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==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
NO MORE SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
===Eragon===
[[Eragon (character)|Eragon]], [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Roran|Roran]], and [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Saphira|Saphira]] are traveling towards [[The_Empire_(Inheritance)#Helgrind|Helgrind]], the dwelling place of [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#The_Ra.27zac|the Ra'zac]], where Roran's betrothed, [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Katrina|Katrina]], is being held prisoner. Eragon mends the wound that was inflicted on Roran by a Ra'zac in Carvahall as they are camping. Together they infiltrate the fortress and are ambushed by the Ra'zac. Roran kills one of the Ra'zac while the other manages to escape into the depths of Helgrind. Roran rescues Katrina while Eragon finds [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Sloan|Sloan]], Katrina's father and a traitor to Carvahall, imprisoned. Eragon makes Sloan go to sleep and tells Roran that he is dead.Eragon decides to remain in Helgrind to kill the remaining Ra’zac and deal with Sloan. He tells Saphira to go back to the Varden with Roran and Katrina, which she does, and then he kills the last Ra'zac with ease. Eragon then leaves Helgrind with Sloan and, using Sloan's true name, commands him to travel towards the elves' domain and to never see Katrina again. Then Eragon heads back to the Varden. Meanwhile, Saphira arrives at the Varden's camp without Eragon, so [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Arya|Arya]] sets off in pursuit of him. Arya finds Eragon traveling south in Eastcroft, and they escape to the Varden together.

[[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Murtagh|Murtagh]] and his dragon, [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Thorn|Thorn]], attack the Varden a short time after Eragon’s return, with a small unit of soldiers. Elven spell casters sent by Queen Islanzadi to protect Eragon led by the elf Blödhgarm fight alongside Eragon, forcing Murtagh and Thorn to flee. After the fight, Eragon binds Roran and Katrina together in marriage. Then, [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Nasuada|Nasuada]] orders Eragon to attend the election of the new dwarf king to ensure someone favorable to the Varden, insisting Saphira stay behind, which Eragon reluctantly agrees to. Once again among the dwarves, Eragon is reunited with [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Orik|Orik]], the new clan chief of Durgrimst Ingeitum, and his wife, Hvedra. In Tronjheim, an assassination attempt on Eragon is found to be the work of the clan Az Sweldin rak Anhuin, who have vowed to oppose Eragon for the rest of their lives. Orik presents evidence of the attempt to the clan-chiefs, who together banish the Az Sweldn rak Anhuin clan into exile. Having won the trust of the dwarves, Orik is elected the new dwarf king. At Orik's coronation, Saphira mends Isidar Mithrim, the rose shaped jewel, which Arya had shattered while rescuing Eragon from the Shade, [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Durza|Durza]].

Eragon and Saphira decide to return to Ellesméra to continue their training. Eragon is told by [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Oromis|Oromis]] and [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Glaedr|Glaedr]] that [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Morzan|Morzan]] is not his father; [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Brom|Brom]] is. The next day, Eragon is told the source of [[Galbatorix|Galbatorix's]] power; an Eldunarí, or heart of hearts, is a dragon's heart, which sometimes contains their consciousness and can exist forever. Glaedr explains that Galbatorix controls hundreds of these, which are the source of his power. They discuss Eragon's need for a new sword as well. Eragon visits Rhunön, the elven blacksmith, whom he asks to forge a new blade. She agrees, only after he retrieves the material needed, brightsteel, from under the Menoa Tree, and Eragon names the sword "Brisingr". When Eragon sets off to return to the Varden, he finds that Oromis and Glaedr are departing as well. Oromis explains that the time has come to oppose Galbatorix alongside [[Characters_in_the_Inheritance_cycle#Islanzad.C3.AD|Islanzadí]]. Glaedr gives his Eldunarí to Eragon and Saphira before they part.

Eragon and Saphira return to the Varden, who are engaging in a siege of the city of Feinster, and are reunited with Arya. Eragon and Arya find the leader of the city, Lady Lorana, but discover that her three magicians are attempting to create a Shade. Eragon and Arya race to the magicians, as they transform a man into a Shade. Eragon passes out as Glaedr's Eldunarí shows Eragon the fight between Glaedr and Oromis and Thorn and Murtagh. He sees when Galbatorix takes over Murtagh's body and speaks to Oromis, who suffers a seizure and is then killed by Murtagh, and he is forced to watch as Glaedr is killed by Thorn shortly thereafter. As Eragon regains consciousness, he and Arya fight the Shade, Varaug, who falls to the duo. After the successful siege, Nasuada informs Eragon that the Varden plan to march to Belatona, then to Dras-Leona, then to Uru'baen, where they plan to kill Galbatorix.


===Nasuada===
===Nasuada===

Revision as of 14:26, 3 October 2008

Brisingr
AuthorChristopher Paolini
IllustratorJohn Jude Palencar
Cover artistJohn Jude Palencar
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesInheritance Cycle
GenreYoung adult literature, High Fantasy
PublisherAlfred A. Knopf
Publication date
September 20, 2008[1]
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback) and audio-CD
Pages748[2]
Preceded byEldest 
Followed byBook 4 (Unknown title) 

Brisingr or The Seven Promises of Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Bjartskular is the third book of the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, following the books Eragon and Eldest. It was released on September 20, 2008. The title means "fire" in the fictional Ancient Language of Alagaesia, and it is also the True Name for Fire, which is the first magic Eragon used in the series. The book sold 550,000 copies on its first day of sale, the most ever for a Random House Children's Book.[3]

Development

The Inheritance Cycle was initially planned to be a trilogy. In an October 2007 press release, Paolini revealed that the third book would have been so large that it would need to be published in two volumes.[4] An April 11, 2008 newsletter sent out by Paolini said that this book was longer than either Eragon or Eldest.[5]

Paolini began providing hints about the plot with a March 2005 interview with Shurtugal.com. He suggested the next book would include whether Saphira ever finds a mate, and find the Varden shifting favor away from Nasuada as leader.[6][7] Paolini answered some questions for his fans on his official site in July and August 2006[8] and gave a video interview in December 2006 to promote the movie.[9] Paolini said the coming book would explain how Thorn, Murtagh's dragon, matured to rival Saphira despite their age difference, and the nature of the spirits that sorcerers summon. In February 2007, Paolini answered an Open Letter from the Czech fan site Alagaesia.net and Eragon1.net. He hinted that the rest of the Inheritance Cycle would reveal information about Brom's lover, about Ajihad and Arya's background, and about dwarf culture.[10]

Title and cover

Paolini said about the title: "'Brisingr' is one of the first words I thought of for this title, and it's always felt right to me." As it is the first word in the Ancient Language that Eragon learns, it holds a particular significance for him.[1] "Brisingr" is the Ancient Language's word for "fire", used to summon and control fire by magic-users in the series, and it ends up being the name for Eragon's sword. Paolini revealed the subtitle, "The Seven Promises of Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Bjartskular", in a July 1, 2008 newsletter from Alagaesia.com.

John Jude Palencar illustrated the cover featuring the golden dragon Glaedr. The content of the cover was one of the few things initially confirmed by Paolini. The cover was first to feature an emerald-green dragon looking to the right.[11] Paolini later indicated that this was affected by the expansion of the series to a four-book cycle, but did not explain the change at the time.[12]

Promotion

In March 2008, a spoiler was released on the cycle's homepage Alagaësia.com, stating that "In Brisingr, Eragon will meet a god."[13] A second spoiler was released in May saying that, "Eragon will meet a terrifying new enemy; one who likes to laugh a lot, but not in a good way."[14] In July 2008, a third and final spoiler was released on Alagaesia.com, stating that "In Brisingr, one of the characters becomes pregnant."

An excerpt from the third chapter of Brisingr, "Light and Shadow"(now renamed "Assault on Helgrind"), was included in the Eldest deluxe edition and later released on the Fricaya network.[15] This excerpt features Eragon and Roran traveling to Helgrind, in an effort to save Katrina (Roran's betrothed) from the Ra'zac's lair. Another excerpt was released on a Flash Drive. Fans had to pick one up at the give-out locations at a given date learned from a Vroengard Academy Side Quest or they could watch Christopher Paolini read it on www.amazon.com. This excerpt features Nasuada talking to elven spellcasters about war details and the whereabouts and protection of Eragon and Saphira.

Brisingr was released in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom on September 20, 2008,[1] with later releases in other countries.[16] More than 2500 midnight party events were held for the September 20 release.[17]

The book sold 550,000 copies on its first day of an initial print run of 2.5 million copies. Both the initial print run and first-day sales were the largest ever for the Random House Children's Book division.[3]

Plot summary

NO MORE SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nasuada

Nasuada is being visited by Fadawar, a warlord of Nasuada's native tribe, about a request for power. After debate, Fadawar challenges Nasuada to the Trial of the Long Knives, involving cutting their own arms and seeing who can survive longest without submitting, as a test to see who is willing to suffer the most for their people. Nasuada accepts his challenge, and wins, at the cost of her own health. Saphira returns shortly after with Roran and Katrina, and Saphira explains that Eragon sought to stay in Helgrind.

Roran

After killing the Ra'zac in Helgrind and returning to the Varden, Roran has set about training for upcoming battles. Nasuada calls him to her pavilion, and asks him to serve in the Varden's military forces, to which he agrees. However, he requests to be married to Katrina first, insisting Eragon perform the ceremony. Having his request accepted, Roran prepares for the wedding. On the wedding day, the Varden is attacked by the empire, but the wedding still takes place three hours later. After that, Roran is sent on his first mission as an official part of the Varden's military; he is to ambush a convoy of the empire's supply wagons.

Almost immediately after successfully completing his mission, Roran is sent on another; to ambush yet another of the Empire's convoys. This one, however, was guarded by soldiers who feel no pain, so Roran's squad suffer extreme casualties, and only nine return to the Varden, with the commander unable to serve after losing a limb, causing a new commander to take lead. After shortly returning home, and being encouraged by Katrina, Roran is sent on a mission to take back one of the Surdan cities that the empire conquered. The new commander's plan almost drives the soldiers to death, but Roran takes command when all seems lost, giving new orders. Despite saving the operation, and killing one hundred and ninety-three men on his own, Roran is charged with insubordination, and is relieved temporarily of his duties.

When they arrive back at the Varden, Roran is whipped fifty times for the charges against him. After many hours, Roran awakes to Nasuada entering his tent, who gives him new orders. She promotes him to commander and orders him to ambush another convoy, which is done successfully. However, some Urgals in Roran's command were torturing the empire's soldiers, which he disapproved of. An Urgal challenges Roran for command, and Roran wins the challenge. After returning to the Varden, Roran is now sent to help the siege on Feinster, which is a success.

References

  1. ^ a b c Press release (January 16, 2008). Random House Accessed 2008-01-16.
  2. ^ Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3). Amazon.com. Accessed 2009-09-09.
  3. ^ a b Diane Roback (September 23, 2008). ‘Brisingr’ Breaks Random House Children’s Record. Publisher's Weekly. Accessed 2008-09-23.
  4. ^ Press release (October 30, 2007). Random House Accessed 2007-10-30.
  5. ^ Alagaesia News. (April 2008) Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2008-04-13.
  6. ^ Interview with Christopher Paolini. Shurtugal.com. Accessed 2006-12-19.
  7. ^ Highlights from the CP Phone Chat with Mike. Shur'tugal. Accessed 2007-06-30.
  8. ^ Talking Trilogy with Christopher Paolini Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2006-12-19.
  9. ^ Christopher Paolini. "Eragon Red Carpet Interviews" (video). Shurtugal.com, London.
  10. ^ Open Letter to Christopher Paolini Alagaesie.net. Accessed 2007-03-14.
  11. ^ Highlights from the CP Phone Chat). (May 19, 2004) Shurtugal.com. Accessed 2008-03-30.
  12. ^ Christopher Paolini (December 19, 2007). Alagaesia Newsletter. Shur'tugal.com. Accessed 2007-12-23.
  13. ^ Spoiler for Book Three. Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2008-03-19.
  14. ^ Brisingr Spoiler Video. Shurtugal.com. Accessed 2008-09-23.
  15. ^ Fricaya - Excerpt. Alagaesia.com. Accessed 2008-09-09.
  16. ^ "Brisingr International Release Dates" (February 2, 2008) Shurtugal.com. Accessed 2008-02-09.
  17. ^ Judith Rosen (July 14, 2008). 'Breaking Dawn' and 'Brisingr' in a Post-Harry World Publisher's Weekly. Accessed 2008-09-23.

External links

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