Rating: 
Summary: Still don't understand the hype
Review: After being disappointed by the first book in this series, I started out thinking that this one must be better in order to justify the series' reputation. I was wrong. Even the main character, Tenar/Arha, was not very deep, and Ged's depth came almost entirely from having read the previous book. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1 is that it wasn't actually offensive, and I do appreciate Le Guin's avoidance of a gratuitous romance between Ged and Tenar. The most (and possibly only) interesting thing about reading this book was referring to the map of the labyrinth to follow the directions described in the story, but this book was painfully boring for the most part, seeming much longer than its slight size would indicate.
The comparisons to Tolkein and Lewis still leave me baffled; indeed, these books have fallen far short of most "lesser" authors as well. I believe that simply picking a fantasy book at random would likely result in a better read. Sadly, I also think that this would have been disappointing even without the expectations generated by the hype over this series. The fact that her "Left Hand of Darkness" many years ago did not inspire me to get more of her books perhaps should've been a hint; I don't recall being especially let down by that book, but I was only a teenager back then.
I started reading this series in part to be able to compare it to the upcoming miniseries on SciFi, but two books into the series, I'm actually expecting the TV version to be much better than the books, and as such, substantially different; if not, I'll be switching to the Weather Channel not long after the opening credits.
Rating: 
Summary: Second in the Earthsea trilogy
Review: Again, as in A Wizard of Earthsea, we find a book that is a bit dated in its aproach: Lots of exposition and little action. The difference is while Wizard was a coming of age story for a boy -- Ged's rising to both man and wizard -- this second book begins with the coming of age of a girl, Arha the Eaten One, high priestess to the ancient Powers of the Earth.
Raised in an isolated temple complex, Arha has no knoweldge of the outside world. It isn't until Ged arrives to steal from the great treasury supposedly hidden in the underground tunnels, that her life begins to stretch beyond the temples and desert where they are located. When she finds him in the darkness, excitement enters her life. And for the first time, she feels compassion for another human being.
Finding the treasure he has come for, the broken ring of Erreth-Akbe, Ged must escape the tunnels and the only person who can help him is Arha. With the sudden desire to break free, she agrees to lead him out of the darkness and go with him, out of the desert. The only way they can leave, however, is if Ged can overcome the nameless gods she has served all of her life.
LeGuin has woven an intricate story of a life, from girlhood to womanhood, under most peculiar circumstances. Arha not only grows up, she somehow acquires the wisdom to abandon a restrictive life and the courage to leave on an adventure she could not have imagined. At the same time, Ged acquires the coveted ring and return its powers to the world from which it came.
Although these books are often sold in the young adult sections of book stores, and kept in the same sections of the libraries, they do not really seem geared especially toward children. Just like the Lord of the Rings, there is more here than simple story telling. They are geared as much, if not more, toward adults.
Rating: 
Summary: The Little Sequel That Could
Review: An excellent continuation of the Earthsea epic, perhaps even outdoing the original. This second book provides a slower, more intimate tale that is very well developed. The only problem with this short read is that its over too soon.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, even better series
Review: I first read the original Earthsea trilogy over 20 years ago, and it has stood the test of time. If you like your fantasy with action, this will not be your cup of tea…but LeGuin is a master and a unique voice. The best part is that the books keep getting better and more moving. If you read and enjoyed Wizard of Earthsea, you need to read this one to continue Ged’s story. Read this so that you can get to Tehanu, which I think is one of the best books ever written about the nature and meaning of love.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book to Read
Review: I had read the first book of this great series and I found myself not being able to put the book down. And when I started reading the second book I only thought there was no way this could be as good, however I had the same great time reading it as I did the first book. I believe that everyone should read this book even if you have not read any others from this series, because in essence this book is really based on people growing up, finding themselves and learning what they want to accomplish in life. This book also shows a great friendship between two people and overall it is just a wonderful book. I suggest everyone to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost five
Review: I loved the book with one exception. There is no real follow through with the characters from book to book. Some time passes from the first to the second book with no saying what had happened to the character. Aside from that it was a great book and kept me turning the pages.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the series; essential for understanding "Tehanu"
Review: I read "The Tombs of Atuan" before "A Wizard of Earthsea" because my school library didn't have the other books in the tetrology. I wasn't even aware it was the second book in a series until I told my father I loved it. He, fortunately, owned all four books. After many years, "Tombs" is still my favorite Earthsea novel, though I admit I may be biased because it was the first one I read, and I read it while I was a young girl."Tombs" is a portrait of an isolated girl who struggles to find acceptable values, and to become a free and responsible human being. Tenar/Arha is a priestess who serves the nameless powers of the earth. The early chapters show her life in a religious community, and her first steps towards becoming a woman. Later, she encounters Ged, a wizard on a quest of his own. Tenar and Ged are believable characters, whose journey and friendship avoid an artificially happy and neatly-wrapped ending. "Tombs" was a godsend to me; in it, I found a strong female character who didn't have a stereotypical relationship with a "hero," and a thoughtful portrayal of the true meaning of adulthood and freedom. For many years, the Earthsea books were a trilogy, with "Tombs" the odd book out. Ged, here a supporting character (though vital!) is the all-important protagonist of the male-dominated "A Wizard of Earthsea." And as far as "The Farthest Shore" is concerned, Tenar might as well never have lived. I was fortunate enough to read the series after Le Guin completed it with "Tehanu," which again focuses on Tenar. I am grateful I read the series out of order, because I find the tetrology a balancing act between two perspectives on life: outer-directed, and inner-directed, with Ged representing the former and Tenar the latter. At the end of "Tehanu," the two characters have learned, aged, and come to terms with themselves and each other. Without "Tombs," "Tehanu" is incomprehensible. "The Tombs of Atuan" is also a miracle in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best in Heoric Mythology
Review: Le Guin enjoys no press, no fanfare, no fan clubs. She has no movies (until now the mini-series), no trading card games, no computer games. Her writing is not flamboyant: it is thoughtful, considered, and quiet. Her books are generally short and are closer to novelettes. Yet she remains as one of the principle authors of the fantasy genre and her work survives. It will outlive, we suspect, a great deal of those novels that enjoy such extraordinary popularity today. JK Rowlings is the Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz) of our generation. Le Guin is the CS Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) of our generation. The distinction is in decibels and the scope. Earthsea, we believe, is one of those rare series of books that will quietly fill every library of every parent who has a child who loves to read. Incidentally, we feel that the later books Tehanu and The Other Wind detract from the series rather than add to it (as is the case with many sequels). Those later books are better avoided.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS:
As we mentioned, the series is aimed at grade levels somewhere around 5th to 9th. These are a series of books that are invaluable for this age group. It is mythology--both relevant and exciting--that teaches us not didactically how to live but shows us what it means to be alive. Many critics have said many different things about her books but the (overused) phrase "deeply human" seems just about right. These are books that--if the reader can meet the level that Le Guin sets in--will be revered for many, many years. People who have enjoyed Ender's Game, Tales of the Otori, and The Chronicles of Prydain will find these books very special.
WHO SHOULD PASS:
As we often say about books that are especially good, this is a novel of introspection. There is a bit of death but you won't see blood sprayed across the page. There are no great battles, sieges, or other events of great war. There is no overt sex. The magic is not "Terry Magic" (that is, Terry Goodkind or Terry Brooks type that shoots forth as fire, lightning, and death in the air) but rather a magic of language, of truth, of world harmony. To use a video game analogy, don't start playing Myst expecting to have whatever enjoyment you get out of playing Grand Theft Auto.
READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting, but short
Review: O.k., I understand that this will be the second half of the Sci-fi Channel mini-series "The Legend of Earthsea". I read "A Wizard of Earthsea" a long time ago, and decided to read this one before the mini premiered.
To be honest, I'm not sure how they're going to make it into two hours. I'm not even sure where most of those 180 pages went. Still, the characters are interesting, the romance works, and everything is well structured and detailed. It definately has what you want, the problem is you find yourself wanting MORE of it. I know the first rule of entertainment is "Always leave 'em wanting more", but this is just too little. And it takes Ged too long to get their. Still, this is a book worthy of much praise (although it might have been better presented as a short story).
Rating:
Summary: Passage through darkness.
Review: Of course I liked The Tombs of Atuan. It is well-constructed and beautifully styled fantasy, comparable to the works of Susan Cooper and Patricia McKillip. (No, Tolkien is in a class by himself.) Le Guin's Earthsea books are all excellent, but some people feel that The Tombs of Atuan is slow to start, and less eventful than the other three. My opinion, for what it's worth, is quite the opposite. The introspective beginning of Tombs is not unlike the beginning of Wizard, focussing closely on a single character, that character's uniqueness, and the way that character is shaped by life. The reader approaches the threshold of adventure with the protagonist; the reader, too, is drawn into the struggle, shares bewilderment, doubt, and uncertainty; and the reader, too, has made a passage by the end of the book. Too much of modern fantasy is all long journeys, heated battles, unquestionably terrible villains -- and swordplay, of course. Le Guin recognizes that moral ambiguity creates the greatest obstacle a character can confront...and that if the question is worthwhile, the answer is neither easy nor painless. Tenar is a strong heroine and I would especially recommend this book for teenage girls, whose plight is sometimes not unlike that of the Eaten One; however, as all the best books are, this is a story which is based on human character and thus speaks to both sexes and all ages.
|
