'Tales from Earthsea' is a collection of short stories set in the enchanting world of Earthsea, expanding on the mythology and history of the archipelago. The stories range from before the organization of magic on Earthsea to events that take place after Ged is no longer the archmage, providing glimpses into different eras and islands. The book also includes an essay detailing the customs, geography, and history of Earthsea, adding depth to the well-developed world created by Ursula K. Le Guin. The writing style is described as simple yet complex, with ideas that linger in the reader's mind long after finishing the stories.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and discussions around oppression and trauma.
Has Romance?
There are romantic elements present, with varying degrees of focus across the stories, highlighted in Darkrose and Diamond.
From The Publisher:
The tales of this book explore and extend the world established by the Earthsea novels-yet each stands on its own. It contains the novella "The Finder," and the short stories "The Bones of the Earth," "Darkrose and Diamond," "On the High Marsh," and "Dragonfly." Concluding with with an account of Earthsea's history, people, languages, literature, and magic, this collection also features two new maps of Earthsea.
Ratings (18)
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Reader Stats (32):
Read It (18) | |
Want To Read (14) |
1 comment(s)
Look, I'm just gonna say it: Ursula K. Le Guin does old-school feminist fantasy better than Marion Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey (RIP). She's just the master.
Tales from Earthsea has beautiful, elegant prose that challenges much of the fantasy genre, feminist or not, to rise to the challenge. I loved all the stories in this volume, but especially the last, which provides a bridge between the last full novel and the next one. The Masters of Roke must decide on a new Archmage, and dragons are reentering the realms of humans. How will they find the equilibrium again to bring peace? Well I don't know, can you think of another institution withering away because celibate men refuse to cede power to women?
What can you read after
Tales from 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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