Wizard Of Earthsea: Amazon.ca: Guin Le: Books

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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. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Book Description

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the 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.

From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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First Sentence
THE island of Gont, a single mountain that lifts its peak a mile above the storm-racked Northeast Sea, is a land famous for wizards. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

235 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (235 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars book is great, but 'ware the "library binding"..., Nov 11 2003

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1 - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Wizard of Earthsea (School & Library Binding)

I purchased the library binding as I wanted to give it as a gift in hardcover. Sadly, quality is sinking in this country, bit by bit...the paper is dingy, dim recycled newsprint, almost Soviet in quality, and will probably yellow in a few years. Avoid the library binding. I returned it.

The book, of course, is great.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wizard of Earthsea, Feb 18 2002

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D'Marcus Beatty (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

A Wizard of Earthsea is a mythical tale by Ursula K. LeGuin about the adventures of a young wizard to be, the curiously named Ged. The book chronicles his induction into magic and wizardry, guiding the reader through Ged's gradual growth and maturation as a wizard. However, the protagonist foolishly and pridefully delves further into magic than he is prepared for, and must correct his mistake in this magical coming of age story.
The presentation of the story, fantastic as it is, is wonderfully executed. The author adheres to the rules of fantasy writing by presenting the reader with clear, believable boundaries and rules to her mythical world, which allows the reader a measure of confidence and relation to otherwise unfamiliar territory. Her diction is comparable to that of familiar fairy tales, which is appropriate, even welcome considering the subject matter. LeGuin's matter-of-fact, sententious word style demands belief, her narration adopting the clipped but descriptively informative tones of a newscaster relaying a factual occurrence. It becomes easy for the audience to lose themselves in such a story; indeed, absorption is almost impossible to resist. The reader quickly transforms from readers into observers as her characters transcend their literary limitations.
The magic in this story has believable jargon, clear laws, and often visible repercussions that makes rampant use unethical for any moral practitioner. Were magic to exist, these elements of restraint would probably color and police its use, and its effect on the story is an increase in the tale's ability to suspend disbelief.
A Wizard of Earthsea is a delightful read for anyone, especially lovers of fiction and fantasy.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The original school of magic., Aug 13 2001

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neurotome "neurotome" (San Luis Obispo, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wizard of Earthsea(bkpk, Unabri (Audio Cassette)

I'm writing this review because JK Rowling's books about the Hogwarts School of Magic reminded me of this, one of the few perfect novels I've ever read.

It's not a light-hearted fairy tale, though it is "high fantasy." It's the story of Ged, from his childhood discovery of his wonderful yet terrible magical powers; to his education at the School of Wizardry on Roke Knoll. There he makes a misstep; overstepping his powers, he accidentally lets loose an evil creature from a shadow world. His self-imposed exile, journeys, and eventual maturation and triumph are written with a deft flair for the beauty and wonder of magic; yet Ms. LeGuin is even more masterful in depicting Ged's character: the young high achiever who must finally make his peace with his inner demons.

As a child, I loved it for the idea of a school of magic. I grew older, reread it during a dark teenage time, and cried when Ged finally confronted his inner shadow creature. Later, studying anatomy in medical school, I recalled Ged's long days in the Namer's high tower, learning the true names of things; and bent cheerfully to my task.

It still bears re-reading to this day. Readers who enjoy Tolkien, JK Rowling, or Alice Miller's "Drama of the Gifted Child" ought particularly to read it; and readers who didn't like "The Left Hand of Darkness" or "The Dispossessed" should give Ms. LeGuin another try, in this, her finest work. . It is one of my favorite novels and I recommend it to you wholeheartedly.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone
As a librarian I read several different authors in several different genres. While this book may good for a young reader who does not like long tales of heroic deeds, it is not... Read more

Published 22 months ago by Jessie

4.0 out of 5 stars LeGuin's best, perhaps?
Oh, I have tried and tried to work up an enthusiasm for Ursula K. Le Guin's books! Being something of a sci-fi/fantasy fan since my youth Le Guin kept popping up. Read more

Published on Jan 2 2010 by B. A. Scharf