The Inheritance Cycle is a tetralogy of young adult high fantasy novels written by American author Christopher Paolini. Set in the fictional world of Alagaësia (/æləˈɡeɪziə/), the novels focus on the adventures of a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they struggle to overthrow the evil king Galbatorix. The series was originally intended to be a trilogy (named the “Inheritance Trilogy”) until Paolini announced on October 30, 2007, while working on the third novel, that he believed the story was too complex to conclude in just three books.
The book series as a whole received mixed reviews by critics, but has gained both popularity and commercial success. The first book in the series, Eragon, was originally self-published by Paolini in 2001, and subsequently re-published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 25, 2003. The second book in the series, Eldest, was published by Knopf on August 23, 2005. Both were New York Times bestsellers. The third book in the series, Brisingr, was published by Knopf on September 20, 2008. The fourth and final book in the series, Inheritance, was published by Knopf on November 8, 2011. The series has sold 33.5 million copies worldwide.
In 2006, a feature film was released based on the first book in the cycle, Eragon, starring Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Djimon Hounsou. The film received generally negative reviews, but closed as the 13th highest grossing fantasy-live action film within the United States.
The Inheritance Cycle Books in order
1. Eragon (2003)
Eragon is the first book in The Inheritance Cycle by American fantasy writer Christopher Paolini. Paolini, born in 1983, began writing the novel after graduating from home school at the age of fifteen. After writing the first draft for a year, Paolini spent a second year rewriting and fleshing out the story and characters. His parents saw the final manuscript and in 2001 decided to self-publish Eragon; Paolini spent a year traveling around the United States promoting the novel. The book was discovered by novelist Carl Hiaasen, who brought it to the attention of Alfred A. Knopf. The re-published version was released on August 26, 2003.
The book tells the story of a farm boy named Eragon, who finds a mysterious stone in the mountains. The stone is revealed to be a dragon egg, and a dragon he later names Saphira hatches from it. When the evil King Galbatorix finds out about the egg, he sends monstrous servants to acquire it, making Eragon and Saphira flee from their hometown with a storyteller named Brom. Brom, an old member of an extinct group called the Dragon Riders, teaches Eragon about ‘The Ways of the Rider.’
Eragon was the third-best-selling children’s hardback book of 2003, and the second-best-selling paperback of 2005. It placed on the New York Times Children’s Books Best Seller list for 121 weeks and was adapted as a feature film of the same name that was released on December 15, 2006.
2. Eldest (2005)
Eldest is the second novel in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini and the sequel to Eragon. It was first published in hardcover on August 23, 2005, and was released in paperback in September 2006. Eldest has been released in an audiobook format, and as an ebook. Like Eragon, Eldest became a New York Times bestseller. A deluxe edition of Eldest was released on September 26, 2006, including new information and art by both the illustrator and the author.[4] Other editions of Eldest are translated into different languages.
Eldest begins following several important events in Eragon. The story is the continued adventures of Eragon and his dragon Saphira, centering on their journey to the realm of the Elves in order to further Eragon’s training as a Dragon Rider. Other plots in the story focus on Roran, Eragon’s cousin, who leads the inhabitants of Carvahall to Surda to join the Varden, and Nasuada as she takes on her father’s role as leader of the Varden.
Reviews pointed out the similarities between Eldest and other works such as The Lord of the Rings, while praising the themes of the book, such as friendship and honor. Several of these reviews commented on the style and genre of Eldest,[9] while others considered the possibility of a film adaptation similar to the first film.
3. Brisingr (2008)
Brisingr /brɪsɪŋər/ is the third novel in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. It was released on September 20, 2008. Originally, Paolini intended to conclude the then Inheritance Trilogy in three books, but during writing the third book he decided that the series was too complex to conclude in one book, because the single book would be close to 1,500 pages long. A deluxe edition of Brisingr, which includes removed scenes and previously unseen art, was released on October 13, 2009.
Brisingr focuses on the story of Eragon and his dragon Saphira as they continue their quest to overthrow the corrupt ruler of the Empire, Galbatorix. Eragon is one of the last remaining Dragon Riders, a group that governed the fictional nation of Alagaësia, where the series takes place. Brisingr begins almost immediately after the preceding novel Eldest concludes.
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, the book sold 550,000 copies on its first day of sale, a record for a Random House children’s book. The novel debuted at number one on USA Today’s top 150 bestsellers list. Reviewers criticized the book for its length, while commenting on Paolini’s growing maturity in his treatment of characters.
4. Inheritance (2011)
Inheritance (or Vault of Souls) is a 2011 novel written by American author Christopher Paolini. It is the fourth and final novel in The Inheritance Cycle tetralogy.
The Inheritance Cycle was originally intended to be a trilogy, but Paolini has stated that during writing, the length of Brisingr grew, and the book was split into two parts to be published separately. Because of this, many plot elements originally intended for Brisingr are in Inheritance.
Since the release of Inheritance, Paolini has expressed his future interest in expanding upon Alagaësia and the Inheritance Cycle. In an interview, he talked about a potential “book five,” a prequel centering on Brom, and said that he has planned “around seven more stories set in Alagaësia — and one of those is in fact a series.”
5. Tales from Alagaësia: The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (2018)
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm is the first book in the Tales from Alagaësia series by Christopher Paolini. It was published on December 31, 2018. Set in the world of The Inheritance Cycle a year after the events of Inheritance, it consists of three short stories, the second of which was penned by Paolini’s sister, Angela.
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm includes new characters and some already encountered in the original series, and tells of the many challenges Eragon and Saphira face as they establish the Dragon Riders in their new home far to the east of Alagaësia.
How many The Inheritance Cycle Books are there?
There are total 5 books in The Inheritance Cycle Novel series. There are Eragon (2003), Eldest (2005), Brisingr (2008), Inheritance (2011), and Tales from Alagaësia: The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (2018)
The Inheritance Cycle Books in Order of Release
Here is the list of The Inheritance Cycle books in order, they were released.
1. Eragon — (2003)
2. Eldest — (2005)
3. Brisingr — (2008)
4. Inheritance — (2011)
5. Tales from Alagaësia: The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm — (2018)
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