A Wizard of Earthsea

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Born on an island renowned for its wizards, young Ged finds himself drawn to wizardry. Astonishingly, it all seems to come naturally, and he soon outstrips the witch who is teaching him the art. Arrogant and willful, he goes off to Roke Island to study under the greatest master wizards. His pride proves his undoing when, in an attempt to show his superiority to a rival, he summons up a shadow creature powerful beyond human understanding. Ged finishes his studies, and then must begin his career, knowing that somewhere out there the shadow is waiting for him.

Being such an old story, I did not expect to enjoy this story too much. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the story was entertaining and quite absorbing. I was fascinated to see what the nature of the shadow was, and what Ged needed to do to overcome it. I have not read any of Ursula Le Guin's books before, but I intend to now. I recommend this book to any fantasy reader.

Rating:
Summary: Definition of High Fantasy
Review: I don't think that many people truly understand what the term "high fantasy" means. For example, I have heard people refer to Anne McCaffrey as high fantasy, when that is not the case. High fantasy is when the author creates an entirely new world, with new languages, new societies, and new realities, which, strangely enough, allows the author to get closer to the truth about human nature and the ways of the world. I know of few authors that really live up to that definition, and one of them is Ursula LeGuin. Although she draws from ancient folklore, as well as basing some of societies in Earthsea on our ancient societies and cultures, a great portion of her work is straight out of her imagination. The book is not for those who like their fantasy light-hearted and with witty or sarcastic comments made by the characters every few minutes. Although there are moments of comic relief, most of the book (and the series) is rather austere and dark. This is because the world that she tells of is harsh and unforgiving, much like Europe in the middle ages. Back then there wasn't a lot to smile about, so you had to find you light in strange places. The good guys aren't always good-looking, and a happy ending sometimes requires that you don't end up with what you want. There is another book that was written ten years after this series, called Tehanu, and it continues where the saga left off, tying up some loose ends, and giving closure. I would definately reccommend Earthsea for those who prefer their fantasy raw and un-sugar coated. It is gritty, and not for the faint of heart, to the point where I wouldn't even really call it fantasy, because it gets about as close to the truth as I have seen any book get.

Rating:
Summary: A great starting place for readers getting into fantasy
Review: I first read this book when I was eleven or twelve--shortly after reading the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I found the tone to be distant, yet pleasing, and I wanted to meet Sparrowhawk. I wanted to be a wizard and have a true name. The bad things that happened in the plot were not so high on my wish list of experiences to have, though, as anyone might imagine.

Those were my feelings at the time.

I recommend this book and the other two in this trilogy to readers both young and old. However, do NOT read the fourth book. (I'll go over why in that review!) This novel can provide readers with a basis for their imaginative wanderings in the fantasy genre. I liked the characters, I loved the setting, and I enjoyed the magic system that the author revealed as she wrote. I didn't find the novel quite as colorfully vivid as any of the Narnia ones, but the change in descriptive palettes was still GOOD and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: A grey world
Review: To liken Earthsea to Tolkien's Middle-Earth is really an overstatement. It simply doesn't measure up to Middle-Earth in terms of depth of detail, grandeur and beauty. No doubt it is an excellent product of artistic imagination on its own right, but one can't help but feel a sense of dreariness and bleakness in it. Ged's one-man show throughout most of the series adds to the general feeling of lonesomeness. Definitely not for those who prefer the gayer world of Tolkien or even Harry Potter.

Rating:
Summary: A Wizard of Earthsea review
Review: The book, A Wizard of Earthsea, was a good book, but it is kind of hard to understand at first, but as you get farther into the book, it is easier to understand. I like the part where he sets the evil shadow into the world, and when he finally captures it by a clever plan. He also has a very nice friend, Estarriol, who helps him after he releases the evil shadow into the world, and he went with him when he went to capture it, even though Ged didn't want him to go with him.

Rating:
Summary: This book was ok
Review: This book was kind of hard to follow. I thought it was a little too much fiction for me. I like books that are right on the edge of fiction and nonfiction.

Rating:
Summary: Yawn...
Review: I really wasn't impressed with this novel. I found it lacking not only in action but also in depth, plot and meaning. I guess I'm just missing something, but to me it seemed like nothing happened, like I wasted a few good hours of my life that I could have spent drooling in front of the TV. I don't know why i kept reading through the third book, probably my misinterpreted view that there is to be a point to novels. Three books of short, shallow sentances that move the plot along at a snail's crawl. She introduces characters and then just forgets about them(Tombs of Atuan?) What was the second book for anyway? To prove he could hunt treasure and lure small girls from their homes? But I digress, the first book is a bore of epic proportions(despite being 150 pages) that track the misdemeanors of an ignoble youth who (SURPRISE!) eventually becomes the Archmage. I didn't even think it was written well...

Rating:
Summary: magic between the pages
Review: Although often described as a childrens book, A wizard of Earthsea should be read by people of any age, and any who read it will be changed by the experience. Its one of those books that inspires and changes your entire perspective on life. Ged, whose humble beginnings as a goatherder fail to deter his destiny as a Wizard, unleases a terrible evil while training to be a Wizard on the island of Roke. What follows is a journey that changes Ged's life forever. Chased and persued within an inch of his life, Ged soon becomes a hunter, learning about wisdom, power and ultimately himself along the way. There is magic in the pages of this book, and it definitely does not deserve to be dissmissed as a childrens book, although the kids will enjoy it immensely.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic Young-Adult Fantasy Novel
Review: I first read this book as a teenager, and recently re-read it as an adult. The book has held up wonderfully! The prose is crisp and clear, the story compelling, and the characters interesting. Sparrowhawk/Ged is a wonderful apprentice-hero...he has to learn not only how to be a wizard (hmmm, a school for wizards...sound familiar?), but more importantly, he has to learn how to become a hero. That quest, which is much more important than any of the steps he takes to achieve it, is the true focus of the book. A coming of age stories with magic, dragons and fearsome monsters...what more could you ask for?

Rating:
Summary: Bedazzled
Review: Hallo fantasy lovers,

I am a girl from a Eastern Europe, Latvia, and in love with le Guin's books. I have read the Earthsea trilogy, that's the only of her books that has been translated in my language, but English books are unfortunately hardly available here. Yet I would like so much to read them in original... I think English is much more appropriate language for tales and fantasy... and of course, to possess them... But they are long since out of print in Latvia. Now they are publishing mostly trash that I do not read.I could, of course, have the books through Internet but there's a problem that my student's scholarship does not quite coincide with the normal Western prices. ( If somebody's interested, the scholarship for excellent marks is around 15 dollars a month - is it not ridiculous?). That's why I am writing this review hoping to find a friendly readerly heart. Is there anybody out there who has has got a spare copy of le Guin' s works that he/she could share? It can be old and suffered, of course. I only want to read them desperately. If there's a kind soul that thinks of a possibility to help me, my email address is [e-mail] I would really be most thankful, indeed, for any kind of interest in my plea. Excuse for my poor English.

being bedazzled by the Earthsea world,

yours Barbala