History Literature / InheritanceCycle

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: A source of {{Wangst}} for Eragon.

* WhatTheHellHero: Four examples: Firstly, [[spoiler: Murtagh heavily criticizes Eragon's (and the Varden's) moral stance and allegiance at the end of ''Eldest'', going so far as to say that Galbatorix isn't bad enough to earn what Eragon's doing to the Empire]]. Secondly, Sloan gives Eragon a massive tongue lashing in ''Brisingr'' when he encounters him, complete with lots of [[UnusualEuphemism fantasy swear words]]. Thirdly, after Eragon [[spoiler: attempts to heal Elva of her [[BlessedWithSuck curse]], he makes a mistake and only succeeds in making it painless, leaving Elva still empowered but no longer shackled down with a desire to help others, turning her into an AntiHero. Shortly after, he decides that she isn't mature enough to handle such power and tries to take it from her, whereupon she puts him down and tells him he's behaving as Galbatorix would.]] And fourthly, a [[spoiler: soldier in Feinster]] complains about Eragon "taking glory for himself" by disrupting the peace and slaughtering even those who have been forced to serve the Empire. YMMV, but some people consider such moments a CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

* TwistEnding: Eldest.

--> '''Saphira:''' "Nothing out of the ordinary ever occurs to me when I'm by myself. But you attract duels, ambushes, immortal enemies, obscure creatures such as the Ra'zac, long-lost family members, and mysterious acts of magic as though they were starving weasels and you were a rabbit that wandered into their den."

* InstantExpert: Eragon learns magic faster than any of the other characters, despite him being JustAKid.

* ReLex: The elven language is a ReLex of English with vocabulary borrowings from closely related languages.

The ''Inheritance Cycle'', [[TrilogyCreep formerly known as]] the ''Inheritance Trilogy'' is a series of HighFantasy novels written by Creator/{{Christopher Paolini}}. The first book was originally self-published by Paolini and his parents, but has since migrated to Alfred A Knopf on the recommendation of Carl Hiaasen. It so far features the following books:

Not to be confused with ''TheInheritanceTrilogy'', especially since that was the name of this series before [[TrilogyCreep book 4 came along]].

* {{Immortality}}: Dragon Riders, elves, dragons, and possibly Shades are all immortal unless killed violently.

* TheWorfEffect: Islanzadi, an established badass, is killed without significant effort by Barst.

* FiveManBand: In Book Four:
** TheHero: Eragon
** TheLancer: Elva
** TheSmartGuy: Angela
** TheChick: Arya
** TheMentor: Saphira

* DistressedDamsel: Arya, and later [[spoiler:Katrina]].

%% Unfortunate Implications goes in the YMMV tab.

The ''Inheritance Cycle'', [[TrilogyCreep formerly known as]] the ''Inheritance Trilogy'' is a series of HighFantasy novels written by {{Christopher Paolini}}. The first book was originally self-published by Paolini and his parents, but has since migrated to Alfred A Knopf on the recommendation of Carl Hiaasen. It so far features the following books:

* AuthorAvatar: According to some, Eragon is ChristopherPaolini and Angela is, well, his sister Angela. Paolini himself admits that Angela is based on his sister, and that Eragon "started out" as an autobiographical character but eventually developed into his own character.

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: Each book has received a "Deluxe Edition" reprinting which usually includes some goodies like drawings from cover artist John Jude Palancar and/or ChristopherPaolini himself. Deluxe Editions are usually released a year after the original publication and can be distinguished by a ring of gold around the cover. ''Eragon'' and ''Eldest'' were reprinted together in an Omnibus edition which was so big it could be used as a bludgeon.

* TonightSomeoneDies: Prior to the release of ''Brisingr'', ChristopherPaolini announced that a major character would die at the end of the book. That character was [[spoiler: Oromis, the OldMaster. Glaedr survives in his Eldunari but is physically dead.]]

* PurpleProse: Surroundings and settings tend to be somewhat excessively described. Noticeably less in Brisingr, and to a lesser degree, in Eldest.

The first book was adapted into a film in 2006, but [[StillbornFranchise there are currently no plans for any movie sequels]].

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Ra'zac.

* AWizardDidIt: The [[spoiler:ancient language]].
* AlienBlood: Bluish-green on the Lethrblaka, [[BlackBlood black]] on the Urgals.
* AlternateDVDCommentary: The film version of ''Eragon'' was enough to inspire a {{Rifftrax}} [[http://www.rifftrax.com/rifftrax/eragon]].
* {{Ambadassador}}: Arya

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The Urgals' entire society is based on this trope.

* AuthorAvatar: According to some, Eragon is ChristopherPaolini and Angela is, well, his sister Angela. Paolini himself admits that Angela is based on his sister, and that Eragon "started out" as an autobiographical character but eventually developed into his own character.

* BaldOfEvil: The Twins, and Galbatorix in the film adaptation.

* CantArgueWithElves: Since Paolini's Elves are pretty and magical, they know everything and are very happy to tell you that.

* [=~Dude, She's Like, In A Coma!~=]: Done in the first first book as Eragon observes Arya's overall hotness...after she'd been tortured...and poisoned...and is still very much in danger. Overlaps nicely with BeautyIsNeverTarnished. A month in torture, poisoning and living in a dank cell in the basement, without a wash... still hot.

* ElvesVsDwarves: Although they aren't exactly best friends, they do get on better than most ElvesVsDwarves do, although arguably only due to a common enemy. Also, a huge desert in between them probably helps.

* GenerationXerox: Murtagh is doomed to follow in the footsteps of Morzan, his father.

* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: Each novel in the series introduces a new, differently-colored dragon as a character. This dragon gets his/her picture on the cover of the book, and the book is the same color as his/her hide.

* [=~I'm Having Soul Pains~=]: Eragon thoughout most of ''Eldest''.

* MindProbe: The main psychic power. Unfortunately, this particularly ability can be used for . . .
* MindRape: Often used by the BigBad. Also done by the Twins on Eragon--they just didn't care about the pain they caused as long as they got what they wanted to know.

* OffstageVillainy: One of the most common complaints about the The Inheritance Cycle is that the reader is never actually shown Evil Overlord Galbatorix doing anything particularly evil to the people of Alagaësia other than raising taxes. Brisingr may count, though, given how its stated that he enslaved the souls of the dragons he killed. Just the fact that he successfully overthrew the Dragon Riders seems to be enough justification for the war waged by the Varden, the elves, and the dwarves in the series.

* PlotRelevantAgeUp:
** [[spoiler:Elva]] in ''Eldest'' (AWizardDidIt), and, inexplicably, [[spoiler:Saphira]] in the ''Eragon'' [[FilmOfTheBook movie]]. [[spoiler:Her]]'s age up ([[spoiler:she grew at like, 12 times the normal rate for a while]]) was attributed to [[spoiler: Eragon accidentally cursing her]].

* AProtagonistShallLeadThem: Eragon with LaResistance, [[spoiler:Roran with his village]].

* PursuedProtagonist: How Eragon gets the egg in the movie.

** In the film adaptation, Brom's "I've seen things you can't image" line is a shout-out to ''BladeRunner'', according to the director.

* StillbornFranchise: The film adaptation of ''Eragon'' was a critical failure and a financial disappointment. It also made it '''[[DeusExMachina impossible]]''' to create a film of the second book due to discontinuity created by the first film, not to mention the number of ignored characters that would need to be introduced.

* ThinkNothingOfIt: In ''Brisingr'', Angela the herbalist tells Roran this after he thanks her for healing the injuries on his back from whipping. She then changes her mind and says "Or rather, thank something of it, but do not consider it overly important. Besides, it amuses me to have tended injuries on both your back and Eragon's."
* ThirdPersonPerson: Angela in the film adaptation.

* TrilogyCreep: What was once a "Trilogy" is now a "Cycle."

* VertigoEffect: Used in a shot in the film (right before Brom examines Saphira and Saphira agrees "he does know a bit about dragons".) The director refers to it as "an homage to the shot in ''{{Jaws}}''".

--> '''Saphira:''' "Nothing out of the ordinary ever occurs to me when I'm by myself. But you attract duels, ambushes, immortal enemies, obscure creatures such as the Ra'zac, long-lost family members, and mysterious acts of magic as though they were starving weasels and you were a rabbit that wandered into their den."

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* PlotRelevantAgeUp: [[spoiler:Elva]] in ''Eldest'' (AWizardDidIt), and, inexplicably, [[spoiler:Saphira]] in the ''Eragon'' [[FilmOfTheBook movie]].
** [[spoiler:Elva]]'s age up ([[spoiler:she grew at like, 12 times the normal rate for a while]]) was attributed to [[spoiler: Eragon accidentally cursing her]].

* ''Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia'' (2009) (canon, but not part of the Cycle)

The novels tell the tale of Eragon, a farmboy who discovers a dragon egg in the mountains and is amazed when it hatches for him. He raises the dragon, Saphira, and becomes bonded with her as a Dragon Rider. Unfortunately, the evil Galbatorix, the ruler of The Empire who betrayed and destroyed the Dragon Riders long ago, finds out, and sends his impenetrably cowled Ra'Zac servants to capture Eragon and Saphira. They escape, but the Ra'Zac burn down Eragon's home and kill his uncle. Our heroes set out for revenge, joined by the village's old storyteller, Brom, who, as it turns out, is a former Dragon Rider himself. On their quest, Eragon and Saphira meet up with a Badass AntiHero with a Mysterious Past, rescue an elf princess, join the Varden (La Résistance), learn the truth about Eragon's past and his missing father, and face down foes far more powerful than themselves—eventually culminating in a final battle against Galbatorix himself.

* AttackAttackAttack: Battle strategy of the urgals.

* AlienBlood: Bluish-green on the Lethrblaka, [[BlackBlood black]] on the urgals.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The urgals' entire society is based on this trope.

* BlackBlood: Applied rather literally to the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent urgals]].

* BodyHorror: The bewitched soldiers in the third book feel no pain, and thus fight through dismemberment that by all rights should have killed them. Most Varden lose their nerve while fighting these guys, because fighting someone with half his face hanging off his bare skull-who laughs at you, no less- is HighOctaneNightmareFuel.

* GoodAllAlong: [[spoiler:The urgals. Or at least most of them.]]

* OffstageVillainy: One of the most common complaints about the The Inheritance Cycle is that the reader is never actually shown Evil Overlord Galbatorix doing anything particularly evil to the people of Alagaesia other than raising taxes. Brisingr may count, though, given how its stated that he enslaved the souls of the dragons he killed. Just the fact that he successfully overthrew the Dragon Riders seems to be enough justification for the war waged by the Varden, the elves, and the dwarves in the series.

* OurOrcsAreDifferent: They're called urgals.

* ProudWarriorRace: The urgals qualify after ''Eldest''. Elves and Dragons have traits of this, too.

** Some people and places are named after people he knows, for example, Angela (his sister), and Palancar Valley (named after the artist who does the cover art)

* WeHaveReserves: Galbatorix uses the urgals in the first book to weaken the Varden and the dwarves.

* XanatosGambit: Galbatorix's magnificent plan at the end of ''Eragon.'' He recruits his longtime enemies, the urgals, and offers them free land if they attack the Beor Mountains and stamp out the dwarves and the Varden. This was a particularly ingenious move, because if the urgals are victorious, that means that ''two'' of Galbatorix's principal enemies have been taken off the map, and the urgals will be too weakened to challenge Galbatorix or fight back if he wants to get rid of them later, all without a single imperial warrior having to die. If the urgals lose, then Galbatorix has effectively gotten rid of a race he hated anyway ([[spoiler:they killed his original dragon in his backstory]]) before they have a chance to cause trouble for him. [[spoiler: The Varden and dwarves manage to stave off the urgals, leaving both sides significantly weakened but alive. Durza, who was controlling the Urgals, gets killed, causing the much smaller forces of urgals still alive turn against Galbatorix shortly afterwards.]]

* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Elva, being the emotional manipulator that she is, ''purposefully uses this tactic against Eragon'', telling him that Galbatorix would approve of his actions. This leaves him badly shaken and questioning his morals. Why he didn't come to this revelation right after what he did to Sloan is anyone's guess...

** In ''Inheritance'' There's another ''Doctor Who'' reference. Angela, the herbalist, is knitting a blue hat with runes around the edge. When asked what the runes say, she responds: "Raxacori--Oh, never mind. It wouldn't mean anything to you anyway." There is a [[spoiler:planet]] in ''Doctor Who'' called Raxacoricofallapatorius (it's where the [[spoiler:Slitheen]] come from.)

* ShoutOut: Reference to ''Series/DoctorWho'' in Brisingr. Arya doodles something about a lonely god in the sand.
--> '''Eragon:''' "What does it mean?"
--> '''Arya:''' "I don't know."
:: Paolini mentions this in the afterword. He says he did it because he's "A fan of the doctor."
--> '''CP''': "And to those who got the line about the lonely god, all I have to say is that The Doctor can be anywhere at any time, even alternate dimensions. Hey! [[OneOfUs I'm a fan too!]]

The ''Inheritance Cycle'', [[TrilogyCreep formerly known as]] the ''InheritanceTrilogy'' is a series of HighFantasy novels written by {{Christopher Paolini}}. The first book was originally self-published by Paolini and his parents, but has since migrated to Alfred A Knopf on the recommendation of Carl Hiaasen. It so far features the following books:

The first book was adapted into a film in 2006, but [[StillbornFranchise there are currently no plans for any movie sequels]].

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Ra'zac.

* {{Ambadassador}}: Arya

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The urgals' entire society is based on this trope.

* AuthorAvatar: According to some, Eragon is ChristopherPaolini and Angela is, well, his sister Angela. Paolini himself admits that Angela is based on his sister, and that Eragon "started out" as an autobiographical character but eventually developed into his own character.

* CantArgueWithElves: Since Paolini's Elves are pretty and magical, they know everything and are very happy to tell you that.

* OffstageVillainy: One of the most common complaints about the The Inheritance Cycle is that the reader is never actually shown Evil Overlord Galbatorix doing anything particularly evil to the people of Alagaesia other than raising taxes. Brisingr may count, though, given how its stated that he enslaved the souls of the dragons he killed. Just the fact that he successfully overthrew the Dragon Riders seems to be enough justification for the war waged by the Varden, the elves, and the dwarves in the series.

* ThinkNothingOfIt: In ''Brisingr'', Angela the herbalist tells Roran this after he thanks her for healing the injuries on his back from whipping. She then changes her mind and says "Or rather, thank something of it, but do not consider it overly important. Besides, it amuses me to have tended injuries on both your back and Eragon's."

* TrilogyCreep: What was once a "Trilogy" is now a "Cycle."

--> '''Saphira:''' "Nothing out of the ordinary ever occurs to me when I'm by myself. But you attract duels, ambushes, immortal enemies, obscure creatures such as the Ra'zac, long-lost family members, and mysterious acts of magic as though they were starving weasels and you were a rabbit that wandered into their den."

----

The ''Inheritance Cycle'', [[TrilogyCreep formerly known as]] the ''Inheritance Trilogy'' is a series of HighFantasy novels written by {{Christopher Paolini}}. The first book was originally self-published by Paolini and his parents, but has since migrated to Alfred A Knopf on the recommendation of Carl Hiaasen. It so far features the following books: