A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ged was the most powerful sorcerer in all of Earthsea, but before that, he went by the name Sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawk was an impetuous young man who was thirsty for knowledge and power and toyed with long-kept secrets, casting a horrible shadow over the universe. This is the account of his trials, showing how he conquered the great words of power, subdued a legendary dragon, and overcame death to restore balance.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
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In my reading experience, this was a very creative and distinct world. As you might have guessed, Earthsea is an archipelago of numerous islands with diverse natural environments and populations. Additionally, it is very well thought out. It takes skill to make the topography and climate seem realistic in a place this out-of-the-ordinary.
This work is exquisitely written and was a pleasure to read. Despite the fact that it was composed in the 1960s, it is still beautiful. The universe is described in an expansive and pleasant manner, and this is matched with action and character growth in a very traditional fantasy voice. Although not fast by contemporary standards, the pace is certainly not slow. That ought to be clear just by looking at the scope of the plot arc!
The second essential component of fantasy is magic. This is yet another place where the book shines. Fundamental principles underlie magic, and Earthsea’s mechanisms are extremely well-designed. There is always a trade-off between the expense and the benefit, and this is deftly illustrated, especially in one incident where our protagonist needs to “repair” his boat more severely than he would have liked. It’s enough to state that he doesn’t sleep much!
The plot arc itself comes last and is arguably the most crucial element. And I found this to be really enjoyable. We follow Ged, who has a natural aptitude for magic and is pushed to develop his abilities. He makes an immature error as a young wizard who is anxious to demonstrate his abilities; this error haunts him for the rest of his life. We so follow Ged’s development as he seeks to understand the balance and responsibility of wizardry, comes to terms with what he has done, and in fact, comes face to face with the same shadow that pursues him. It is a perfect example of immaturity and maturity, and we may all benefit from learning from it…
