From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christopher Paolini (born November 17, 1983 in
Southern
California) is an American novelist. He is best known as the
author of the Inheritance Cycle, which
consists of the books Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and a currently untitled fourth book. He lives in Paradise Valley, Montana, where he wrote
his first book.
Biography
Christopher Paolini was raised in the Paradise Valley, Montana area. His family
members include his parents, Kenneth Paolini and Talita Hodgkinson,
and his sister, Angela Paolini.[1]
Home schooled
for the duration of his education, Paolini graduated from high
school at the age of 15 through a set of accredited correspondence courses from American School of
Correspondence in Lansing, Illinois. Following
graduation, he started his work on what would become the novel
Eragon the first of a
series,
set in the mythical land of Alagaësia.
In 2002, Eragon
was published by Paolini International LLC, Paolini's
parents' company. To promote the book, Paolini toured over 135
schools and libraries, discussing reading and writing, all the
while dressed in "a medieval costume of red shirt, billowy black
pants, lace-up boots, and a jaunty black cap."[1]
Paolini created the cover art for the first edition of
Eragon, which featured Saphira's eye. He also drew the
maps on the inside covers of his books.[2]
In Summer 2002, the stepson of author Carl Hiaasen found Eragon in a
bookstore and loved it, and Hiaasen brought it to the attention of
his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf.[3][4] Knopf
subsequently made an offer to publish Eragon and the rest
of the Inheritance cycle. The second edition of Eragon was
published by Knopf in August 2003. At the age of nineteen, Paolini
became a New York Times bestselling author.[5]
Eragon has since been adapted into a film of the same
name.
Paolini's essay "It All Began with Books" was included in the
April 2005 anthology Guys Write for Guys
Read.
Eldest, the sequel
to Eragon, was released August 23, 2005. The third book in
the cycle, Brisingr, was released on September 20,
2008.[6]
Although the Inheritance Cycle was planned as a
trilogy, the details for Brisingr had to be expanded to include a
fourth book, that has yet to be titled.[7]
Influences
Paolini's literary inspirations include the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, E. R. Eddison and the
author of the epic poem Beowulf.[3]
Paolini said that Eragon was "specifically inspired" by
the work of Bruce
Coville. Other literary influences include David Eddings, Andre Norton, Brian Jacques, Anne McCaffrey,
Raymond E.
Feist, Mervyn
Peake, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Frank Herbert.[8]
Other favorite authors include Jane Yolen,[1]
Philip
Pullman,[8]
and Garth Nix.[3]
Nature influences much of Paolini's writing. In a three-way
interview with Philip Pullman and Tamora Pierce,
Paolini said that Paradise
Valley, Montana is "one of the main sources" of his
inspiration.[9]
In the book Eldest, Paolini described his Elves as vegetarians. When asked about his own diet,
Paolini answered, "No, I am not vegetarian, although I lean in that
direction."[10]
In the acknowledgments of Brisingr, Paolini acknowledged the
influence of Leon and Hiroko Kapp's The Craft of the Japanese
Sword for his description of the forging of Eragon's
sword.[11]
Additionally, Paolini admitted he is a Doctor Who fan, which inspired his reference
to the "lonely god" (the epithet given to the Doctor by the Face of Boe in the
episode "New
Earth").[12][13]
Notes
- ^ a
b
c
The Author.
Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2007-10-30.
- ^
Paolini, C., Eragon, Paolini International LLC, 2002.
- ^ a
b
c
Spring, Kit (January 25, 2004). "Elf and efficiency
(Interview)". Guardian Unlimited. http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/childrenandteens/story/0,,1130351,00.html. Retrieved
2007-09-13.
- ^
David Welch (September 29, 2005). A Kinder, Gentler Carl
Hiaasen, Still Pissing People Off Powells.com.
Accessed 2008-01-20.
- ^
Liz Rosenberg (November 16, 2003). 'Eragon': The Egg and
Him. NYTimes.com. Accessed 2007-10-30.
- ^
Press release (January 16,
2008). Random
House Accessed 2008-01-16.
- ^
Press release (October 30,
2007). Random
House Accessed 2007-10-30.
- ^ a
b
Talita Paolini Christopher Paolini
Q&A Shurtugal.com. Accessed 2008-01-20.
- ^
Dave Welch (October 2003). News: Philip Pullman, Tamora
Pierce, and Christopher Paolini Talk Fantasy Fiction
Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2008-01-20.
- ^
Christopher Paolini. Talking Trilogy
Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2008-01-20.
- ^
Paolini, Christopher (September 20
2008). "Acknowledgments" (Hardcover). Brisingr (1st ed.).
New York: Alfred
A. Knopf. p. 761. ISBN
0375826726.
- ^
Paolini, Christopher (September 20
2008). "Shadows of the Past" (Hardcover). Brisingr (1st
ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 204. ISBN 0375826726.
"Bending over, Eragon read, Adrift upon the sea of time, the
lonely god wanders from shore to distant shore, upholding the laws
of the stars above."
- ^
Paolini, Christopher (September 20
2008). "Acknowledgments" (Hardcover). Brisingr (1st ed.).
New York: Alfred
A. Knopf. p. 761. ISBN 0375826726.
"Also, for those who understood the reference to a 'lonely god'
when Eragon and Arya are sitting around the campfire, my only
excuse is that the Doctor can travel everywhere, even alternate
realities. Hey, I'm a fan too!"
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