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...

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. Dragons were once involved in a partnership with the elite Dragon Riders, and together they kept peace in the land. Galbatorix, along with the Forsworn (a group of 13 riders that betrayed the rest of the order), crippled the order of the Riders. For years many believed that dragons were extinct.

The main character of the novel is Eragon (EHR-ah-gohn), a 15 year old boy who lives with his uncle Garrow and cousin Roran on their farm, 10 miles from a small village known as Carvahall. While hunting in The Spine, a local range of mountains, Eragon is surprised to see a polished blue stone appear in front of him. After failing to sell or trade his find, Eragon witnesses a baby dragon hatch from the "stone", which was in reality a dragon egg. He questions Brom - the elderly town storyteller - about the ways of the Dragon Riders. After this talk, Eragon names the dragon Saphira (Sah-fear-RAh). He raises the dragon in secret until two Ra'zac (RAA-Zac), sent by Galbatorix, come to Carvahall looking for the egg. Eragon and Saphira manage to escape by hiding in the forest, but Eragon's uncle Garrow is killed, and the house and farm are destroyed.

Eragon becomes a Dragon Rider through his bond with Saphira. He seeks revenge on the Ra'zac. Eragon and Saphira begin a journey in search of the Ra'zac, accompanied by Brom, who insists on joining them. On the journey, Eragon learns swordfighting, magic, and the ways of the Dragon Riders from Brom, who is something of an expert in these areas.

They travel through several cities, and Eragon is shocked by the way that the Empire is harming the land and its people. Finally, after obtaining information in the town of Teirm, Brom concludes that the Ra'zac reside in Dras-Leona. There, Eragon, Saphira, and Brom are lured into an ambush by the Ra'zac. Although they are rescued by a stranger, Murtagh, Brom is gravely injured and dies shortly after — but not before revealing the secrets of his past. Brom was a Dragon Rider who had a dragon, which shared Saphira's name, but was killed years before.

The new company Eragon, Murtagh and Saphira had travel in search of the hidden leagues of the Varden, a strong rebel faction which Brom had mentioned on their journey. On the way Eragon has dreams of a beautiful elf, all of which feature her suffering great pain. Eragon is captured and imprisoned in the same prison where the elf, Arya, is being held captive. Murtagh and Saphira stage a rescue and Eragon escapes with Arya. During the escape Eragon and Murtagh battle with a Shade. The fact that a Shade is walking freely in the land deeply disturbs Eragon and he suspects that Galbatorix is planning something terrible.

Eragon and his party are pursued by an army of Urgals as they travel to the Varden's fortress, hidden deep within the Beor Mountains. Once inside the fortress, Eragon learns of the pact between the dwarves, the elves and the Varden and how it was that Saphira's egg was magically teleported to the Spine. The group is at last able to rest, although an invasion by the army of Urgals is imminent.

When the battle finally begins, the Varden, elves, and dwarves are pitted against an enormous army of Urgals. During the battle, Eragon faces the Shade, Durza, whom he had recently encountered, and kills him, though he receives a serious disfiguring wound on his back. After the death of the Shade, the Urgals seem to have a spell lifted from them, and begin to fight among themselves. This gives the Varden a chance to counter-attack, routing the surving Urgals. The story ends at the close of the battle, and we learn that Eragon will soon be sent to be taught by the elves in the sequel where he will meet Oromis, the elf who saved him from the shade.

Arya: An elf who was the guardian of Saphira's egg. She was imprisoned by Durza in Gil'ead on King Galbatorix's orders, and Eragon rescues her. She is the daughter of the elven Queen, Izlanzadi. Eragon is infatuated with her.

Orik: Hrothgar's nephew; he befriends Eragon, and is his guide through Tronjheim and Farthen Dûr.

Murtagh: Son of Morzan, who was the first of the thirteen Forsworn (betrayers of the Dragon Riders); he becomes good friends with Eragon and travels with him to the Varden's hidden stronghold. He was kidnapped after the battle with the Kull.

Angela: A powerful witch who supports the Varden and specializes in herb-based magic. She foretells Eragon's future.

Solembum: The werecat who lives with Angela; he helps Eragon in various parts of the book, occasionally taking human form.

Ajihad: Master swordsman and brilliant tactician and the former leader of the Varden.

Hrothgar: King of the Dwarves who befriends Eragon. He adopted Eragon into his clan.

Durza: A main antagonist in the book, he was a powerful Shade who controlled the Urgal army. He was killed by Eragon, with the help of Saphira and Arya, at Farthen Dûr.

The Twins: Twin magicians with strong magical abilities.

Sloan: Butcher of Carvahall who hates Eragon's family. He is Katrina's father.

Katrina: Daughter of Sloan and a romantic interest of Roran's.

Horst: Horst is the father of Baldor and Alberich, and is a father figure to Eragon and Roran when Garrow dies. He is a blacksmith.

Garrow: Farmer of Carvahall, Eragon's uncle, and Roran's father. He was killed by the Ra' Zac.

Jeod: A merchant of Teirm, Jeod is Brom's old friend, and also a member of the Varden.

The lethrblaka: The parents of the Ra'zac. They are huge bird like things and their name translates from the Ancient Language to "Leather-flapper".