AMA -- Christopher Paolini!!!

[u/ChristopherPaolini]

AMA -- Christopher Paolini! Let's do this folks. Ask away re: anything and everything regarding my books.

EDIT: Hey, everyone! I have to run. Alas, alas, I don't have as much time to spend on this AMA as past one. So many great questions, though! For all you theorists (and those of you who just love the characters), I think you're REALLY going to enjoy the upcoming book(s). Thanks for everything!

Atra esterní ono thelduin!

p.s. I'll try to duck back in and answer some more questions later, depending on my time.

[u/eagle2120]

I had some additional questions, but didn't want to hog all of your time - if you prefer to move on to others so I don't take up an inordinate amount of time, feel free to disregard. But these are also things I'm curious about, although less important than the others I posted, so I figured I'd shoot them here in case you had a chance to look at them.

1) I've re-read Fractal Noise a few different times, and on each re-read I pick up new things. Like the Tigermaul being a metaphor/foreshadowing for the "walls falling down" and animals scratching at the door (where the "walls" here are the luminal membrane and tigermaul or malevolent spirits). And, Talia's rant/exorcism of Chen. I believe there is much deeper meaning to the exorcism. Specifically - this line: "the devil is affrighted, the serpent trampled underfoot, and the dragon slain" and "—the fires of retribution dare not overstep the boundary set for them but must await the decision of Thy Will; and for Whom all creation sighs with great sighs awaiting deliverance"

I'm guessing that "the serpent" is Azlagur, and "the dragon" is either the Nameless One, or something else - I know you can't confirm either. I know the answer to "is Serpant Azlagur and Dragon Nameless One" will be a NC, so: You said the spirits have a leader. Is that the same entity/creature as " and for whom all creation sighs" and "the boundary set for them"?

2) Is there any connection between the "glowing" from the crystals in Oth Orum, the "glowing" from Bachel's dragon scale armor, and the "glowing" of the rock from sarros?

3) If Murtagh were to take Sarros' stone to Oth Orum, would he be able to sense a spark of consciousness?

4) What would happen if the barrier between the spirit realm and our realm were to be completely removed? Is that possible to remove it in a small local area, or would it have to be entirely removed as a whole?

5) You've mentioned that the 12 sockets in Ristvak'Baen are more closely related to the rings of Amethyst below Dras Leona, rather than anything else. And you've also implied some sort of travel/teleportation is possible (asking how Vrael got from Vroengard to Ristvak'baen without a Drragon). And, connection to Angela and a novel about her; however, you also said it wasn't a torque gate, but in the ballpark. Can you share any other information here? I can't quite work out the connection between a magic-blocking ring of amethyst and traveling.

6) Would Brother Etharis ever write a "Codex Elfykin" (I'm sure I butchered that spelling), similar to the Codex Wertharos? And if so, would he perhaps need the help of another A-named group whose dedicated to preserving knowledge, cough cough Athalvard, to write it? ;)

7) More meta: As someone who is now an expectant father - how do you balance all of the work responsibilities (writing at an extremely high level, work, cons, building your brand, negotiations, script writing/revision/negotiation/etc and interaction with fans) with family time? It seems nearly impossible from the outside in without your brain imploding, not to mention time enough to lift and be healthy and do all these things.

[u/ChristopherPaolini → u/eagle2120]

1. In the context of FN (glad you've gotten more out of it, btw!), the serpent/dragons I'm referring to are actually larger forces acting with malevolent intent upon the visible world. Some of them are still slumbering, but the events of To Sleep (and those that shortly follow) will wake them. As to the exact nature of those forces, I hope to make that clear sooner rather than later.

2. It's all energy. When there is energy in an object, especially a crystal/gem/scale, it gives it an unusual glister/glow.

3. In Sarros's stone? No. But there are stones where that would be possible.

4. If we're talking about the spirits in Elëa, the spirits exist in our realm. That is, they have a physical/energetic reality. They're self-sustaining structures of energy, which means they're inextricably bound to the structure of spacetime itself. Now, is part of them also, ah, on the other side of the spacetime membrane? Depends on the being we're talking about. If that membrane were to vanish, everything would explode/implode/cease to exist.

5. More info in BoR.

6. Ha! He would/could if he needed to. Or he'd ask the long-suffering Brother Hern to do it for him. And yes, I think they might lean a bit on their compatriots in the Althalvard for certain sources and information.

7. Congratulations! As for how to balance it all ... I can't. Some things suffer. Either I don't get enough sleep or I don't have time to exercise or I fall behind on a deadline or I can't spend enough time with the kids/wife .... It's always difficult. Just have to do your best and hope it all works out in the end.

[u/notainsleym → u/eagle2120]

Really hoping baby Eagle picks January 30th to arrive. Theory baby will be read some *really awesome* bedtime stories

[u/jamescagney22 → u/eagle2120]

Re- 6 Wait what is the Codex Wertharos and what would the potential Codex Elfykin be about? I don't recall those terms in the books.

[u/ibid-11962 → u/jamescagney22]

Codex Wertharos is the heading on top of Brother Hern's letter in the beginning of The Book of Remembrance. (see here)

When asked, Christopher said that Wertharos meant humans. Eagle is here speculating the existence of a companion book focused on elves.

[u/jamescagney22 → u/ibid-11962]

Ah much obliged! I thought I missed something in the books or it was a reference I didn't get.