ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS: 1. THE VISION AND TRIUMPH OF CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI: BRINGING ERAGON TO THE SCREEN Upon its initial release in hardcover by Knopf in August 2003, the novel Eragon became a worldwide publishing phenomenon... 2. SAPHIRA -THE DRAGON ERAGON's distinguished cast is impressive, but the filmmakers acknowledge the picture's biggest – and most expensive – star is the dragon Saphira... 3. THE BATTLE OF FARTHEN DÛR ERAGON has many grand set pieces, but none as big as The Battle of Farthen Dûr, where Urgals and Galbatorix's elite army attack the Varden stronghold. The battle marks the end of Eragon's journey and the climax of the story... 4. ERAGON CHARACTER PROFILES & GLOSSARY ERAGON, BROM, GALBATORIX, DURZA, AJIHAD, ARYA, MURTAGH, SAPHIRA, and terms: Alagaësia, The Ancient Language, Beor Mountains, Carvahall, Dragon Riders, Gil'ead, Ra'zac, Shade, Spine, Urgals, Varden, Zar'roc... 5. ABOUT THE STORY and characters Eragon takes place in a land called Alagaësia, which is ruled by the despotic king Galbatorix. He was once a Dragon Rider, but went mad after his dragon was killed by Urgals and he was denied another by the council... 6. PAOLINI - THE INCREDIBLE AUTHOR Christopher Paolini began writing Eragon after he graduated high school at the age of 15. The book was first published in 2002 by the author's parents through their small publishing company, Paolini International, LLC. The book was then discovered by Alfred A. Knopf, and was republished under Knopf in 2002...

ERAGON CHARACTER PROFILES & GLOSSARY

ERAGON
Eragon discovers his true path as one of the fabled Dragon Riders. With his own dragon, Saphira, and Brom as his mentor, Eragon is determined to bring back the golden age of justice once known throughout the land – if he can survive the evil machinations of Galbatorix. Eragon becomes a true hero – and the last hope for the people of Alagëisia.

BROM
One of the last of the Dragon Riders, Brom has been a disconsolate, broken man since the death of his own dragon. He has become a storyteller resigned to the rule of the evil king, but he has new hope as the mentor and father-figure to Eragon.

GALBATORIX
Galbatorix is the ruler of an enormous empire that occupies the western part of Alagaësia. The former Dragon Rider brought about the demise of the storied order, and he now rules the land with an iron fist, stopping at nothing to capture or destroy Eragon and his dragon. Galbatorix's forces include the loathsome and brutish Urgals, whose faces are grotesquely patterned with scars.

DURZA
Durza is a Shade, a sorcerer possessed by demonic spirits. Considered one of the most powerful beings in Alagëisia, he can only be killed through the heart. As one of Galbatorix's deadliest minions, the sorcerer is privy to palace intrigues (and possibly has dreams of power of his own).

AJIHAD
Ajihad is the leader and general of the rebel Varden. In the secret stronghold of Farthen Dûr, located in a volcanic crater in the Beor Mountains, Ajihad and the Varden plot to overthrow Galbatorix.

ARYA
As the guardian of the dragon egg, the beautiful warrior Arya is willing to die to protect the line of dragons. She joins Eragon, Saphira, and the rebellious Varden in a desperate stand against the forces of Galbatorix.

MURTAGH
Murtagh is the son of Morzan, who betrayed the Dragon Riders to Galbatorix. Desperate to expunge the guilt of his father's sin, Murtagh seeks refuge in battle, fighting for the forces of good.

SAPHIRA
The story's most fantastical character is the flying dragon Saphira, who connects telepathically with her Rider, Eragon. As Saphira soars majestically through the sky – or conducts "strafing runs" on enemy forces – audiences will experience the most dynamic, fierce dragon ever, in the ultimate dragon movie.

ERAGON: GLOSSARY

Alagaësia: a kingdom stretching from the western coastal wilderness of the Spine into the inland Hadarac desert, which spreads to the southern summits of the Beor Mountains. It is a world of humans, sorcerers, monsters – and mighty dragons.

The Ancient Language: a form of communication that enables certain people to use magic.

Beor Mountains: a huge mountain range in the southeast of Alagaësia, where the Varden make their home.

Carvahall: Eragon's hometown; a small town near the Spine.

Dragon Riders: those who help maintain peace in Alagaësia with the help of their dragons.

Gil'ead: a heavily guarded city where Arya is imprisoned by Durza.

Ra'zac: demonic mercenaries that serve Durza.

Shade: a sorcerer possessed by evil spirits.

Spine, The: Vast mountain range covering almost all of Alagaësia's west coast.

Urgals: loathsome and brutish troops who serve Galbatorix. Their faces are grotesquely patterned with scars.

Varden: a group of rebels based in Farthen Dûr.

Zar'roc: Eragon's sword, given to him by Brom.