Overall Rating: 3.5*

It is really quite cool the way Ursula endeavored to demonstrate a certain cohesion among all the stories and the diverse events and histories that came before them. Her effort is highly praiseworthy. However, the outcomes were not entirely satisfactory. To be sure, in terms of providing us with a more comprehensive sense of Earthsea, she did an outstanding job. But when it comes to drawing us in, making us care about the characters, and evoking empathy and such, it didn't quite succeed. Most of these stories seemed disjointed, or I simply couldn't really get into them until the very end. This didn't do justice to its predecessors. I'm hopeful that The Other Wind will.

Anyway, here are my individual ratings for each story:

The Finder: 3.5*

Dark Rose & Diamond: 3.0*

The Bones of The Earth: 2.5*

On The High Marsh: 3*

Dragonfly: 4*

A Description of Earthsea: 3*

The lecture was okay, but it rambled on way too much. The saga is ultimately rather uneven because there has often been an imbalance between the story/theme since Volumes 1 and 2 (by far the best).

For this collection of short stories, I preferred "The Finder" and "In the Great Marsh".

"Rosenoire and Diamond" and "The Bones of the Earth" are mediocre and not of much interest. "Libellule" is a recycling of previous tales plus elements from "Tehanu".

Overall, while there were some亮点 in the collection, it didn't quite live up to the potential set by the earlier volumes of the saga. The author seemed to be recycling ideas in some cases, rather than presenting fresh and engaging stories. However, "The Finder" and "In the Great Marsh" stood out as well-written and interesting tales that managed to draw the reader in and hold their attention. It will be interesting to see where the author takes the series from here.

I really like this collection. That is to say, everything is in its place. Everything is extraordinary. It's a complete world. The main characters in it are not boring. I don't see anything bad in it. But I can't read it :(

Basically, I'm waiting for it to be over. And I really can't bring myself to read it. I was really sad that I have another volume. But I have to see what the end will be like.

*Tears*

This is a collection of short stories set in the Earthsea universe.

It spans a significant period, starting from several centuries before the first volume, A Wizard of Earthsea, and extending to years after the fourth volume, Tehanu.

The unique aspect of science fiction and fantasy (SFF) is that it allows for answers to questions one may not have initially considered.

When Le Guin was writing A Wizard of Earthsea, she likely based the mage academy on Roke island on a 'classical' European university, where both the faculty and pupils were male, a concept not questioned before the 19th century.

However, upon further thought (I assume), the author added the story of how the academy was founded and how women were expelled.

You can add as many layers of complexity as you like, as this is your fictional world.

The book consists of 5 stories and, as an addition, a history of Earthsea. The stories are:

•\\tThe Finder –讲述了罗克岛的建立过程。

•\\tDarkrose and Diamond –探讨了如果一个拥有魔法天赋的人不想要它会怎样。

•\\tThe Bones of the Earth –讲述了奥吉安如何阻止地震的真实故事。

•\\tOn the High Marsh –讲述了人们如何可能被魔法创伤。

•\\tDragonfly –是唯一一篇将故事背景设定在第四卷《特哈努》之后的故事，讲述了人类和龙的故事。

The stories are good, but only those who have read the previous books can truly enjoy them, as they are heavily reliant on what was written before.

Perhaps this is my least favorite among all the books of the era, but maybe it's because the familiar characters until now were missing. It was published in 2001, 33 years after "The Wizard of the Archipelago", and it makes a rather backward journey, clarifying the history of the Earthsea, up to the point where the narrative began, and with a bonus story that serves as the prologue for the final closure of the era. I'm not saying it was bad, but I missed the action of the previous ones.

What I loved was the appendix at the end: an extensive description of the peoples of Earthsea and their characteristics, which put me firmly into the world of Le Guin and made me see the previous books in a different light.

The fifth book is a compilation of five shorts.

What these stories do is fill in story gaps or flesh out minor characters of the first four novels. The theme running through all of them is a journey to discover who you are.

The first one, The Finder, gives the background of how the school started at Roke. It highlights how once magic and spells were outlawed and how this changed.

The last story, Dragonfly, brings an ending to this saga as balance is restored.

With highlights of the main action covered in these stories, they can stand alone without having to read the first four novels. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. The tone and style of these are different; they are gentle stories with less brooding and philosophy.

And the last tale reveals the mystery of the woman of Gont (when I finished reading Tehanu I assumed it was Tenar, but I'm not going to say anything more and let you discover it for yourself).

In the foreword Le Guin mentions a sixth book, The Other Wind. This was a surprise as I thought there were 5 books to this series. But now that I have my own copy of \\n  \\n on kindle, I see it’s included along with other extras. I'm looking forward to reading this and reading the other novels again.

I am excited to explore the new adventures and insights that The Other Wind might bring. It will be interesting to see how this sixth book ties in with the previous ones and further develops the rich and enchanting world of Earthsea.

The additional extras in the complete illustrated edition also add to the anticipation. I can't wait to immerse myself once more in the magical realm created by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Overall, the Earthsea series has been a captivating and thought-provoking read, and I'm eager to continue my journey through this wonderful world.

The first story didn't appeal to me and I thought the whole book would be like that.

However, as I progressed, I started to like it more and more.

Especially the last story, I really liked it a lot.

What an imagination and great work by the author to "weave" that entire universe.

The author's creativity shines through in each story, taking the reader on a journey through different worlds and emotions.

Although the beginning wasn't to my taste, the overall quality of the book improved significantly as I continued reading.

I would recommend this book to others who enjoy imaginative and well-written stories.

It's a great example of how a book can surprise and delight the reader.

With this collection of stories, Le Guin manages to do something that few authors in the history of literature have done: conduct self-criticism of her own universe and shake it up. In her case, the invisibility of women in the universe of Terramar. A more mature Le Guin makes a very intelligent move and returns to her youthful mistakes to make Terramar a world with complexity and realism, and a story of personal empowerment. And this is accompanied by excellent stories, with very human characters and a delicious poetic style, as she has accustomed us to. For now, it is the best book in the saga, pending reading the last one.

Le Guin's ability to self-reflect and evolve is truly remarkable. By addressing the issue of gender invisibility, she not only enriches the fictional world of Terramar but also provides valuable insights into our own society. The stories in this collection are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, challenging readers to question their own assumptions and biases. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in their journeys. The poetic style adds an extra layer of beauty and depth to the narratives, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of Le Guin and for anyone interested in exploring complex themes such as gender, power, and identity. It is a testament to Le Guin's talent as a writer and her willingness to take risks and push the boundaries of her own work. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the final book of the saga.

This book of short stories serves as a crucial link between Tehanu and The Other Wind.

Each story within is crafted with Le Guin's characteristic depth and wisdom. She has this remarkable ability to create worlds and characters that feel so real and alive.

As I delved into each tale, I found that they all, in one way or another, deepened the rich mythos of Earthsea. It's truly a magical experience to explore this fictional realm through her words.

While I didn't love every single story to the same extent, I have to give the collection a full five stars. This is mainly due to two particular stories, 'Darkrose and Diamond' and 'The Bones of the Earth'. These two tales are simply beautiful and had such a profound impact on me that they brought tears to my eyes.

Le Guin's writing is like a gentle breeze that blows through your soul, leaving you with a sense of wonder and a deeper understanding of the human condition.

On the whole, this is a rather interesting collection of stories.

However, I'm still a bit uneasy about the fact that LeGuin felt compelled to go back and modify Earthsea, making it more "politically correct". Nevertheless, if one can overlook that aspect, her writing remains quite excellent.

"The Bones of the Earth" was likely my favorite among the five stories. It was brief yet heart-wrenching.

"The Finder", on the other hand, I felt dragged on a little too long.

"Darkrose and Diamond" had a bitter ending, which was completely unexpected.

All along, I harbored a foolish hope that Irioth from "On the High Marshes" would turn out to be Ged's original rival, Jasper. I wonder what happened to him after he left to become a sorcerer for the Lady of O.

"Dragonfly" was also good, although I'm surprised by LeGuin's change of attitude towards the Immanent Grove. In her new books, she makes it seem as if people - not only students from the Great House, but also strangers and guests - often walk in the Grove with the Patterner. If I recall correctly, in the old books, the way into the grove was known only to those who had won their staffs and was frequented only by the Masters.

Overall, despite my reservations about the changes to Earthsea, there is still much to enjoy in these stories.

**Original Article**: The importance of exercise cannot be overemphasized. It helps to keep our bodies healthy and strong. Regular exercise can also improve our mood and reduce stress.

**Expanded Article**:

The significance of exercise simply cannot be overstated. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and strength of our bodies. When we engage in regular exercise, it has a profound impact on our overall well-being.

Not only does it help to tone our muscles and improve our cardiovascular function, but it also has a positive effect on our mental state. Exercise has the power to boost our mood and reduce stress levels. It provides an outlet for pent-up emotions and allows us to relax and unwind.

In conclusion, we should make exercise an essential part of our daily lives. By doing so, we can enjoy the numerous benefits that it has to offer and lead a healthier, happier life.

I reread this after about a decade, as I often do with UKL's short stories and novellas (and novels - poetry and essays, not so much).

This is Le Guin filling in the details and rounding out the corners of her epic Earthsea saga. If there's a theme in this collection, it's to chronicle the contributions of women to Earthsea. The society described in the first trilogy was a proper little patriarchy, which Le Guin subversively sets out to dismantle in her second trilogy.

In the novella "The Finder", we are introduced to the Women of the Hand and we find out who actually founded the wizard's school on Roke. Later, we find out how women were disenfranchised from magic (power struggle - who'd have thought!).

"Dragonfly" gives us the backstory of Irian, who plays a prominent role in the final Earthsea novel "The Other Wind". She also starts the sexist dominoes tumbling on Roke.

My favorite short story in the collection is "The Bones of the Earth" about Ogion the Silent, who was teacher to both Ged and Tenar, the main protagonists of Earthsea (who feature hardly at all in these stories). While mostly a fine story of wizards and magic, there's a nice little feminist twist in this one, too.

For the pedants 《raises hand》, there's "A Description of Earthsea". Think of the multiple appendixes at the end of "Lord of the Rings", condensed into a concise, user-friendly essay.

In short, this is an essential part of the Earthsea cycle (Book 5), told with Le Guin's usual skill and imagination. It offers a deeper exploration of the rich and complex world of Earthsea, shedding light on the often overlooked roles and contributions of women. The stories are engaging, thought-provoking, and a joy to read. Whether you're a long-time fan of the Earthsea series or new to it, this collection is definitely worth checking out.