Christopher Paolini was born in Southern California and has lived most of his life in Paradise Valley, Montana with his family. He published his first novel, <i>Eragon</i>, in 2003 at the age of 19, and quickly became a publishing phenomenon. His Inheritance Cycle<i> </i>–<i> Eragon</i> and its three sequels – have sold nearly 40 million copies worldwide. This is his first adult novel.