Paolini's Inheritance volume 3 scheduled; volume 4 planned

Knopf Children's announced today that it will publish the as-yet-untitled third book in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance series on 23 September 2008. Though the author originally envisioned it as a trilogy, he has decided to expand the story into a fourth book. Paolini said in the announcement: "I plotted out the Inheritance series as a trilogy nine years ago, when I was fifteen. At that time, I never imagined I'd write all three books, much less that they would be published. When I finally delved into Book Three, it soon became obvious that the remainder of the story was far too big to fit in one volume. Having spent so long thinking about the series as a trilogy, it was difficult for me to realize that, in order to be true to my characters and to address all of the plot points and unanswered questions Eragon and Eldest raised, I needed to split the end of the series into two books."

Knopf executive editor Michelle Frey, who worked on the first two books, continues with volume 3. It will be published simultaneoulsy by Random House Children's Books UK and on audio by Listening Library. The first book, Eragon, and its sequel, Eldest have already sold more than 12 million copies in 50 languages around the world.