Though written for the young reader
, I think Le Guin‘s Earthsea stories work well as adult novels and reveal some of the major flaws in the high fantasy
books to which it is sometimes compared.
This is the coming of age story of Ged, who will become the Archmage of Earthsea someday. Earthsea is an island and sea world. Thousands of islands make up the land. Though travel by boat between islands is quick, few make the journey in the wooden galleys. Ged is born Sparrowhawk on Gont, famous for it’s wizards. But he is born a goatherd. He learns a charm or two from the village witch, including some minor weather-working. When men from Kargad attack Gont, Sparrowhawk saves the village by enveloping it with fog, whereupon the villagers pick off the invaders. This brings him the attention of the island’s wizard, Ogion, to which he soon becomes an apprentice.
The fun begins because of Ged’s impatience and pride. Goaded into several boastful acts, he releases a shadow creature from the land of the dead. Fearful of what would happen to Earthsea should this shadow possess him, Ged begins a quest to right the wrong. At first the shadow hunts him and he runs and hides. Eventually though, Ogion counsels him to become the hunter. On doing so, the shadow turns and runs. It feeds on his fear. Ged chases it to the ends of Earthsea to confront it. He defeats it with its true name (how all magic on Earthsea really works, a true name gives one power of something). The shadow’s true name is Ged, his own. It is part of him and he becomes whole.
The language and descriptions aren’t overly flowery. The story features people who aren’t kings and princes. I also like that, while it’s swords and sorcery fantasy, it doesn’t resemble too heavily King Arthur-style stories. The morals, while clear, aren’t laid on too thick. One other thing as well: the main characters are black, red, and other colors. The only white people in the novels are the Kargish invaders. I kind of like the fact that the only non-civilized people in the book are white. They aren’t exactly uncivilized, but the small piece they have in this book shows them to be ruthless and somewhat bloodthirsty.
And at less than 200 pages, what does anyone have to lose?
Title: A wizard of Earthsea
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
Cover artist, illustrator: Ruth Robbins
Series: Earthsea ; 1
Imprint / publisher: Bantam Books
Format: Mass market paperback
Length: 183 p.
Publication date:
ISBN-10: 0-553-23461-7
Subject: Magic — Fiction
Subject: Fantasy
Subject: Wizards — Fiction
LC classification: PZ7.L5215 Wi
