A Wizard of Earthsea: A Classic Fantasy Adventure of Magic, Dragons, and a Rising Shadow (The Books of Earthsea, 1)
The first novel of Ursula K. Le Guin's must-read Books of Earthsea.
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 Books of Earthsea include:
- A Wizard of Earthsea
- The Tombs of Atuan
- The Farthest Shore
- Tehanu
- Tales from Earthsea
- The Other Wind
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Community Reviews
I am shocked that I didn't like this more than I did. I'm honestly not even sure I can fully explain why I didn't like it more. I found it a bit dull and ponderous; I didn't connect to or care about the characters; the story was thin. I understand it's written almost more as a parable than a full novel, but even still. I'm glad I've read it now, and I can see its ghost in so many other things I've read, but I can't say I thrilled to the experience of reading it.
(Crossposted from my Storygraph review)
After having read so many books that were inspired by LeGuin's trilogy, I decided to give the original try (as an audiobook). I couldn't appreciate its groundbreaking treatment of magic, of course, having already been exposed to variations on that theme, but I did enjoy the somewhat bleak story. It did make me wonder, however, if such a tale could be told of a female wizard without something being made of the fact of her sex. In other words, what sets Ged apart has nothing to do with his being a boy, but it's hard to imagine that the same could've been said had the character been a girl instead.
I'd been told before reading (or listening to) this book that LeGuin later regretted her treatment of women's magic in the first book and tried to correct that in future books. So I was prepared for some stereotypical minimization of women's magic as being only concerned with the domestic or maternal. But either I missed it or it simply wasn't as noticeable as LeGuin herself and perhaps other readers had felt it was at the time. That may be because I've since been exposed to powerful magical women in lots of other books, so I didn't feel the lack of it in this book. But I do look forward to listening to the next two books to see what happens with the female characters.
I'd been told before reading (or listening to) this book that LeGuin later regretted her treatment of women's magic in the first book and tried to correct that in future books. So I was prepared for some stereotypical minimization of women's magic as being only concerned with the domestic or maternal. But either I missed it or it simply wasn't as noticeable as LeGuin herself and perhaps other readers had felt it was at the time. That may be because I've since been exposed to powerful magical women in lots of other books, so I didn't feel the lack of it in this book. But I do look forward to listening to the next two books to see what happens with the female characters.
After taking a moment to reflect on the book I have to realize this is one of the beginnings of modern fantasy right up there with Tolkien and cannot judge it by today's standards. It has all the generic stuff in Fantasy because it's one of the archetypes for fantasy with magic school and powerful young mage. But it has moments of Frenship and humility in almost fairy tale retelling that feels different than some other books I've read.
Must read for fantasy reader.
7.3/10
Must read for fantasy reader.
7.3/10
“A picture is worth a thousand words… but I kind of miss the words.”
Look, adapting A Wizard of Earthsea into a graphic novel is a bold move—like trying to paint a sunset with only three colors. Fred Fordham takes a valiant stab at it, translating Ursula K. Le Guin’s deep, lyrical prose into something visual. The result? A beautifully illustrated, slightly hollow retelling of one of fantasy’s greatest classics.
The artwork? Gorgeous. Sweeping landscapes, dramatic lighting, and an overall aesthetic that captures Earthsea’s mystical vibe. But the magic of Le Guin’s storytelling—the introspective depth, the slow burn of Ged’s growth—gets a little lost in translation. The novel’s powerful themes of balance and self-discovery feel rushed, like someone hit the “abridged” button too hard. And let’s be real: if you’ve read the original, you’ll spend half your time filling in the gaps from memory.
Is this a solid introduction for new readers? Maybe. Is it a satisfying companion for longtime fans? Ehh. It’s like getting a slice of cake when you wanted the whole thing—sweet, but missing the full flavor.
Look, adapting A Wizard of Earthsea into a graphic novel is a bold move—like trying to paint a sunset with only three colors. Fred Fordham takes a valiant stab at it, translating Ursula K. Le Guin’s deep, lyrical prose into something visual. The result? A beautifully illustrated, slightly hollow retelling of one of fantasy’s greatest classics.
The artwork? Gorgeous. Sweeping landscapes, dramatic lighting, and an overall aesthetic that captures Earthsea’s mystical vibe. But the magic of Le Guin’s storytelling—the introspective depth, the slow burn of Ged’s growth—gets a little lost in translation. The novel’s powerful themes of balance and self-discovery feel rushed, like someone hit the “abridged” button too hard. And let’s be real: if you’ve read the original, you’ll spend half your time filling in the gaps from memory.
Is this a solid introduction for new readers? Maybe. Is it a satisfying companion for longtime fans? Ehh. It’s like getting a slice of cake when you wanted the whole thing—sweet, but missing the full flavor.
I have not read a fantasy story in forever and I really enjoyed this one :) the prose is quite pretty and the worldbuilding is interesting. Compelling main character and generally hooking plot. The prose slowed me down a bit but the plot kept me hooked. Honestly been struggling to read recently and this was a nice one to break me out of my funk without being too simple.
Gonna continue with the series!
Gonna continue with the series!
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