A Wizard of Earthsea

Ursula K. Le Guin

Sep 2012 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

The first novel of Ursula K. Le Guin's must-read Earthsea Cycle. "The magic of Earthsea is primal; the lessons of Earthsea remain as potent, as wise, and as necessary as anyone could dream." (Neil Gaiman)

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.

With stories as perennial and universally beloved as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of The Rings—but also unlike anything but themselves—Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novels are some of the most acclaimed and awarded works in literature. They have received accolades such as the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor, the Nebula Award, and many more honors, commemorating their enduring place in the hearts and minds of readers and the literary world alike.

Join the millions of fantasy readers who have explored these lands. As The Guardian put it: "Ursula Le Guin's world of Earthsea is a tangled skein of tiny islands cast on a vast sea. The islands' names pull at my heart like no others: Roke, Perilane, Osskil . . ."

The Earthsea Cycle includes:

• A Wizard of Earthsea
• The Tombs of Atuan
• The Farthest Shore
• Tehanu
• Tales from Earthsea
• The Other Wind

Ratings and reviews

This an amazing book series. Ursula K. Le Guin is known as the American Tolkien, before there was George R.R. Martin and his Song of Fire and Ice novels. Ursula K. Le Guin, known as the mother of high fantasy. Say what the writer said about negatively criticizing the Earthsea mini series from SyFy. I want this mini series to get reboot. A reboot, as in a revival. And not a remake. Not starting from scratch again.

This book is long lasting, leaving out all of the garbage that comes with much fantasy. The magic is real and convincing, subtle and believable. One of the most difficult books to portray visually as well; most of the story is communicated by feeling and natural description. There isn't much for sword waving, great battles, or epic scenes. Highly recommend.

I'm not a fan of fantasy books. Ones that were recommended to me, usually go into great detail of the character's thoughts, actions, settings, magic, the life cycle of a pimple, etc. The narrorator is usually the protagonist, and it's good vs evil. Not this book. This book opens you to the world through exposition. Narrated as if it was being told as a legend, and doesn't smother you with pages upon pages of detail(looking at you, Hemmingway). I guess what i like about this book is it leaves you wondering what can happen rather than stating/listing what you could do

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.