The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin
Stunning, thought-provoking fantasy.
The Earthsea Quartet brings together Ursula Le Guin’s four legendary Earthsea sagas for the first time in a single volume. The novels belong to the high fantasy genre and follow a young boy from the discovery of his magecraft through to him becoming the greatest mage of all time. The four books are: A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu.
The books, first published in the late 1960’s, are written in a simple, free-flowing style and I quickly fell under their charm. Although this is a book that can be read and enjoyed by children and adults, its themes are far more adult than say, The Chronicles of Narnia or the Harry Potter series.
The book’s narrative keeps you intrigued although I must admit that I found the opening chapters of The Tombs of Atuan rather hard going. This was due mainly to the in-depth descriptions of Arha’s visits to the Undertomb and the Labyrinth. There is a strong Taoist element running through the book, especially in regard to the “balance” of magic. You might even say that Newton’s second law, “To every action there is an equal but opposite reaction” would also apply here.
Ged, the young boy who becomes a mage is central to all four sagas and his choices dictate the stories direction. One such key moment occurs early in his training, shortly after he has been taken under the wing of Ogion, his mentor and friend. Ged has become frustrated with his perceived lack of progress and Ogion offers him these following words of wisdom.
A Wizard of Earthsea: The Shadow
Ged faces many battles during his life but it is the battle within himself that stands out in the book. Ursula Le Guin shows that the demons that are inside us all should be accepted and battled rather than ignored or denied. It is by facing these demons and overcoming them that we can truly become the person that we would all like to be. There is no way to go through life without making mistakes and having regrets, it is the way in which we deal with these moments that makes us into the people we are. Put simply, none of us are, or ever will be perfect. It is how we are able to deal with our imperfections that matters.
The Farthest Shore: Orm Embar
Ursula Le Guin has a reputation for exploring psychological and sociological themes within her books and this collection of books is no different. These novels can be read by children and enjoyed from the perspective of magic, wizards, adventure and the beautifully imagined world of Earthsea. They can also be appreciated by adults for the thought-provoking elements that the book conjures. This is a collection that makes you think and leaves you thinking.
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George from Gateshead
This is what a fantasy series should be all about, one that makes you think rather than thinking for you. Forget Harry Potter, it's weak compared to this.
Some people think that Tehanu is a weak point in the series, they're wrong, it's told in a different way that's all and with far less action and focuses more on the character's, it was exactly what was needed at the stage in the series.
Ursula Le Guin is a master story-teller, she entertains you and makes you think at the same time, she would have made a good teacher.
Sian from Pembroke
This is a wonderful series of books, all subtly different and Tehanu, which some think of as a weakness is the best of them all. The Earthsea books are suitable for ages 12 up to 120 and it doesn't matter whether you are male or female, these books have something to offer everyone.
The meaning of life and the human fear of death are the themes that run strongest through the books and this is done through characters that are simply perfect and in Ged and Tenar we are able to watch them go from young and unsure children into the wise adults.
If you enjoy reading fantasy then you must read these books, they will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Robin from Dorset
These are spell-binding books, each as good as the other. The thing I like about them most is the way in which we follow the main characters, Ged and Tenar all the way from childhood to old age, it really feels like you have lived their lives with them. If you love fantasy, you must read these 4 books and The Other Wind.
Estel from Lucknow, India
The Earthsea Quartet is a must read for every fantasy fan. Le Guin's sparse beauty of language, piquant descriptions which almost makes you feel the salty tang of sea and dynamic characterization with a deeply moralistic story to the core, leaves the reader spellbound. The level of introspection reaches its culmination in Tehanu which is more of a study of social interaction and emotional resonance, which quite a few of you wouldn't like. But overall, the series is highly recommended.
