Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Earthsea” novels
In 1968, an author named Ursula K. Le Guin published a novel called A Wizard of Earthsea. The book was a departure from her earlier work in many waysLe Guin was primarily known as a science-fiction writer, regularly published in short story magazines, who had put out three interesting novels, but nothing that was considered especially worthy of critical attention. A Wizard of Earthsea would change all that. The book subverted many traditional fantasy tropes (such as the idea of wizards as old and wise) and was also indebted to the anthropological research of her parents in its world-building. In just under 200 pages, Le Guin created a world which she would return to in five more books.Each of the novels received at least one award, including the 2002 World Fantasy Award for The Other Wind. While it did not receive an award, Le Guin’s short story collection, Tales from Earthsea, is important for shining light on some of the neglected corners of the Earthsea universe.You may be wondering just what Earthsea is all about, and the best way to find out is to simply read the books. If you need a little more motivation, though, we’ll supply a brief introduction. Earthsea is a world dominated by an archipelago of hundreds of islands, surrounded by uncharted ocean. Much of the cultures appear to be in the early stages of an Iron Age society, with some cultures still using bronze or wood. For most people in Earthsea, magic is an important part of life, although it is banned in the Kargish lands.The first book, A Wizard of Earthsea, introduces Ged, a bronze-smith’s son who discovers that he has an aptitude for magic. Ged’s growth is chronicled in the initial trilogy, which also includes The Tombs of Atuan (1971) and The Farthest Shore (1972). Tehanu (1990) follows the adventures of Ged in conjunction with a heroine named Tenar. The Other Wind (2001), currently the final book in the series, again focuses on Tenar, along with Tehanu and King Lebannen, with Ged in a minor role.If you’re interested in getting a true sense of the books, do yourself a favor and skip out on the Sci Fi Channel adaptation, Legend of Earthsea. Le Guin was highly disappointed with the changes made to character relationships and motivations, along with the introduction of several original characters, and the fact that most characters were played by Caucasians while Le Guin specifically described the appearances of many of the cultures as being darker-skinned.Along with Earthsea, Le Guin has also become popular for her Hainish Cycle of science-fiction novels, which have been praised for their anthropological and sociological themes. Both series are recommended, but fantasy fans will especially be drawn to the fascinating world described in the Earthsea series.