Michael Macauley - The Inheritance Almanac

THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF

Text copyright 2010 by Michael Macauley Jacket/cover art by Ian Miller, copyright 2009 by Alfred A. Knopf Jacket dragon graphics copyright 2010 by Shutterstock

Interior art credits:
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eISBN: 978-0-375-89684-2

October 2010

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Kvetha Fricaya!

In 1998, a young Christopher Paolini sat down in his home in Montana, pen and paper in hand, to embark upon what would become a great and unique adventure: the creation of Eragon. A worldwide fantasy phenomenon, the Inheritance cycle has sparked millions of copies in dozens of languages across the globe, a movie adaptation, video games, merchandise, and more. However, the young authors success was far from instant. For the better part of a year, at the age of fifteen, Christopher pored over outlines, notes, and pages of his story, weaving characters and conflict into the tales that we have come to appreciate and enjoy. Shortly after the completion of the first draft of Eragon, he chose to show the story to his family. They were immediately captivated by the magic and creativity of the tale and began discussing ways to share his adventure with the world. Confident that Christophers story would find an audience in Montana and beyond, the family planned to self-publish the book through their small company. Together, the Paolinis spent months editing the manuscript and preparing the book for print before finally launching a promotional tour that would put Christopher in front of crowds of readers looking to get their hands on a new, enthralling tale of action and adventure.

After months of hard work and travel spreading word of the book that they so fervently believed in, a self-published copy of Eragon made its way into the hands of editors at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers. Renowned author Carl Hiaasen recommended the book to his editors at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers after his stepson purchased and gobbled up a copy during a trip to Montana. Acquisition of publication rights for the entire seriesthen a proposed trilogyquickly followed Knopfs initial interest, and the journey of Christopher Paolini, international bestselling fantasy author, had begun. Over a decade later, the first three books in the Inheritance cycle have permeated cultures and spanned continents.

Christopher Paolinis achievements as a young author in the often-challenging world of publishing have been a continuing source of inspiration to his readers and have shown aspiring young authors that creating works of their own is an entirely accomplishable goal with the right amount of creativity and effort. Inspired by the Paolini familys hands-on approach to self-publishing and marketing, fans and their families began publishing their own books, harnessing the Internet to spread the word. Other fans have chosen alternate routes online, using fan-fiction and story-sharing websites to tell their own tales, whether they take place in the Inheritance universe or in an entirely new world.

Its overwhelming. I feel as if I am living in an illusion, a dream where all things are possible. Amazing things do happen, I know, but always to someone else, always in some far-off place and time.

Eragon

Like Christopher, I began my journey through the Inheritance world as a fifteen-year-old seeking a creative project to occupy my time over an uneventful winter break. I had recently read Eragon, then still a new book on the shelves of our local bookstore, and was fascinated with both the tale he wrote and the story behind it. My interest in websites and fan communities led to my decision to create the first website for Inheritance fansShurtugal.com. I worked for weeks to build a centralized storehouse of information on the series, establishing a community for those who wished to join in discussing the books and creating a portal for news on the series latest developments. Over the next six years, I matured alongside the Inheritance cycle: I traveled around the world to report on the cycle and represent its fans; spent long days and even longer nights scouring the Internet for news; dissected the books for theories; led discussions into Inheritances past, present, and future; and most importantly, had the opportunity to work closely with the people who made the entire series possible. My work at the heart of the Inheritance community over the past decade has given me a perspective that few fans have had the chance to experience. Recognizing this as an adventure that all readers would want to share in, I set out to use my knowledge and resources to create an almanac that would entertain, inform, and excite fans. The result of my experiences, efforts, and love for the world of Alagasia is The Inheritance Almanac, a comprehensive look at both the important and overlooked characters, landmarks, events, and conflicts of the Inheritance cycle.

Oaths betrayed, souls killed, eggs shattered! Blood everywhere. Murderers!

Saphira

The Inheritance cycle is a fusion of action and adventure, love and loathing, victory and defeat; it is a journey through the trials and triumphs of Eragon Shadeslayer and his companion, Saphira Brightscales, who together comprise the last free dragon and Rider of Alagasia. The pair set out to rid their beloved continent of the evil unleashed upon the world after Galbatorix claimed the throne. During their journey, they experience wonders that baffle the mind: mountains greater than our worlds tallest skyscrapers; monsters thought to dwell only in the dark chasms of nightmares; majestic races of mystery and legend; and conflicts that threaten to rip apart the very fabric of the world. Their discoveries and experiences, allies and enemies, are chronicled in thousands of exquisitely detailed pages. It was clear that collecting and organizing this information to prevent losing it to the dustbins of history would be a task that at one time would have been undertaken by no one but the most devoted monks of Arcaena.

What wisdom can I give people that they havent already learned? What feats can I achieve that an army couldnt do better? Its insanity!

Eragon

The Inheritance Almanac is a compendium of knowledge and information, from the known to the unknown, the serious to the absurd, detailing the expansive history of Alagasia. This tome enables Inheritance adventurers to refresh their memories while exploring such topics as Murtagh and the battalions of soldiers who cannot feel pain. Readers will uncover the mysteries of the Eldunar, the heavily guarded secret of the dragon race; journey through the ruins of Edur Ithindra, one of Alagasias most ancient elf outposts; conquer the treacherous Spine mountain range; and roam the harsh and unforgiving Hadarac Desert. The