Christopher Paolini - An Infamous Name in Fantasy Literature

Christopher Paolini's story is one that has inspired respect and hatred and combinations of both in epic fantasy readers. He started writing the first of the Inheritance Trilogy at 15 years of age, eventually selling it door to door. In 2002, Eragon, the first of the Inheritance Trilogy, was privately published by his parents. Paolini toured over one hundred schools and libraries, discussing reading and writing, dressed in interesting pseudo-medieval attire, fitting of Alagaesia, the world the Inheritance Trilogy is set in.

During one of Paolini's tours, he gave a speech at the school of Carl Hiaasen's stepson. Carl Hiaasen, himself a journalist and writer, heard about the book, and told Knopf, his publisher, about Paolini and his book. Knopf made an offer on Eragon and the rest of the Inheritance Trilogy (though only Eragon was completed at the time of the offer). Eragon was published by Knopf after more editing in August of 2003. A movie adaptation of Eragon is to be in theatres on December 15th this year.

Paolini, regarding his books, has said, "In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf".This quotation has inspired the fury of thousands; Paolini even suggesting that he compares himself to 'Tolkien at his best' incites the users on writing forums all across the internet to scorn Paolini, often starting long discussions, threads of a dozen pages or more, in some cases I've seen. Personally, I think that that quote is a bit much.