are unconfirmed or inaccurate. All will appear in some way, shape, or form in Book 4.

General Book Facts

• The series is referred to as Inheritance because of a story arch that spans all four novels: the entire series is about the younger generation (Eragon, Arya, Saphira, Nasuada, Roran, Orik, etc.) inheriting the roles and responsibilities of their parents.

• Book 4 will feature a chapter entitled “Brains”.

Green Rider and Green Dragon Facts

• The green egg shell fragment mentioned in passing in Eldest was a coincidence and has nothing to do with the green dragon featured on the cover of Book 4.

• The last dragon, known as the green dragon from the cover of Book 4, will be male.

• Christopher does not think that Book 4 will be longer than Brisingr.

• Readers can expect more chapters from Saphira’s point-of-view.

• Readers can expect additional excerpts from Domia Abr Wyrda.

Character Facts

• Multiple new characters will be introduced in Book 4.

• We will finally meet Galbatorix, who will have a much bigger presence in Book 4.

• At one point in Book 4, Eragon finds himself tortured and chained within a dungeon (confirmed to not be Galbatorix’s dungeon).

• Murtagh and Thorn will both appear in Book 4 more than in previous novels.

• Murtagh and Nasuada’s relationship will be addressed in Book 4, however Christopher has noted that “Murtagh’s actions toward the Varden would have invalidated any feelings she (Nasuada) may have had.”

• Angela will be involved with a Shade in Book 4, though the circumstances remain unknown.

• Angela will play a large role in Book 4: “There is a lot more to Angela than meets the eye. If you like her, you’re in for a treat with Book Four. Angela gets several crowning moments of awesomeness therein.”

• The two women Eragon blessed in Brisingr will return in some form in Book 4.

• Some history or knowledge pertaining to the original Eragon and his dragon, Bid’Duam, will appear in Book 4.

• The two elf children encountered in previous novels will play a role in Book 4.

• Tenga will make a reappearance in the final book.

Death Facts

• Readers will experience an elvish death in Book 4. When asked if elves had unique ceremonies to commemorate fallen comrades, Christopher Paolini remarked that readers should read Book 4 to find out.

• The possibility (or lack-thereof) of bringing Brom back to life will be addressed in Book 4.

• A character will experience death by spikes in the final book.

• There will be more than one death in the final book, some of which have caused Christopher to “shed a few tears.”

• Eragon was revealed to still be alive after having written Eragon’s Guide to Alagaesia, which is set after the events of Book 4. This leads fans to believe that he survives the book.

Magic and Weapons

• The meaning of the name of Brom’s sword will be revealed.

• We will discover more information about Eragon’s sword, Brisingr, and why it may set on fire when Eragon speaks its name.

• Brom’s seven words will appear in Book 4.

• Christopher has explained that true names will not be directly revealed to readers in Book 4.

• Spirits will be revealed to have the ability to possess both humans and animals, opening the possibility for Shades of differing species.

• A gedwëy ignasia’s ability to sense danger before it happens – an ability referenced throughout Eragon – will again return in Book 4.

Miscellaneous Facts

• There are no additional Riders in Alagaesia. (This excludes Galbatorix, Murtagh, Eragon, and the “Green Rider”)

• As shown in the Book 4 chapter revealed in the back of the Brisingr paperback, werecats have come out of hiding to ally themselves with the Varden and the rebel movement.

• Readers can expect new creatures from Alagaesia to be introduced throughout Book 4.

• Book 4 will contain mysterious “red-eyed rabbits”.

• There will be: “a one-sided game of knucklebones, an evil assassin, bags of flour, a water-born battering ram, streets lined with lead, a knife in the back, and the death of a character.”

Sources: Shurtugal e Contemporarylit