Random Buzzers

Read what Christopher Paolini had to say during his 2010 visit to Random Buzzers! 

Last Modified Nov 15, 2010, 04:38:30 PM

Hi! Glad you enjoy the series.

Favorite animal: Dragon of course! (Although I also really like black panthers)

Favorite dragon-themed book(s): Dragonriders of Pern series, the Pit Dragon trilogy by Jane Yolen, A Wizard of Earthsea (and sequels), the Talking with Dragons series, and many, many more.

Best,

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 04:43:08 PM

Nice Doctor Who pic. :-)

I have way too many favorite authors to pick just one. Many, many authors have inspired me over the years, both within and without the fantasy genre. Most recently, I've enjoyed reading the science fiction books of Iain M. Banks.

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 04:44:57 PM

Hey! I'm getting pretty close to the end of Book Four. I can't give you an exact timetable quite yet, but I can tell you it won't be *too* much longer. It's pretty exciting for me. . . . After almost eleven years, I'm finally going to be able to finish this story!

The best places to look for updates as to the status of Book Four are alagaesia.com and shurtugal.com

Best,

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 04:47:14 PM

Hi Christopher, I think your totally awesome I love all 3 books so far and waiting very patiently for the 4th and any chance u might come to oklahoma?

Posted Nov 22, 2010, 04:45:32 PM

Not a clue. It just popped into my head when I was writing the scene where Eragon first touches Saphira.

Best,

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 04:48:17 PM

Hiya!!! I am SOOO excited that you are coming to Random Buzzers and answering questions!!!!!!!!!!!!

So my question for you is this: How did you pick the color of the dragons? Did you set out with a certain color in mind?

Posted Oct 29, 2010, 05:47:38 PM

Hello, welcome to Random Buzz! I've been a huge fan of Eragon ever since I first read it...five years ago. It's been a long time, I guess. =) I thought it was so cool to read a book by a fellow homeschooler, and it inspired me to write my own book about dragons. When I went back and reread it awhile ago, I realized the whole story was almost a rip-off of yours, and it was only the characters and the world that were different. But it was a start, anyway. =)

Anyhoo - my questions. I've realized that writing (writing a good-sized story, anyway) takes a lot of discipline. Turning off the TV, logging off of Facebook, and planting myself at the computer with my fingers positioned above the keyboard. And once I get started, it's easy to stop. How do you get yourself to write and keep on going? And do you have any tips on revision?

 

Posted Oct 29, 2010, 06:41:24 PM

Christopher,

I am a big fan... and am sitting on pins and needles waiting for the fourth book to be released... I applaud your imagination and creativity... and I am so sorry they chopped up your book doing the movie... they screwed up all the characters so they couldn't continue with doing others to follow the series... If you are ever faced with a decision of doing a movie deal again please make sure you are fully involved in any changes to the text... I know you were younger when they did Eragon, but it deserved to be done right... as one of your biggest fans... good luck to your future endevers and know you have so many people behind you supporting you near and far to encourage your writing and creative mind...

Lady JeanNea (Jeanie)

Last Modified Oct 29, 2010, 07:19:41 PM

Hello!

I met you when you came to Seattle to do the book signing for Brisingr and I was wondering if you were going to do it again for book 4?

 

Also, In Brisingr on page 253, Intersecting Sagas, it describes a woman and her daughter who came to talk to Angela.  Saphira calls them "Wild Ones" and "Wolf-Eyes". Angela calls the woman "Bladesinger." Who are they and will we learn more about them in book 4?

 

Thanks!

Maia

Posted Oct 29, 2010, 07:17:48 PM

Did Angela in her past meet Galbatorix?  ps: I love the inheritance!!! (like everyone)!!!

Posted Oct 29, 2010, 07:30:19 PM

Hi Mr. Paolini! I just wanted to say that I LOVE the Inheritance Cycle and that I'm anxiously waiting for Book 4! So are there any secrets can you tell us from the last book? And do you have any ideas for the books you would like to write when you finish The Inheritance Cycle?

Like you, I was also a homeschool student, and I was wondering what kind of an impact thats had on your life? For me personally it's let me get to know my family a lot better and spend more time with them, which is really nice!

Also, what advice would you give a fan that wanted to become a writer? I'd like to become a writer and I have a few stories I'm working on.

Im sure you've heard this plenty of times, but I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN!! :) Oh, and could you please make a stop in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to do a book signing? PLEASE!!!

Thanks for your time!

-Brandon

Last Modified Oct 29, 2010, 09:47:42 PM

Hey Christopher!

I'm not sure if these questions are supposed to be about your personal preferences or if they're supposed to pertain to the books... so I'll just ask two questions :D

What is your favorite hobby/what do you spend most of your time doing when you're not writing?

Why does Eragon neglect to mention important events to other characters just because he is confused by them? For example, why doesn't he mention to anyone that the Ra'zac said Galbatorix had almost found "the name?" Even if he didn't know what that meant, someone else might have, but he never told anyone! And why does he run away from Tenga? I can see how Eragon would think Tenga is insane, but the guy could cast magic without talking, so I figured Eragon would at least attempt to converse with the man.

And I may be asking a lot of questions but while I was just scanning through Brisingr to find the part about Tenga, I read about the part where they want to kill Galbatorix using his true name, but he had already placed a ward that would kill anyone trying to do that. So if the wording of the spell was something along the lines of "Kill anyone who attempts to manipulate Galbatorix by using his true name," (we are told Galbatorix probably does not know his own true name and did not need it to cast the spell) so couldn't someone just cast a ward for the entire language itself, killing anyone who finds and tries to manipulate the Ancient Language?

A lot of questions, but I have a lot on my mind. Hope you can get to at least one! :D

Posted Oct 29, 2010, 09:58:33 PM

Great questions!

1. My favorite activity besides writing is drawing. Unfortunately, I don't have nearly as much time for it at the moment as I would like. However, that'll change once I finish Book Four.

2. Eragon ran away from Tenga because . . . well, would you want to hang around a crazy guy who could kill you with a single well-placed (or misplaced) word? Tenga may have been skilled and powerful, but I don't think Eragon would have learned anything useful from him without spending a lot more time with him, gaining his trust, and Eragon had to get back to the Varden as fast as he could.

3. I always figured that Eragon *did* mention what the Ra'zac said to Saphira, and perhaps also to Arya.  However, it's not something the characters can do anything about, nor do they really know what the Ra'zac was talking about, so it seemed like it would end up being a rather pointless conversation. Also, given all the other things happening to and around Eragon, I don't think he's spent much time worrying about it.

4. I like how you think about magic. You're right, someone *could* cast a spell that would kill anyone who attempted to meddle with the ancient language. However, what if that person was Eragon himself? What if Eragon discovered the name of the ancient language? Such a spell could very easily end up destroying a friend or ally. Also, if the person you're trying to kill just happened to be on the other side of Alagaësia, killing them would take so much energy, the effort would end up being fatal for the original magician.

Best,

Christopher

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 05:22:12 PM

Eragon started as a story I wanted to tell just to entertain myself. When I first set pen to paper, I never thought that it would be published.

Of course there are things I would change about my previous books. I think every author feels that way. It's part of the process. Hopefully you learn and improve and your future works are better than your beginning works.

Sorry, can't tell you the title for Book Four yet. But I have named it!

Lots of scenes have been unplanned. Pretty much everything with Angela the herbalist, for example.

Best,

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 05:25:14 PM

Beware of red-eyed rabbits.

Best,

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 05:25:41 PM

Good eye. I based a good part of the ancient language on Old Norse, which I thought had a great sound and feel. All the rest of my languages (Dwarvish, Urgalish, and the nomad language) I invented from scratch.

Best,

Christopher Paolini

Posted Nov 01, 2010, 05:27:57 PM

Hi,

When do you think you'll be able to release the title of the fourth book (and any idea when it will be published)? ^_^ye

Last Modified Oct 30, 2010, 12:16:05 AM

I just want to ask how you came up with the ideas for all the different languages? And I heard you were homeschooled, Is that true? If so, did you like it? 

I'm a huge fan and love your books! I can't wait for the fourth one and I really hate how they ruined the books with the movie. 

Thanks :) 

Posted Oct 30, 2010, 12:18:04 AM

Hi Christopher, firstly the Inheritance Cycle are my favourite books. My question is that when you started writting the books, did you have a clear idea of how it would end? Because I am trying to write a fantasy novel, though i do not know how it is going to end. Is that bad?  Also when you read the books yourself, do you sometime say "i should of changed that, or added that?". Thanks so much for your time!

Posted Oct 30, 2010, 12:18:34 AM

By several of the comments Nasuada made during book 3, she is disliking magic.  Is she going to outlaw magic?  Will this be the reason Eragon has to leave his homeland?  Will the Elves have to leave as well. 

Would you like to see Ellesméra come to life?  It would be such a wonderful place to visit and to read a book!!!

 

Hope you answer,

Elvenqueen

Posted Oct 30, 2010, 01:37:43 AM

Hello Christopher Paolini, I'm also a fan with plentiful of questions that I hope you could answer if you can. Obviously, you must be tired of hearing about when's the fourth book coming, so I won't bother asking (not that I would anyway), but here are some other questions I haven't really seen others ask too much or at all.

1. When you create a new character to put into the story, how much development do you put in them? Do you only develop them enough to serve their purpose in the story, like the man who could see lights of energy in people (or something along those lines, I forget)? Or do you sometimes flesh out a character you liked, even though they didn't have a big impact in the story?

2. What can you tell about the circumstances around Galbatorix killing Shruikan's original rider and taking the black dragon for himself? Or do you plan to keep that a secret just in case you feel like writing a prequel to the Inheritance cycle?

3. Just a curious question. Who gave Shruikan his name, his original rider or Galbatorix? I ask because I do not know how long the original rider was with their dragon before they (I say "they", meaning the person because I do not think it was made clear what gender the rider was) were killed and because Eragon took a while to name Saphira. On a side note, how long after they hatch before they are named normally? Right after hatching? When the dragon is old enough to say no or yes?

4. Practical question: Any particular reason you named Murtagh's dragon Thorn? Seems odd that it's already a rather common word, where as if I googled Saphira, Shruikan, or Glaedr they would instantly show inheritance links. For Thorn I'd have to put "Murtagh and Thorn" or something like that. Just a thought. Not complaining, just wondering.

5. In Brisingr, there were two theories behind why the sword Brisingr sets on fire when its name is called by Eragon; that he imbued a part of himself into the sword when he helped make it or that he uncovered the sword's true name. But if it was the latter, wouldn't anyone be able to set the sword on fire by calling out its true name, or are there special circumstances to consider, like maybe Eragon's intentions of the word Brisingr when he was naming the sword?

That's all the more original ones I can think of right now. Might ask more if any come to mind. I'm rather bad of thinking up stuff off the top of my head like this. 

Last Modified Oct 30, 2010, 03:19:03 AM