A Wizard of Earthsea

Rating:
Summary: Definitely one of the top fantasy novels available!
Review: In all seriousness, this is one of the best fantasy novels available for purchase -- Ursula Le Guin is a fabulous author, one of the best out there, and this book and its following sequels are absolute classics. Ged is a truly marvelous character, and the story, world and much else are incredible!

Rating:
Summary: One of the most important fantasy books
Review: "A Wizard of Earthsea" was one of the first fantasy books translated into Polish language and I am sure that fantasy became popular in Poland mainly because people liked this novel and hoped for more good reading. And they were disappointed since except some LeGuin's, Tolkien`s and maybe few other authors' books fantasy is not a good literature. In the short commentary to the Polish edition of the novel S. Lem has stressed its main valor: it is self-contained and complete. You cannot find in it any unnecessary "gadget" just for amazement of the reader, everything has its meaning and role in the Earthsea world. On the other hand - you cannot remove magic from the novel; words-spells are its building material as well as they are building material of the world created. "Words are acts." The Earthsea books are often compared to Tolkien's works but they are rather complementary than concurrent. Tolkien derived his creation from the linguistic research which is mostly hidden, while LeGuin exposed the central role of language in the creation. Certainly, if you dare build the whole world of words you should know how to use them. But this is just a writer's job - and LeGuin proves she is a very good writer. There is one more good reason why "A Wizard of Earthsea" is worth reading - it is a novel about human beings and human problems, showing true meaning of choice and responsibility. It is wise and well-written, rarity in sf and fantasy literature. You may not like it but surely you will remember it.

Rating:
Summary: Be careful! You may regain your sense of wonder...
Review: I first read "A Wizard of Earthsea" when it was first published - and I was only ten years old. I enjoyed the story, but missed much of Ms. leGuin's subtley and deeper meanings. I later returned to it and found in it a quiet sense of wonder which was deeply satisfying. The world of the book is consistent and the reader will be startled by how much seems familiar in this fantasy Archipelago. But beware - the "fantasy" label may not preapre you for the author's insights into good, evil, the nature of adulthood and the need for self-acceptance. If you are a parent, this is an excellent book for a pre-teen child. If you are an adult, you may find a renewal of the wonder you had before you became a "grown up." "A Wizard of Earthsea" easily ranks among my top ten most influential books - and it is the one I give most often as a gift.

Rating:
Summary: A great fantasy novel, the best I've ever read!
Review: This is a great book, and I wouldn't mind reading it again! If you like fantasy filled with wizards & magic, you'll -LOVE- this book!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A VERY GOOD BOOK!
Review: I read this book for a book report and found that is was very interesting. I'm 14 and liked the stuff about wizardry. I tought it well writen.

Rating:
Summary: Not good.
Review: I'm sorry, but I have to say I didn't like this book at all. Which is really unusual, because I like a lot of books. But I didn't read all of it, I only got about 3/4 of the way through, and it bored me so much that I quit reading it. I don't usually do that. I was 13, but maybe that's too young. I don't think so, I've read books like Jane Eyre, and Pride and Prejudice and some other harder books, and really liked them. Maybe if I feel like it I'll pick it up and try it again sometime.

Rating:
Summary: a jungian afterthought
Review: in the forlorn hope that Ms Le Guin might see this, i wanted to say that i read the Earthsea Trilogy in my thirties, when i was working as manager at the Unicorn Theatre in London; we were offering at the time -as a christmas production -a rather clumsily dramatized version of the 1st book in the trilogy, adapted by Shaun Prendergast and directed by Nick Barter. it remained resolutely earthbound and never followed the hawk's flight into the imagined and empty sky. yet reading the book (s) was an act that helped propel me into a new arena of my life - acting in effect like an opening into, or at least out of ... from and to ... well, to WHAT i'm still trying to define. and in no small measure this sea change was surely due to the profound acccuracy with which ms Le Guin re-creates (and enables us to re-experience, if we will) the deepest levels of our mythological selves. the trilogy was and is a Jungian joy ... into the underworld -the tombs- to rescue the Anima and thence to the ultimate confrontation with the Shadow, and the integration that bestows wholeness (grace). now that the trilogy has become quartet -and how i devoured Tehanu, and what flavors! - the emergence of the Anima as co-eval healer and warrior has bred a text for the new millenium. long may ms Le Guin wield her magic pen ! and by the way, a review of the Farthest Shore on the Amazon pages states `only an American could have written this' -i take that to be a complement to Ms Le Guin, and am reminded that i am a Resident in the US, about to apply for naturalization, for very good creative reasons as well as a passion for the United States. or perhaps both are the same thing. 2 of my plays are in the Amazon pages - Road Movie and Kissing Marianne (the latter anthologized in Staging Gay Lives) - i could not have written them in England. or as a Brit who hadn't asked questions answered, in part, by Ursula K. Le Guin's art. -Godfrey Hamilton

Rating:
Summary: Good story and very well written
Review: I liked the story, particularly the evolution of Ged's character throughout the book. I think the book is very well written, Ursula Le Guin uses a beautiful languange. The only drawback I find in this book is being a bit slow in some parts.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic characters in a fantasy world
Review: This is the first book of Ged's life tetralogy. Here, young Ged is an apprentice of the magical arts that are so difficult to find in Earthsea, a world of scattered islands. The young mage will discover his powers, his fears, and the power of his fears. He will find out his place in the world, and his role in the struggle between light and shadow. This is a story set in a fantasy world, but tells about the struggle of keeping one's ideals while growing up and understanding how other people act, think and feel.

Rating:
Summary: This book sucked big!!!!!!
Review: I hated this book. It had a boring plot, it was hard to understand. It is one of the worst fantasy novels I have ever read.