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Library/Book/Eragon
Grade B22 sourcesHIS-01293

Eragon

Book · 2002 · Viral

60Editable slideCertificate

Eragon reached 864,253 reported hardback sales in Knopf’s first publication year.

Knopf hardcover of Eragon with John Jude Palencar's blue dragon cover
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Cover of Eragon: The Illustrated Edition
Knopf / Sidharth Chaturvedi
Dragon-eye illustration from the self-published Eragon cover
Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini in costume at a bookstore event on his self-publishing tour
Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon
Christopher Paolini
#EragonRemake fan campaign graphic
Christopher Paolini

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagionNo data yetBreadth60VelocityNo data yetLongevityNo data yet60

Numbers

Milestone date
By end of 2003
Feb 2002 to By end of 2003
Platforms
6
Started on Retail
Origin
Seeded
Media & publishing

Mechanics

  • UnderdogPrimary
  • Maker origin
  • Platform jump
  • Fandom mobilisation
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

A family tour sold the self-published Eragon through schools and bookshops. Carl Hiaasen referred it to Knopf, whose edition reached bestseller lists. National profiles and later fan campaigns carried it into new audiences and adaptations.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Mar ’01Aug ’02Jul ’03Apr ’04Dec ’05Dec ’07May ’12Aug ’16Jul ’20Sep ’22Aug ’24Sep ’26RetailOpen webPressTVBox officeX
RetailOpen webPressTVBox officeX

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. February 2002

    Paolini International / Christopher Paolini seed · Feb 2002

    The Paolini family self-published Eragon and began selling it through school visits and other appearances.[1][2][3]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. October 2002

    Michelle Frey / Knopf owner response · Oct 24 ’02

    Knopf editor Michelle Frey emailed interest in Eragon while the Paolinis were at Northwest Bookfest.[4][5]

    Christopher Paolini in costume at a bookstore event on his self-publishing tour

  3. By end of 2002

    Knopf commercial · By end of 2002

    Knopf signed Paolini after Carl Hiaasen recommended the self-published book to his publisher.[6][7]

  1. press · Feb 10 ’03

  2. commercial · Aug 26 ’03

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Why it worked

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Origin
Seeded
Sector
Media & publishing
Region
US
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

Book · Retail · 199738

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

J.K. Rowling; Bloomsbury (UK publisher); Scholastic (US publisher)

A 500-copy hardback printing grew through readers, schools and US promotion.

3.4M sold

1 / 8

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.