Eleven years ago today, I started Shur’tugal as a fourteen year old fan who couldn’t stop reading Eragon. I had no idea what I was in for. Looking back, Shur’tugal and the Inheritance Cycle (originally the Inheritance Trilogy!) shaped my life.
Fan communities were a relatively new phenomenon in 2004, with MuggleNet and the Harry Potter fan community leading the charge. Other sites existed, such as TheOneRing.net, but no books had a presence on the internet in the same way. I like to think that Shur’tugal, in part, contributed to the rise of fan communities on the web. We’ve certainly been one of the longest lasting!
I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working alongside (and now for!) the Paolini family, and am thankful to call each of them friends. I also work closely with Random House Children’s Books, the series’ publisher, who embraced the communities early on. Their support, like the Paolinis’, never waned.
We’ve seen four books over the past eleven years, with the promise of future Alagaësia books, such as the much-hyped Book 5. Christopher continues to tease the sci-fi novel he’s hard at work on, which fans can expect to be published before any additional Alagaësia books. You can bet Shur’tugal will be along for the ride, offering entertainment, news, and discussions.
So, thanks for supporting us and this incredible venture for the past eleven years. A community is nothing without its visitors, and we are eternally grateful for all of your support. We are a community with a vigor unmatched by any other – let’s help that last another decade. Here’s to an exciting future and lots of new books!
The curtains have closed on the Paolini family’s Fan Appreciation Month, and to celebrate, 
Christmas has come and gone, and with it, the opportunity to enter our 12 Days of Inheritance Christmas giveaways! Fortunately for any who may have missed out, we’ll be doing giveaways all year round!
