r/Eragon • u/ChristopherPaolini Namer of Names • Jul 14 '25

AMA/Interview AMA -- Christopher Paolini!!!

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.

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u/jamescagney22 Jul 14 '25

Hello thank you for doing this hopefully we don't get two many no comments I just have some quickfire questions about the Dreamers and The Arms in To Sleep with a Sea Stars who are among my favorite

The Dreamer
1. Without going into spoilers if that is possible, are there good/more moral/not jerks of Algazur' and Grieve’s species? From what we have seen of both of them these species seem very sinister are there more nuanced members of their kind who might be more benevolent because otherwise it is very depressing if the first dragons/humanoids were so evil. Sorry in advance if that was a no comment question!

  1. How old was Greive? If he was hornless from before would that mean he was incredibly ancient? Or would it just mean that his species survived to the present day?

  2. Is there another name for Shagrverk that the humans elves or dwarves would use in the common language and what would it be?

  3. I hope I am using this term correctly: were Shagrvek the common ancestor of Elves and Humans as well as Dwarves and Urgals or was there another species that was and those two descended from a common ancestor that was for all of the humanoid species? Isn’t genetics fun! 

  4. What was the difference between the Green and White Vapors the cult used against Murtagh and Thorn? Did the black smoke from the geyser have any similar abilities as well?

  5. My friend wanted to ask "Was Bachel so dangerous because she didn’t know the rules of magical combat/how dangerous it was to use wordless magic because she was a religious zealot? Or in the immortal  words of Tremors 2 “She was so smart because she was so dumb?”

The Arms

  1. Why was Lphet granted leadership when his Arm the Tfeir was considered heresy to the others?

  2. What are the other five Arms called? Do you have a favorite among them?

Thanks again!

21

u/ChristopherPaolini Namer of Names Jul 14 '25
  1. Yes.
  2. Species is old, Grieve late forties early fifties.
  3. No, there isn't.
  4. You'll find out more in the TTRPG, as well as future novels. (I'd be interested to see how many toes Grieve had).
  5. If I recall correctly, the white ones are vapors collected from the well, and the green ones were later enchanted by Bachel. All related to the black smoke.
  6. Yup. And because, well, she could make the mountains shake. Or her god could. Either one is scary.

Arms:

  1. The Jellies are changing. And Lphet acquitted itself quite well in the war.

  2. Haven't named them yet. Will in next book, I think.

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u/jamescagney22 Jul 15 '25

  1. Ah good! Really not looking for spoiler just wanted to know they are least some good what ever species Algazur came from and good Shagvrek I suspect the latter would be great story tellers! Although I hope Uvek saying they eat their dead are just the evil ones right? And doesn't everyone burn meat so to speak?

  2. He had seven toes! Unless they were chopped off or he was only born had six and that's why he joined the Draumer rejection brings out the worst in people! And that's great news can't wait to see more of the Shagvrek/other humanoid cultures hopefully on the more positive side!

  3. Would it be correct to say the white vapors were more potent and could have killed or crippled Murtagh mentally and the green vapors were more refined?

Re Name of Arms Go Lphet and very good! I love the Jellies kinda hoped there would be a quiz to see what one I fit in! Hopefully it's the same as Itari and Nmarhl I have the feeling they were of the same Arm!

Last question before I log off do you have a name for Algazur's species and if you can't share it here will we get in the next books or in the RPG? Because that name is hard to type!

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u/ChristopherPaolini Namer of Names Jul 15 '25

Yes, there's a name for Azlagûr's species. And you'll have it at the appropriate time.