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A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1) (0553383043)
Description
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| Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books (A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, and Tehanu) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers. In this first book, A Wizard of Earthsea readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow. Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
I love this book. It is super awesome, to the max. The main character overhears his aunt casting a magic spell, so he goes out and tries it for himself. After finding this out, his aunt teaches him more and more magic in exchange for him agreeing to help her. He then saves his village from being destroyed by evil marauding bandits, but uses so much power he drained all of his energy. Then a great sage comes to heal them, and the boy starts his real magic training under the watch of the sage.
This book was really fun for me to read because I love fantasy stories. Basically anything with dragons and/or magic in it will draw my attention and keep me occupied for a great deal of time. This book spent a lot of time developing the characters, which usually turns me off, but they threw in a great deal of excitement and interesting events, and making them feel real while still having a fair amount of action in it. This book is short, being only 197 pages, but it is still a great story and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy books. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
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Author: Guest
I have read this book and consider it a fine fantasy tale. I came here to review the book, which I give four stars. Very original, very creative.
I was however disturbed at the comments made by "R. M. Fisher "Ravenna" " praising the books inhabitants for being non white. While this is certainly not a problem, I find it disturbing, that this person is disturbed that the majority of fantasy features Caucasians in main roles. Fantasy, at least the Kind portrayed in Tolkien's work and in Earth seas work, as well as a majority of the fantasy genre are based upon the archetypes of the European folk soul. Much fantasy is a celebration of Caucasian indigenous roots. Our way before Christianity. Our spiritual path before our conversion. Much fantasy allows us to celebrate this lost, but somewhat returning past. Le Guinn has written a good book in which her characters are not Celtic types (even though the universe is based upon the Celtic peoples) and this should not be a major issue. However it should also not be an issue, that most fantasy celebrates European culture, and therefore casts Europeans in its main roles. Would the author also be upset after reading an entire corpus of Arabian Jinn tales, and go on to mention that it is disturbing that all the main characters were Brown ? I doubt it. Europeans are quite allowed to write books about their past and heritage, and they should not be chastised for that, just as any other race would not be chastised for celebrating its roots with fiction. Celebrate your roots, whether you be black, brown, yellow, red or even *Gasp* white.
All and all a great book. Good for kids as its easy to read. I read it for the first time almost 10 years ago. Avoid the film if you are looking for an exact conversion, but its still fun (as long as the look of white people don't offend you)
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Author: Guest
I saw the TV show made, so I wanted to check out the full story.
It was a disappointment, but my wife loved it. So there you are one against, one for it.
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Author: Guest
I have read this first book of the series, simply because I saw it highly rated here at Amazon, and was looking for a new series to try out. I enjoyed the book, which is quite short (only a couple hundred pages), and intend to continue reading more from this author...
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Author: Guest
With a Wizard of Earthsea, Le Guin has created a masterpiece that has every element one could possibly want in a fantasy story. (Ok, so there's no romance-- but romances are usually trite in fantasy novels, so that's something to be thankful for.) Ged's quest is the ultimate un-stereotype; throughout his journey he struggles to reconcile with an otherwordly shadow that turns out to be the dark side of his own being. The world of Earthsea is meticulously crafted; Le Guin's sparse but haunting prose brings everything into a vivid, well-imagined life. This book should be read by everyone who appreciates a good story, if they're a fantasy lover or not.
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