Christopher Paolini Books in Order (Eragon, Inheritance, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars)

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Born November 17, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, U.S, Christopher Paolini is an American author, best known for The Inheritance Cycle. In 2011, the Guinness World Records recognized him as the “youngest author of a bestselling book series.”

Homeschooled by his parents, Christopher was fifteen when he wrote the first draft of Eragon, and the book would become the third-best-selling children’s hardback book of 2003, and the second-best-selling paperback of 2005. It has also been adapted as a feature film in 2006.

How to read Christopher Paolini’s Books in Order?

I. The Inheritance Cycle in Order

The adventures of a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they struggle to overthrow the evil king Galbatorix.

1. Eragon – When fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and, gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power.
2. Eldest – Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix. Now Eragon must travel to Ellésmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems.
3. Brisingr – Following the colossal battle against the Empire’s warriors, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still, there is more adventure at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

4. Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia – An illustrated tour of the most interesting peoples, places, and things in Eragon’s world.
5. Inheritance – Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must defeat Galbatorix. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?
6. Murtagh – The world is no longer safe for the Dragon Rider Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn. An evil king has been toppled, and they are left to face the consequences of the reluctant role they played in his reign of terror. Now they are hated and alone, exiled to the outskirts of society. Throughout the land, hushed voices whisper of brittle ground and a faint scent of brimstone in the air – and Murtagh senses that something wicked lurks in the shadows of Alagaësia. So begins an epic journey into lands both familiar and untravelled, where Murtagh and Thorn must use every weapon in their arsenal, from brains to brawn, to find and outwit a mysterious witch. A witch who is much more than she seems.

Bonus:

• Tales from Alagaësia: The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm – Three original stories set in Alagaësia, in the world of Eragon and the Inheritance Cycle. A wanderer and a cursed child. Spells and magic. And dragons, of course. It’s been a year since Eragon departed Alagaësia in search of the perfect home to train a new generation of Dragon Riders. When a vision from the Eldunarí, unexpected visitors, and an exciting Urgal legend surface, Eragon is faced with a much-needed distraction that may lead to a new perspective.

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II. The Fractalverse Series in Order

A new series by Christopher Paolini, in the science-fiction genre.

1. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars – During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move. As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human.
2. Fractal Noise – July 25th, 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers the anomaly. On the seemingly uninhabited planet Talos VII: a circular pit, 50 kilometers wide. Its curve not of nature, but design. Now, a small team must land and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole and why. But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space. For some the mission is the dream of the lifetime, for others a risk not worth taking, and for one it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe. Each step they take toward the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last. And the ghosts of their past follow.

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If you like the Christopher Paolini reading order, you may also want to explore our guide to Garth Nix’s books or Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. Don’t hesitate to follow us on Twitter or Facebook to discover more book series.