A Wizard of Earthsea

Arturo Pérez-Reverte always remarks that all authors have a backpack full of experiences and readings that shape their own work.

Well, Ursula K Le Guin is present in each and every one of the backpacks of Fantasy writers of the last half-century.

"A Wizard of Earthsea" was written in 1968 and, if we first focus on what it simply tells us, we see that it is a short story, just 160 pages long, where it sketches the life of the wizard Ged from when he discovers he has powers as a child, his passage through a School of Magic, and his adventures across Earthsea fighting against Evil. As a story, it has a very good beginning but then it gets quite tangled up in Ged's travels through the islands and the second half becomes a bit of a struggle.

However, if we now look at what the story means, we see numerous commonplaces of Fantasy in the last few decades: the fight against Evil, the importance of names in magic, mentors who help the protagonist with his powers and even a School of Magic.

I believe that Rothfuss, Rowling and dozens of other authors owe a great deal to Le Guin (mind you, Le Guin's backpack would already be full as well with other authors such as Tolkien or Lewis for example) and any lover of Fantasy should read this story of the fight of Good against Evil.

How come Harry Potter is the publishing sensation of the century? It seems rather astonishing when you consider that it was initially just a moderately popular cult novel. Life indeed appears unfair at times. We often wonder why some works achieve such remarkable success while others remain relatively unknown. However, I suppose that in a few hundred years, it will all have sorted itself out. Time has a way of revealing the true worth and significance of things.

The ending of the Harry Potter series is truly one of the best I know in any book. It ties up all the loose ends, provides a sense of closure, and yet leaves room for the imagination. It is a masterful conclusion that has left a lasting impression on readers around the world. The story of Harry Potter has become a cultural phenomenon, and its impact will be felt for generations to come.

Here's an odd bit of trivia. This month, I had just finished reading Beagle's Last Unicorn, and it is still very vivid in my mind. I concurred with everyone that it was a true classic, filled with so many elements to cherish within its pages.

However, right after delving into A Wizard of Earthsea, I must admit that I think it is better. Not just marginally better, but significantly more enjoyable, captivating, and thrilling!

It's not by a huge margin, mind you, but enough that I can easily assert that this Le Guin's classic is superior. :) I hope this comes across as high praise, because that's precisely the intention.

I am enamored with everything about it. It's all about magic and equilibrium. The magic is truly impressive, and the world of islands is simply gorgeous. But most importantly, it's Sparrowhawk that I adore. This young lad has endured a great deal in his short life, and almost all of the turmoil and shadow is of his own doing. Poor decisions that ultimately lead to wisdom, and all the while, the magic ebbs and flows.

Do you desire a dragon fight? Raising the dead? Awesome shadows beneath the waters? Great discoveries? It's all here.

Maybe people simply have a greater penchant for unicorns. I don't know. It's not the case for me. I yearn for magic that is both clear and profound simultaneously, with a fundamental message that isn't trite and that is seamlessly interwoven within the tale of discovery, resulting in something that is always both evident and profound.

This particular tale accomplishes that. Perfectly. I love it.

“The hunger of a dragon is slow to wake, but hard to sate.”

The Folio Society edition is superbly illustrated by David Lupton. The story begins with a boy named Duny, born on the island of Gont in the magical archipelago of Earthsea. Only those with a wizard soul and the knowledge of the right words can control the magic that infuses this world. Duny's aunt knows a few spells, and he shows great aptitude, especially in calling birds of prey. His thirst for knowledge leads him to be assigned to a mage, Ogion, who tries to teach him about the balance of magic with the Earth. There is always a cost to using magic, and understanding this levy is crucial.

“You must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium. A wizard’s power of Changing and of Summoning can shake the balance of the world. It is dangerous, that power. It is most perilous. It must follow knowledge, and serve need. To light a candle is to cast a shadow….”

Duny, who is also known as Sparrowhawk, becomes impatient with Ogion's restrained magic and is sent to the magic school on the Island of Roke. There, he is recognized as one of the most gifted students. However, his power and arrogance lead him to make a fatal mistake. In a moment of hubris, he summons a dead woman and opens a rift that nearly kills him and does kill an old mage. Something comes through the rift, and Sparrowhawk is burned in mind, body, and spirit. He is now pursued by a shadow from another world, much like Frankenstein's pursuit of his monster.

The interesting thing about this novel is that Ursula K. Le Guin's publisher asked her to write a book for older kids in the late 1960s, when the term Young Adult didn't even exist. She wanted to show where great wizards come from and make Ged (Sparrowhawk) more human and fallible. I liked the emphasis on the power of words and the importance of knowing the names of things. I had some trepidations about reading this book, as I'm not a Young Adult, but I was reassured by the fact that I've enjoyed Le Guin's writing before. I'm still pondering the trend of adults reading only Young Adult literature. Is it an extended childhood? Why do people always want to read about children or teenagers? I think there should be some evolution in what we choose to read as we grow older. Despite my concerns, I'm happy that people are reading, and this book has a lot to offer, including dragon battles, alluring women, friendships, painful realizations, and the growth and acceptance of our own limitations. Most importantly, it has a wizard as wise and powerful as Gandolf or Merlin, who emerges from the ashes of his own childish conceit. His name is Ged, but you must only whisper it, or better yet, refer to him as Sparrowhawk, and keep in the locked box at the center of your heart who he really is. “He hunted, he followed, and fear ran before him.”

The reading experience was extremely underwhelming. It was far drier than what I would have liked.

I had high expectations going into it, but unfortunately, it failed to meet them. The text seemed to lack the necessary engagement and excitement to keep me hooked.

It felt as if the author was simply presenting facts and information without adding any personal touch or creativity.

I found myself having to force myself to continue reading at times, which is never a good sign.

However, I will be providing a full review soon, where I will go into more detail about my thoughts and feelings on the book.

Stay tuned for that!

Le Guin is, I fear, the mother to a great many of you bitches.

Her influence can be seen far and wide in the world of literature. From Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice to Brandon Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea, Le Guin was and remains the blueprint.

Her works have inspired countless authors to explore new worlds, develop complex characters, and push the boundaries of what is possible in storytelling.

Her unique style and vision have left an indelible mark on the genre, and her ideas continue to shape the way we think about fantasy and science fiction.

Whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual reader, it is impossible to deny the impact that Le Guin has had on the literary landscape.

She is a true pioneer and a master of her craft, and her legacy will continue to inspire generations of writers to come.

I'm reading these books one at a time. However, I also have that big, thick book filled with all the illustrations. I will include it at some point in my reading journey.

I really enjoyed the book I'm currently reading. Right from the beginning, it managed to pull me in and capture my attention. But as I got a little further into it, it seemed to let up a bit and lose some of its grip. Nevertheless, I'm going to continue reading them because I truly do like the overall concept and story.

Happy Reading!

Mel

I truly wish I had come across this book during my childhood. It belongs to that rare category of books that manage to pack an epic tale within a mere 200 pages. Instead of painstakingly spelling out every single detail, it sketches the world, the minutiae, and the action, allowing the reader's imagination to run wild. As a child, getting lost in a book like this was an absolute delight, and it seemed all the more wonderful for it. The closest parallel I can draw is "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" - I was astounded when I re-read it and discovered that the so-called "epic battle" at the end was only about two pages long.

I can clearly see that this is precisely what UKLG aimed for with the first book of Earthsea. And I must admit, I did find enjoyment in it. However, it essentially condenses the entire span of seven Harry Potter novels into a single volume. As a result, it's all about the plot, the melancholy hero, and the passage of time, without really delving into the development of anyone's personality or adding depth and color to the world beyond its geography and a few memorable details, such as the children who have spent their entire lives alone on an isolated reef and have never laid eyes on another human being.

On the recommendation of another discerning reader, I downloaded this book from iTunes for $5 (I've had a gift certificate credit there since 2007... I don't typically buy music). Harlan Ellison's reading style is that of an overenthusiastic grandpa, complete with funny voices and all. Whether this enhanced or detracted from my enjoyment of the book, I'm truly unable to say.