Who Would Like This Book:
A Wizard of Earthsea is a beautifully written classic that set the stage for generations of fantasy stories. Ursula K. Le Guin creates a vivid, mythic world full of islands, dragons, and a unique magic system based on true names and balance. The novel is both an adventure and a thoughtful coming-of-age tale, appealing to anyone who enjoys introspective heroes, poetic prose, rich worldbuilding, and stories about facing your inner demons. If you like classic fantasy with depth - think more thought-provoking than sword-swinging - this is for you. Also, fantasy fans who want a break from traditional medieval-European settings will love Earthsea's maritime cultures and diversity.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers find the pacing slow, the writing style a little distant or old-fashioned, and the narrative more "tell" than "show." The book's subtle, lyrical approach means it skips the action-packed flair and deep character backstory found in many modern fantasy novels. Additionally, some readers (especially adults or modern readers looking for robust female characters) are disappointed by the lack of significant roles for women in this volume and feel the world is strongly patriarchal. If you crave fast-paced plots, snappy dialogue, or lots of character development for the supporting cast, it might not be your cup of tea.
About:
Many readers praise 'A Wizard of Earthsea' for its captivating story of Ged's journey from a reckless youth to a powerful sorcerer, facing his own darkness and embarking on a quest to restore balance in Earthsea. The book is described as a bildungsroman encased in a fantasy world, focusing on Ged's coming of age, his growth as a character, and the themes of power, pride, and redemption. Ursula K. Le Guin's writing style is commended for its richness, world-building, and ability to bring characters and places to life with poetic rhythm and philosophical wisdom.
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From The Publisher:
Originally published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea marks the first of the six now beloved Earthsea titles. Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Ratings (565)
Incredible (109) | |
Loved It (172) | |
Liked It (152) | |
It Was OK (94) | |
Did Not Like (33) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (1249):
Read It (585) | |
Currently Reading (11) | |
Want To Read (423) | |
Did Not Finish (31) | |
Not Interested (199) |
15 comment(s)
Proof for me that sometimes it’s not the correct season in life for a book as I started this for the third time and it became on of my favorites ever. Can’t say much that hasn’t already been said - an incredible flawed protagonist, mythic prose, magic school, dragons, non-European fantasy in both aesthetics and ideas (despite being written by a white Brit). Just gorgeous all around and a deserving of its status as a fantasy classic.
A Wizard of Earthsea is a fantasy, but it subverts many of the common tropes. Sure, we have wizards and a magic system, but gone are epic battle sequences, prophecies of chosen ones, and your typical western-Europe setting. We have instead an introspective, contemplative story about wrestling with inner demons brought into the light (literally). Ged is a powerful character, but his magic is in the subtle and strange. His hero’s journey heads towards a rebirth of self in the richly-defined and beautifully-described world of the Archipelago.
The story is peppered with various supporting characters, some of whom are fleshed out in great details, others who are passing mentions—and this breadth of treatment and cast creates a larger sense of world and place, especially as some of these mentions are revisited. Islands mentioned in passing during the first part of the book become focuses of action in the latter; people who seem vastly important ebb and fade into obscurity as Ged’s journey continues.
It’s a book about travel, experience, and life as much as sword and sorcery, though there is plenty of action to satisfy that particular desire. For a book less than three hundred pages in length, many themes and emotions are thoughtfully explored.
Inspirational. I feel that the way Ursula Le Guin writes is really heartfelt and compassionate, with positive morals to be found throughout.
Didn't realize initially how "young" this book was written. Both the magical system and the archipelago are written creatively, and it does the genre of fantasy considerable justice, especially because magic remains fairly mysterious to the reader.
The story itself is fairly simple though narratively strong, certain dramatic tension however is undercut by the authors early allusions to the main character's future. This is sort of like the difference in murder mystery between whodunnit and howcatchem. The ending is well done but could stand to be more subtle.
Overall I rather liked this story, however I feel that it could have done with more dialogue. Certain characters certainly needed to have minimal dialogue because they should appear wise and mysterious, but others could have done with much more.
When I first read this book decades ago, I loved it, so I went in expecting to love it... and didn't. About 1/3 of the way in, the part I didn't like got better. While there is amazing imagery and really deep worldbuilding, I found the way that some of the plots threads were tied up to be disappointing. The ending seemed a bit rushed/didn't have the impact that I was hoping for. So, still good, but not as great as I remember.
Another book I read years ago and remember little about except the general vibes. Tried the audiobook this time because I was busy and needed something to listen to, but I think I prefer reading these, given the sheer number of place names and random people, which are harder to keep track of when simply listening.
I know Ursula K. le Guin is a well beloved author but out of three books I've read by her, none of them has been above 3 stars. Not sure if she just isn't an author for me or I've been picking up the wrong books.
I remember reading this book years and years ago and disliking it for whatever reason, even though Evan loved it and read the whole series. I wanted to give it another chance now because I was pretty sure I didn't give it a fair shake at the time, and I've been in the mood for period fantasy lately. Luckily, this was an excellent read, and I look forward to the next book in the series. Now I just need to re-read The Great Gatsby to undo the work of junior English class...
More spare (sparer?) than Tolkien, less proselytizing than Lewis, a fantasy epic for those who want the bare bones.
3 stars
Not impressed
RTC
Happy Reading!!
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A Wizard of Earthsea?
About the Author:
URSULA K. LE GUIN was born in Berkeley, California, in 1929, and passed away in Portland, Oregon, in 2018. She published over sixty books of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, children's literature, and translation. She was the recipient of a National Book Award, six Hugo and five Nebula awards, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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