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A Wizard of Earthsea

Book 1 in the series:Earthsea Cycle

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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.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Ged, undergo significant development throughout the story, highlighting growth from arrogance to wisdom, but some criticism exists regarding the representation of female characters.

Writing/Prose:

Le Guin's writing style is characterized by lyrical and poetic prose, which creates an immersive experience while remaining straightforward and accessible.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Ged, a boy with magical abilities who, after a reckless spell, unleashes a shadow that he must confront, leading to his journey of self-discovery and maturation.

Setting:

The setting of Earthsea is a richly imagined archipelago where geography, nature, and magic play critical roles in the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing of the novel is quick, but includes moments where significant developments are brief, leading to a storytelling style that may leave readers wanting more detail.
The Island of Gont, a single mountain that lifts its peak a mile above the storm-racked Northeast Sea, is a land famous for wizards. From the towns in its high valleys and the ports on its dark narrow...

Notes:

A Wizard of Earthsea was first published in 1968, making it a seminal work in fantasy literature.
Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series features a protagonist named Ged, who starts as a young boy with magical abilities.
The magic system in Earthsea revolves around the concept of true names, which grants power over things when known.
The story explores themes of power, pride, and the importance of accepting one's darker side.
Ged accidentally unleashes a dark shadow while trying to prove his abilities, which he must then confront and defeat.
Le Guin's prose is noted for its lyrical quality, making the story both poetic and profound.
The book is often compared to both Tolkien's Middle-earth and Lewis's Narnia, but it offers a different tone and moral complexity.
The Earthsea series features diverse characters and cultures, often not represented as traditionally seen in western fantasy.
The novel is regarded as foundational to many modern fantasy tropes, including the concept of a wizarding school.
Le Guin herself stated she wrote Earthsea partly in response to the lack of diversity in fantasy literature of her time.

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 (362)

Incredible (72)
Loved It (109)
Liked It (98)
It Was OK (57)
Did Not Like (22)
Hated It (4)

Reader Stats (790):

Read It (374)
Currently Reading (6)
Want To Read (284)
Did Not Finish (18)
Not Interested (108)

12 comment(s)

Liked It
2 weeks

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.

 
Loved It
4 weeks

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.

 
Did Not Like
3 months

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.

 
Incredible
4 months

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...

 
Loved It
5 months

More spare (sparer?) than Tolkien, less proselytizing than Lewis, a fantasy epic for those who want the bare bones.

 
It Was OK
6 months

3 stars

Not impressed

RTC

Happy Reading!!

 
Hated It
6 months

Just wasn't too my taste— not particularly character driven, and it was very slow paced.

 
Incredible
6 months

El lenguaje es tolkieano en el mejor de los sentidos.

La historia tiene todo lo necesario para ser un clásico imperecedero.

 
Incredible
8 months

A Wizard of Earthsea is one of the few novels that I believe deserve a five-star rating. It's honestly a quintessential fantasy read.

The worldbuilding—Earthsea and the magic system—is so beautiful. The first night after I started rereading this book, my thoughts were filled with blue skies and lush fields as I fell asleep.

The plot is great, as well. There is so much to contemplate in this novel. And it's riveting. Everytime something happened I was thinking, "I don't think this book can be any more interesting/exciting than

this," and then it

was. Even though I've read this book before, it still felt new and exciting.

Anyway,

A Wizard of Earthsea is everything you should expect from a fantasy novel. I love all of it.

 
Incredible
10 months

more than good vs. evil

 
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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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