We spoke with Christopher Paolini about his latest novel, Murtagh and the twentieth anniversary of his bestseller, Eragon. Set in the same world as Eragon, Murtagh marks the highly anticipated return to a world created by Paolini over two decades ago.

Murtagh is set for release on November 7, 2023.

Interview with Christopher Paolini

Jenna Wrenn: It’s been 20 years since you released your widely loved novel, Eragon. Did you ever anticipate such an impactful legacy?

Christopher Paolini: Not even in my wildest dreams. Heck, when I was starting out, I didn’t think that anyone outside of my family would read Eragon. And yet here we are. It’s incredibly humbling to know that the books are still being shared and loved after so many years. It’s everything an author could hope for, and I never stop feeling grateful for this opportunity.

JW: You were only 15 years old when Eragon was published. What sort of hurdles do you feel you had to overcome as a young, first time author? Can you remember any specific fears you faced?

CP: Well, the biggest disadvantage any young author faces is their lack of experience. Unfortunately, there’s no way to fix that aside from time and life. Still, with youth comes exergy and enthusiasm and, perhaps, a willingness to tackle enormous projects that might give pause to someone with more years under their belt.

My fears were many and varied. At the time, my family and I were grappling with severe financial pressures. On top of that, I was worried about the quality of my writing (a perennial concern for an author, published or otherwise), the direction of my future (college was a serious consideration back then), and the years it was taking to produce Eragon.

In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t spent so much energy worrying, but I had no guarantee things were going to work out as they did. The only thing I had control over were my own actions, so despite my concerns, I put my head down and kept working. Fortunately, Eragon ultimately found an audience that was large enough that I was able to pursue writing as a career.

JW: How early in life did you come up with the idea of Eragon?

CP: I had the original idea when I was fourteen. I even wrote an early version of the story where it was set in the real world. But I soon realized that it was a lot more interesting to have a dragon in a fantastical setting.

JW:  What sort of works/media inspired Eragon?

CP: It’ll come as no surprise that I was (and am) a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan. I read all the usual suspects and was massively inspired by them. In the case of Eragon, I was specifically inspired by Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville, which is a charming YA novel about a young man in the real world who goes into an antique shop and ends up buying a stone that (spoiler) turns out to be a dragon egg. When I read that, I couldn’t stop thinking about a young man and a dragon and, well…the rest is history.

JW: What can fans expect from the upcoming Disney+ Eragon series? How will it differ from the movie adaptation? 

CP: Hopefully, a tonally faithful adaptation that will bring the story, characters, and world to life in a way that readers respond to. As for how it’ll differ from the movie . . . ha! In every way, if I have anything to say about it.

JW: Your latest novel, Murtagh, is set for release on November 7th. Can you tell us a little bit about Murtagh?

CP: Murtagh is a deep dive into the life of the titular character and his dragon, Thorn. Here you’ll find mystery, magic, and revelations as Murtagh attempts to answer some of the deepest questions in the land, as well as those of his own life. The story builds off and continues many of the elements within the Inheritance Cycle; it is a direct, in-line sequel that I’m confident both long-time fans and first-time readers will enjoy.

JW: How did it feel to return to the world of Eragon with Murtagh?

CP: I had a ridiculous amount of (sometimes devilish) fun writing this book. It was also rewarding to return to the World of Eragon with an additional twelve years of experience. As with The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, revisiting these characters felt like coming home after a long absence. It was good for the soul, is what I’m trying to say. And to release this book on the twentieth-year anniversary of Eragon only makes it better. 

JW: Did you always plan to tell more stories within the world of Eragon?

CP: Of course. In fact, I deliberately left a couple of dangling threads in Brisingr and Inheritance specifically to form the basis for future books. I love this world, and I hope to write many more stories in it over the years. Murtagh is the first of these.

JW: What sort of experience are you hoping to give readers with Murtagh?

CP: That’s hard to answer without getting into spoiler territory. Overall, I hope folks find the book to be a rollicking good adventure, full of interesting characters, deep feelings, and some epic surprises. That and a big fish.

JW: Do you have anything you’d like to say to fans who have been with you on this journey over the past 20 years?

CP: Thank you! None of this would have been possible without your support. Seriously, I can’t overstate how grateful I am for my readers and how much they’ve changed my life. I hope Murtagh lives up to their expectations and that they can see how I’ve grown as an author over the years.

And of course, as my elves would say: “Atra esterní ono thelduin.” May the stars watch over you.