ERAGON’S GUIDE TO ALAGAESIA
Name: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf
Date Published: November 3rd, 2009
Cover Art:
ISBN: 0375858237 - 9780375858239
Name: Hardcover
Publisher: Doubleday
Date Published: January 1, 2009
Cover Art:
ISBN: 0385617887 - 9780385617888
The Guide to Alagaesia is an interactive canon guidebook on the world of Alagaesia. Ology books were extremely popular in the 00s, which is most likely why this book was published. The book has spoilers for anything set before Brisingr, however, the book is set after Inheritance.
The only new content in this Guide is two letters written by Eragon, which are set in the "present day", sometime between books 4 and 5.
From the creators of the bestselling books Dragonology, Egyptology, Piratelogy, and others, this is a never-before-seen glimpse into the world of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance cycle. Alagaesia comes alive in a lush and detailed look at an unforgettable magical land. From elves, dwarves, Urgals, humans, and dragons, to the natural landscape and the magic it contains, Eragon himself offers the reader an unsurpassed tour. This oversized, full-color book provides 15 spreads chock full of spectacular artwork, engaging novelty elements, and fascinating insights into Eragon's home. With gorgeous jewels adorning the cover and pages filled with envelopes, gatefolds, samples of dragon skin, and more, Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia is sure to appeal to the legions of fans of Christopher Paolini's bestselling Inheritance cycle.
Message from Chris about the book
Kvetha Fricäya! Greetings, Friends!
By now you may have heard the exciting news.
Over the past few months, in addition to writing Book Four, I’ve been helping Random House and Templar Publishing produce a companion book to the Inheritance cycle. It’s called Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia and is an illustrated tour of the most interesting peoples, places, and things of Eragon’s world. Eragon narrates the book himself, and if you pay close attention to what he says, you might catch a few hints about where the series is headed.
The art is by Fred Gambino, Larry McDougal, Ian Millar, and David Wyatt. (I also contributed a few sketches myself.) Each artist brought something different to the book—their styles vary widely—which means that you will get to see four distinct visions of Alagaësia. After working on the Inheritance cycle for over ten years, I’m delighted to finally be able to share with you images of some of the things I’ve imagined for so long: the Beor Mountains, Tronjheim in Farthen Dûr, the elves’ buildings in Ellesméra, the Urgals, the dwarves, and much more.
The book is also filled with fold-out pamphlets, maps, diagrams, letters, and other intriguing odds and ends, such as a patch of simulated dragon skin.
I hope you will have as much fun reading Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia as I did writing it. (Just wait until you see the werecat!) Like every other book I’ve worked on, it was insanely complicated and faced some incredibly tight deadlines, but it was one of the most rewarding projects I’ve been involved in. I really enjoyed having the chance to write a book as if I were Eragon; to draw glyphs from the elves’ writing system, the Liduen Kvaedhí (including the glyph for Brisingr!); to do a pen-and-ink portrait of Galbatorix; and, above all else, to see the artists bring the world of Alagaësia to life.
I should mention that everyone involved in Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia was amazing, from my editor Michelle to the wonderful folks at Templar. Thank you all!
On a more personal note, I’ve been having a blast with Book Four. Not too long ago, I finished a large and important chunk of the story, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy, and now things are hopping with Eragon & Co. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but here’s a little teaser: The chapter I just completed is titled Brains! And no, there aren’t any zombies in the book, unfortunately.
Mmm, brains . . .
May your swords stay sharp!
Christopher Paolini