Christopher Paolini released his latest Alagaesia newsletter today, giving us a detailed look at what to expect from his new Eragon’s Guide to Alagaesia book (and trust us, you’ll want to see this)! He goes on to update us on recent happenings with Book 4, including a tease at a part he just finished writing. Don’t forget that we’ll be interviewing Christopher soon with the questions you all submitted! Shur’tugal.com’s newest feature, the Monthly Q&A Interviews with Christopher is also mentioned near the end of the newsletter. Continue reading for all the goodies mentioned in this month’s newsletter!
Thanks to Christopher’s newest newsletter, released earlier today, we now have a more detailed look at what to expect from his upcoming Eragon’s Guide to Alagaesia. Christopher takes us behind the scenes, explaining the process for constructing the book, including artists, points-of-view, and more, as well as giving us a better look at what to expect from the book:
[A]n illustrated tour of the most interesting peoples, places, and things of Eragon’s world. Eragon narrates the book himself, and if you pay close attention to what he says, you might catch a few hints about where the series is headed.
The art is by Fred Gambino, Larry McDougal, Ian Millar, and David Wyatt. (I also contributed a few sketches myself.) Each artist brought something different to the book—their styles vary widely—which means that you will get to see four distinct visions of Alagaësia. After working on the Inheritance cycle for over ten years, I’m delighted to finally be able to share with you images of some of the things I’ve imagined for so long: the Beor Mountains, Tronjheim in Farthen Dûr, the elves’ buildings in Ellesméra, the Urgals, the dwarves, and much more.
The book is also filled with fold-out pamphlets, maps, diagrams, letters, and other intriguing odds and ends, such as a patch of simulated dragon skin.
I really enjoyed having the chance to write a book as if I were Eragon; to draw glyphs from the elves’ writing system, the Liduen Kvaedhí (including the glyph for Brisingr!); to do a pen-and-ink portrait of Galbatorix; and, above all else, to see the artists bring the world of Alagaësia to life.
So now we know a lot more of what to expect from this new book! It’ll be written as if the book was written by Eragon himself and Christopher has hinted that we may be able to dig up a few hints about where the series is headed. We can also expect visual representations of the Beor Mountains, Tronjheim in Farthen Dûr, the elves’ buildings in Ellesméra, the Urgals, the dwarves, Galbatorix, and glyphs from Liduen Kvaedhí (the elves’ writing system). Christopher’s “and more” implies that we haven’t yet been told of everything it contains.
Christopher goes on to tease and update us on the status of Book 4:
On a more personal note, I’ve been having a blast with Book Four. Not too long ago, I finished a large and important chunk of the story, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy, and now things are hopping with Eragon & Co. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but here’s a little teaser: The chapter I just completed is titled Brains! And no, there aren’t any zombies in the book, unfortunately.
Want to read this month’s Alagaesia Newsletter by Christopher Paolini in its entirety? You can find a complete archive of all of Christopher’s newsletters in our Alagaesia Newsletter archive! If you aren’t subscribed to receive the Alagaesia Newsletters (for free), you can do so here. Don’t forget that Shurtugal.com also has a newsletter signup (for free), located here. Signing up for the Shurtugal.com newsletter guarantees you will receive all breaking news alerts as well as our monthly news roundup!
Remember: We’ll be interviewing Christopher very soon using the questions submitted by Shurtugal.com visitors! You can learn more about our new monthly Q&A interviews with Christopher Paolini, including how you can contribute questions, on our Christopher Paolini Q&A page!
Rider of the green dragon will be arya Huh??. well, in that case i really hope the dragon aint purple, coz that would just mean “resurrection barney”… :)…anyone consider the chapter bout intersecting saga’s?…the old woman and the girl??…i’m thinking the next rider will be one of them.
Hey, whoever the rider is, is anyone hoping that Arya & Eragon get together. I know its a bit “Cliche”, love and all, but still, i’d like to see them work out.
no way..that dude so stuck up, he\’d probably turn against the Varden.
well iif the dragons green it will probobaly be arya because her magic is green but i have to say i would like to see oric try to climb on his own dragon XD
Roran would be able to do magic once he becomes a rider it was the same for Eragon. Bonding with a dragon gives rise ti the magical power
Of course it will be Arya!!!!
I bet Elva gets to be the next Dragon Rider.. Saphira being the only female, I wonder who she’ll choose, Thorn or the unhatched dragon..
I’m gonna also make a prediction that Eragon finds Oromis’ sword Naegling and uses the power within it’s gemstone.
Wouldn’t be hilarious if Islanzadi’s bird was the next rider? Or the Menoa Tree XD. No but I think it’s either Arya or Orik
@Rhonda (Guest): I was thinking that too! But he would have to grow for several years to become a rider and I doubt it will wait that long…
@cole (Guest): I THINK ITTL BE HORST LOL JK WHO KNOWS WHO EVER IT IS EVERY1 WILL STILL READ IT BC THATS THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT! DUH RORAN WOULD MAKE A VEY SUITABLE PERSON FOR THE NEXT RIDER . ALL FAMILY AND THE HARD SHIPS THEY FACED IT JUST SEEMS FAIR AND RIGHT BUT ALSO ORIK IS A GOOD CHOICE BC THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DWARF RIDER B4.
i have no possible idea who the nxt rider is or who kills galby
and i am not guessing
heck! i just want to read the 4th book
hurry up cp!!!!!!!
@GlaedrgotOwned (Guest): or orik
what about Vanir?
Doesn’t anyone of you think about Nasuada as a possible rider? She do have the guts and she is unpredictable enough. And she is also the leader of the Varden. Can’t wait for the fourth book, when it’s released i going to be away from school caused sickness until i’m done reading it 🙂
roran cant use any magic so prob wont be next rider arya will most likely be to complement the whole eragon arya thing and together they will take on galbatorix and murtagh . in saying so i do believe katrina will learn magic (got to be some weird twist in there) she will be some great healer or something and roran willl possible die (someone good and important has to ) (any comments Tall_shortguy@hotmail.com dont spam me )
Roran’s going to be the next rider. Period.
I think that Eragon would never kill Murtaugh, because he realizes that Murtaugh will die if he does not obey Galbatorix… duh!
honestly he said he had 100 pages done in the book while he was writing Brisingr how long is this book gonna be?god read my name
i want elva to be the next rider
i like her
she is…different 🙂
i think she deserves that, anyone agree?
i think that Elva might be the final rider or possibly some one else. Everybody thinks that it will be somebody like arya or orik, but if he wrote what everybody was thinking it wouldnt be entertaining and fewer people would read his novels. I think that it will be somebody nobody expected it to be…….
“The name” the king is looking for might be the true name for the ancient language. If he finds this he cannot be challenged by anyone.
There should be a book like SW clone wars but in eragon´s context, like the history off broom´s/galbatorix/oromis/vrael/eragon¹ journey
sorry by my english
I was kind of thinking that maybe Roran’s Child could be a possiblity of being a rider at some time. What do you think?
I think that because the gnomes and dwarfs are not able to be riders that they will join the pact with the dragons and orik will be the rider of the green dragon. or mabye arya. i dont know, im not typeing the book. XD Im too hooked on the cycle and am driving my self into insanity thinking about the next book.
The rider of the green dragon will obviously be Arya.
I think maybe Katrina or Roran will be the next rider
Maybe some will explore the land where the elves and humans come from and find out more of their history
This guide to alagaesia seems pretty cool.
I think that Eragon -Eldest-Brisingr is the best books off all
sorry for my english
really good books, cant wait for number 4, in the meantime ive been reading tales of the otori, by lian hearn. really good books (all 5) and theyre very similar to harry potter and inheritance, only difference is theres not so much as magic but of assasin and ninjitso aura. excellent books, read them whilst you wait, will leave you in awe for a long while =) keep up the work Paolini. i enjoy your work, and admire your commitment at such an age as when you started eragon.
the series is brilliant ,but the wait is torture.
It will probably be finished by next year or the following year . Hopefully earlier
Any one know the date of release of the 4th Book?
this series is excellent. unlike harry potter, or the shannara sagas, this has the ability to keep my attention indefinitely, where as after an hour i would put other books down and continue later.
However, Harry Potter is waaaaaaaaaaaaay better than Inheritance. Pendragon and Maximum Ride are also better than Inheritance. aa
Yeah, that’s what I think. Of everybody, he deserves to the most.
Maybe Murtagh will kill Galbatorix..
Murtagh ROX!!!!!:)
I think, as most of you will agree with me, the Inheritance cycle is just brilliant. But for who the next rider must be, I just hope it is not Arya, that would just be stupid. It has to be someone no one expects.
The only thing I thought was a pitty is the fact that Brom is his father, Murtagh became the new dragon rider and all that stuff about the heart of hearts were somewhat predictable. You could just see those things coming. Though I do think all three things are really cool, they just were to obvious.
I think Eragon won’t kill Murtagh. I hope he does nevertheless, but I think he won’t. It’s just like in Harry Potter, Harry doesn’t kill anyone. It’s like they don’t want Harry to become the bad-guy. That’s why I think Eragon won’t kill Murtagh. Maybe he will, when he really can’t save him from Galbatorix. But I think someone else will kill him. For, in my opinion, die he must. It would just be a to big of an happy ending when Murtagh survives.
Sorry for the awful English.. ;P
eragon is asum i have all 3 books and i have read them all. cant wait until the last book is comming out:)
now im reading the return of the dragon (i think its the right name) i read the swedish books really good
Yeah, I suppose…. I thought it was brilliant though. The only downer for me was that I wanted Harry and Hermione to get together, but I didn’t see it happening ever since The Half-Blood Prince.:D
I really enjoyed Harry Potter, but I thought the last book dragged on too much.
Aye, next to Harry Potter.
Yea, the wait would be terrible.:)
joe, I’d have to agree with you. “Eragon” was the best book I’ve ever read, next to Harry Potter.
I loved eragon the book is the best book I have red but why did he make the film it was apile of wank compared. i think the name of the 4th book sould be du weldenvarden
Aye, I think that might happen too, but the wait would be bloody murder!
It’s possible. there is a whole lot more to tell and only ONE book, but we won’t know for sure for a while, I think…
This guide looks great. Not sure if my last comment posted, but i think a 5th book to the Eragon series is going to happen. Too much stuff to cover in just one more book.
books 1-3 awesome waiting on 4, read The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, its really good, and the Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
I am rereading Brisingr.
Yea, Pendragon is good to. Also Maximum Ride.
i think a really good title for Book IV would be Wyrda……
I think I have heard of that series!
if you are looking for a kind of sci-fi, action, adventure book, I suggest the Pendragon series. The book is as-written-by its subject for the most part, so the book can be very personal to the main character
;D
Hahaha!:)
Val, I think you asked the right people for help, mate. Now you are getting overwhelming help! ;D
The Shannara books by Terry Brooks are good too. ( If you want to read them, the first book is the Sword of Shannara.)
Aye, those are good.
If you like Christian series as well, there is a fantasy series called Dragons in our Midst is pretty good from what I remember of what I have read of them. Um, what is another…. if you like Gothic fiction and are over about fourteen, maybe you might like a book called Wuthering Heights. I warn you, it is very dark and does use offensive language at points, but it is a good book, it is kind of like Pride and Prejudice mixed with Sweeney Todd.
You should try The Chronicals(sp?)of Narnia too, if you like medieval books.
Val, try Lord of the Rings.
a few good series would include the seventh tower books, the keys to the kingdom, and abhorsen series all by garth nix. there is the lioness rampant series, but i cannot think of the author. these are just some of the top of my head that i have enjoyed. anything by garth nix is typically good, as well as peirs anthony.
So I took a break from the Inheritance series a while ago to read Twilight. (this was deff. Wayyy before the whole freakout about the movie!) Anyway, I just finished the third and now I can’t find another book to read. I allllways do this, I get caught up in a series and don’t find anything else interesting. Harry Potter was the first series, then Eragon, then Twilight, and now Eragon again. Anyone have any suggestions to tide me over till the last book? I already can’t wait for it and I know it will be at least another year. 😮 I read to fast not to have a series of books.
Oh and on the whole movie thing, the onlyyy book made into a movie that are really any good are the Harry Potters, and even they, with the hugee budget allowed there, are not as good as the books. Movies almost always ruin the books, so the whole Eragon getting ruined in the movie was not a huge surprise.
Sooooo looking forward to that portrait on Galbatorix. I woonder how CP imagines him…
…and…BRAINS? NO ZOMBIES!? What’s that supposed to mean?
I know. That is a good series, and it gets kids into reading.
Yea, Harry Potter is amazing. It was the first good book (The Chamber of Secrets) I had read. It got me to read more, or I probably wouldn’t be on this site.:)
If it was not for Harry Potter, I would not even like books, so Harry Potter is my all time favorite, but I don’t know between Inheritance and Lord of the Rings.
Yea, Harry Potter and Inheritance are my favoreite book series. I can’t tell which one I like better; they’re both brilliant.
Ditto on the Harry Potter! I also like Lord of the Rings and other Tolkien books, but Eragon and the others are BRILLIANT!!
Alright, here’s the thing, C.P., you freaking rock take no offense but your series is my second favorite after Harry Potter, but thats better than Twilight because Twilight sucks, I had the priest come to my house and do an exorcism on all my twilight books and then lets just say that the fire place looked absolutely cozy that night, but your books are awesome! Your younger than most authors and you actually think of plots and takes the time to make a good novel, unlike that stupid Stephenie Meyer, who TOOK THREE MONTHS TO MAKE THE FIRST TWILIGHT BOOK AND TWO MONTHS TO MAKE THE SECOND! THEY SUCKED! But yeah, the Eragon movies completely ruined the book, but I want to have a dragon REALLY BADLY! Either Saphira or Gladre would do, or one of my own that I can name or just a new one! Is there by any chance your coming by Atlanta anytime? Me and you could hang out, you know, go to Six Flags over Georgia and ride Goliath, or go to the Georgia Aquarium, the worlds largest Aquarium, and then since its right next door to the aquarium, we can go to the original World Of Coka Cola, the birthplace of the best soda that kicks root beers and pepsi’s butts easily. Besides, Pepsi is just a rip off of coke. But dude you are completely awesome!
Yea, I agree that a dwarf definately couldn’t be a Rider. No offence, it’s a good theory, but it’s very unlikely.
Don’t you think Orik and Orrin have enough responsibilities and importance as it is? Somehow, I can’t picture a dwarf being a dragon rider. I guess it’s possible, though.
orik is the dwarf, orrin is the king of surds
and btw, orrin should be the next rider, the first dwaren dragon rider. tho i dont hink he can be. there race wasnt woven into the spell. tho maybe that can change hmm…………
about the movie, ive read many a webpage about the “what if’s” of eldest coming out on screen, it aint happening. eragon the movie was horrible. and for one reason only. it killed any hope of the other books being made into movies. C.P i hope you take this as the compliment it is. Lord of the rings should never have been made into movies, and neither should inheritence. there is just too much depth and history in them. they are not your run of the mill stories. i think what you should do C.P is try to finish the ancient language(if you havent already) and publish it.
That makes 3 of us.:)
Yeah, I hope so too.
It’s really annoying when there are alot of unanswered questions after finishing a series. Hopefully C.P. will answer as many questions as he can in book four.
Hahaha, yes, I suppose so, but there is always questions that never get answered in books, even at the ends of them. I have alot of those about Harry Potter.
Well, when the final book comes out, I guess we will know!
Yeah, I don’t really understand him either, I suppose he is like Luna mixed with young Severus (more HP reference by the way).
Well, I want to know.
Yea, his theorys are odd(though he is a good character). I swear, I’ve read Eldest more times than I can count, but I STILL don’t get that one theory of his in the same chapter he blows smoke out of his ears.:)
Wow, we keep making more and more theorys for the chapter brains, dont we?:) I’ve counted about 5.:)
Thanks.
I like him though, he is certainly interesting. It just sounds like some of theory of his to me.
Possibly. I agree, Orrin is sort of odd.
Interesting, maybe it is a big fight like a wizard’s fight, you know, the ones Brom was talking about when you had to break into the others mind of else you might end up both dead? Or maybe is has something to do with the matter of the brain, like Eragon or someone sees inside something in Galby’s castle, you know, kind of like a potions cuboard, or course it could be was same with something to do with Angela. It could also Nausade and the king of Surda (Orrin, right?) could be showing her something to do with a brain, he is just odd like that, right? I mean, he blows smoke rings out of his ears, it sounds like something to do with him.
How are we supposed to know?
We didnt write the book! 😛
Brains?
Brains?!
BRAINS?!?
What could a chapter called BRAINS be about? Apart from the obvious, I mean.
I think that the movie was a let down from what I was expecting, but if I hadn’t read the books before I saw it, then I probably would think that it was a great movie. I just think that they missed a bunch of important details….. (Solembum!)
On the other hand, I thought that Brisingr was AMAZING! I read it in a day because I couldn’t put it down. 🙂
Even IF the movie was disappointing.. the movie was what got me to read the books.
Well, if the movie made me want to read them.. then im sure CP got lots more success from it as well. It wasnt THAT bad really..
Btw. I really think that the whole “Brains” thing must really be somewhere along the lines of battle! It makes sense to me..
Haha.. Zombies 😛
That’s pretty cool Brennen. I’m sure he had some good advice; he sure is a great author. I agree with you on the Eragon movie. Very disappointing.
I’m fourteen and my twin sister and I love this series (many people do). Anyway, I had memorized hom many days were left until the eragon movie and was dissipointed in it. Oh well, the books are still amazing! by the way, for anyone who is writing a book, i am too. I sent a letter to Christopher Paolini and he gave great advice that helps a lot with writing. I just hope he doesn’t get swarmed with letters asking for writing advice because of this comment. Anyway, Christopher Paolini is awsome!
@Jenny
Yes, you are correct that the cover will have a green dragon on it. C.P. already told us.
What!!?? Brains!!??? Hmmm lol zombies
I absoluely LOVE the Inhearitance series! They are in my top 3 Fav. I was thinking about the books the other day, and I relized a possible connection that I thought you Eragon lovers might want to know. Im not certain, but I have a high suspicion. The first books cover was blue and had a blue dragon, or Saphira, on the cover. The 2nd book was red and had Thorn on the cover. The 3rd book was gold and had that gold dragon who dies at the end of book 3, I forget his name. So Im thinking that the 4th book is going to be Green and have the green dragon on it! Im, like, 99.9% positive.
sorry,I hit post before writing,anyway;
Teresinha,,
just go to Alagaesia.com & register for newsletters & they’ll send it to your email,if you have one,
Teresinha
Hi! I’m Teresa and I’m a huge fan of eragon. I would love to receive the newsletter from cristopher but I’m Portuguese so my cell number and service doesn’t fit there how can receive it ?
I’m just waiting for the book four!! I sometimes just whish he will write it faster!! 🙂
Thanks a lot
PS : Sorry for the english but I usualy speak Portuguese soo …
Ive read all his books. I doont know if ill buy the guide to Alagasia, but most likely i will. I know that ill definatley buy the fourth book though. Brains . . . hmmm I heard someone saying something about wisdom. Its that or Brigit digging Rorans brains out, then eragon trying to heal him. JUst kidding. Warm and fuzzy, I think that probably this is something that happens between him and Arya. OH by the way i hate roran. He shouldnt be Dragon rider! Dont kill him but dont make him rider! Arya should
Aye, he might have got alot done, but after he writes then comes the nuisance: proofreading. I am trying to write a series, and I am sure if I have alot of proofreading, he has alot more! 🙁
I hope he finishes it soon to, but I have a feeling it will take awhile.:(
He feels warm and fuzzy…I really hope his feelings are for Eragon and Arya!! He has finished a large and important chunk of the story he said, so i’m hoping will have book 4 sooner than we expect.
I’m only 11 bu ive read the series about 12,13 times lost count…love the series best books ever i,ve read hearry potter last book was great but didn,t even come close to Brisngr.1st movie was a dissapointment they even gave out that arya was princess even tho tht wasn,t in the 1st book.IF YOUR GONNA MAKE A SECOND MOVIE DO IT ALREADY…I bet even christoper paolini ws dissapointed in those movie directors.Can,t wait for book 4,possibly going to be called Empire,dunno if thats true…Brains…either somthing violent(hehe),somthing wisdomish like what Brom told Eragon about wisdom being important in a battle.Miss Brom,Oromis,and his dragon,I grew onto Garrow first ten minutes of the book…over it now.I’m planning to write my own book series very soon hoping to match this.I hope christopher paolini reads over these comments some times,I’d love it if he read mine,so would everyone else writing comments on this site to…If you do happen to read over this,I,m gonna buy ur book first copy possible,first night it comes out,will stay up reading it and hopefully finish it,I will if I can depends if im out of red bull or not…hope to meet you som day,my name is Lee I live in America currently vacationing in Jordan yes the one in Asia.I am a boy even though Lee is a girlish name don’t ask me… If i ever meet you hope you can give me some tips on writing a book I know you started small with just your family to help,I’m starting smaller my younger brother can’t write that well,my mother is not that skilled in English and neither is my Dad,my dad could help a bit but economy limits me to seeing him once a week or so…hope i ca pay the publisher.Hope you even read down this far if you Have,thanks Than it was worth writing this comment.
I’m with you, mate, I don’t really like romance, but Eragon and Arya might be alright.
Lol. Warm and fuzzy huh? Hmm. That kinda makes me think about romance. Mabey it was something about Eragon and Arya. I’m not really a romance type of person but still…… Man I can’t wait for book 4!!!
Hahahaha!
I agree
I dunno, he was the director of the first two Harry Potter films.
Chris Columbus? What kind of sadistic parents name their child Chris, when there last name is Columbus?
THE MOVIE STINKS!!! I know! I was waiting for something like Lord of the Rings, and they FAILED!!!! 🙁
I wish Peter Jackson, Chris Columbus, or Alfonso Cuarón directed it! 🙁
wow! soo cool
I think he was disappionted very much in the movie because they didn’t bring the imagination & wonder of his view “& ours too”. I mean look at LOTR & how well did Peter Jackson’s done in the movies,& after we read the book we were expecting something as good or even better than LOTR (not the movie it self but the way it was directed).then BAM!big failure!
I’d do the same if that happened to me,I’m so going to buy it!
I looked up the artists, and most of them are good. The first one he mentioned was amazing.
I’m happy to see a pic of Galby is gonna be in there as well.
Oh, I hope they have more of the AL in there!!!!
Nice
I’m mainly interested in seeing the glyphs.
Brainsssss, i cant think anything about that,but i want even more now to read the book.
And i cant wait to see Arya and Eragon together!!!!
There is an entire paragraph about reading the whole newsletter toward the bottom of the post. Direct link:
http://www.shurtugal.com/?id=cycle/christopher/archives/index
Err, can we read the whole newsletter?
Dang it, I wish the Q & A wasn’t closed already. I would have liked to ask about this picture of Galbatorix business.
Does anyone think that this “warm and fuzzy” stuff might be connected to someone becoming the rider of the green dragon?
Hinted that there are hints, as to where it might be going? Yeesh.
This is really annoying. I signed up for his newsletter 9 months ago, and I don’t get them. And where can I view it on the site?
that part about being all fuzzy and warm…i hope its about some romantic relationship…*ponders*
just makes me want the book more >_<
brains?
simul8d dragon “skin”?
Galbatorix?
…
I changed my mind, I’ll buy it :’
I can’t wait to see Galbatorix!
Oh my God!! That’s awesome! The pictures are going to be great! Brains. Hmm. I’ll start thinking about that. Cool. Mabey it has something to do with what Brom told Eragon. It was something about intelligance being important in a mind-battle.
Blow me away! Did he say there would be a portrait of Galbatorix himself?!!?!!?!?! NO WAY!!!(Given how shadowy Galbatorix has been shown as so far, however, it will probably only show a cloaked figure or a shadowy outline or something.)
Hmm, brains, eh? Sounds to me like the violence that abounded in Brisingr is going to be stepped up a notch. Either that, or it simply refers to intelligence.
Wait… we get to see Galby? and elven runes? WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i so want this book
Yo, Bob rules.