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.

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.

Homeschooled by his parents, Christopher Paolini graduated from high school at the age of fifteen, but felt he was not yet mature enough for college, so he wrote Eragon in his spare time.

In 2002, author Carl Hiaasen discovered the book while his stepson was reading it, and brought it to the attention of his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf.

[9] In the fictional magical land of Alagaësia, an order was originally created to oversee the countries and bring peace to the world.

Eragon's cousin, Roran, leaves for a job in the next town Therinsford, to earn money so he can start a family with his beloved, Katrina.

On the journey, Brom teaches Eragon sword fighting, magic, a minimal understanding of the ancient language, and the ways of the Dragon Riders.

Halfway through their journey, their camp is ambushed by the Ra'zac and a stranger named Murtagh rescues them, but Brom is mortally wounded.

When Arya remains unconscious for days on end, Eragon decides to take a risk and communicate with their thoughts.

One of The Twins, two nasty bald men, examines Eragon's memories, but Murtagh refuses to let anyone into his head.

Eragon is properly introduced to Ajihad, his daughter Nasuada, the dwarf King Hrothgar, and his foster son Orik.

Eragon and Roran slay the Raz'ac while Saphira kills the Lethrblaka, the Ra'zac's adult form.

He then goes to the Beor mountains and helps Orik become king of the dwarves, and Saphira fulfills her promise to mend Isidar Mithrim.

After the defeat of one of the Empire's cities, Nasuada is captured by Murtagh, who becomes attached to her and heals her of her injuries, which causes an identity switch, breaking his oath to Galbatorix.

Eragon travels to the Vault of Souls, which has a massive amount of secret Eldunarí and dragon eggs hidden from Galbatorix.

Nasuada, after a heated debate with the other leaders of the rebellion, becomes the High Queen of Alagaësia, and changes Urû'baen back to Ilirea.

Arya returns to Du Weldenvarden to help choose a new monarch for the elves after the death of Queen Islanzadí in battle, and is chosen herself.

Near the end of the book, Arya reveals this to Eragon, as well as her True Name, while Saphira decides to test Fírnen "to see if he has the iron in his bones, and the fire in his belly to match [her]".

Northwest of Farthen Dûr is Tarnag, the home of Celbedeil, a great dwarven temple, and Dûrgrimstnz Quan and Ragni Hefthyn.

The area is populated by humans living in cities and towns including Aroughs, Belatona, Bullridge, Carvahall, Ceunon, Daret, Dras-Leona, Eastcroft, Feinster, Furnost, Gil'ead, Kuasta, Melian, Narda, Therinsford, Teirm, Urû'baen, and Yazuac.

Many races can speak Common, including the dragons (through thought), though they more often communicate through the ancient language and through feelings and images.

[citation needed] Eragon's Guide to Alagaësia is a supplemental book to the Inheritance Cycle, published in November 2009.

The book takes the appearance of being written by Eragon after the events of Inheritance, and is directed at a "young Dragon Rider" (the reader).

[13] Fully in color, the book features fifteen pieces of artwork depicting cities and the various races of Alagaësia.

[14] The illustrations were created by Fred Gambino, Larry McDougal, Ian Miller, and David Wyatt.

The two most commonly discussed sources are Star Wars (because of numerous similarities in the plots)[22] and The Lord of the Rings (because of the setting, elf and dwarf races, the language and character and place names).

The movie, starring Ed Speleers in the title role of Eragon, as well as Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Rachel Weisz, Sienna Guillory, Djimon Hounsou and Robert Carlyle, was produced by 20th Century Fox.

The film received negative reviews, with complaints of amateur writing and of borrowing from The Lord of the Rings.

In June 2021, Paolini tweeted #EragonRemake in an effort to get Disney, the intellectual rights holders following their acquisition of 21st Century Fox, to revamp the book series into a possible television show for Disney+.