The Other Wind by Ursula Le Guin

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Summary An involving tale, told beautifully and full of warm and humane characters.

This is another wonderful book from Ursula Le Guin. Exploring themes such as fear of death and belief in reincarnation. This is not a fantasy book full of large battles and insurmountable odds but a book about people and how they live life, deal with grief and try to make the right choices when they are presented.

The sorcerer Alder dreams of his dead wife and is able to kiss her across the stone wall that separates our world from the land of the dead. This puts Alder and Earthsea in mortal danger as the dead seek to free themselves through Alder and invade the land of the living.

Alder looks to Sparrowhawk, the former Archmage for advice and help and is sent to Havnor to seek the council of Tenar, Tahanu and King Lebannen. The dragons are also threatening Earthsea and Alder, his three new companions and a dragon woman named Irian journey to the Immanent Grove on Roke looking for answers.

Thankfully, The Other Wind keeps up the high standard of story-telling that readers of the Earthsea books have come to expect. It is evenly paced book that is strong on the characters with a deep, involving story. Some readers may have been concerned that this was an unnecessary sequel that could detract from the originals but they need not have worried.

Once again the story deals with death, love, freedom and the dangers of interference in the natural order of life. It is obvious that Le Guin is putting her own beliefs and thoughts across into the book but I'm glad to say that it never feels like you are preached to or having beliefs thrust upon you. I have read that Le Guin uses feminist and Taoist themes in her books but due to a lack of knowledge in both these areas I am unable to comment if this is true in The Other Wind. As I have said before, the themes that do come across strongly are death, how races view the afterlife differently and of the human streak of self destruction. There is, again, a certain darkness surrounding this book as the author does not shy away from subject matter that is not normally found within adult literature.

The most enjoyable parts of the book were, for me, the chapters involving Ged. He is now an elderly man, no longer possessing the powers he once had. What I most liked was the dignified way in which he conducts himself, he is an example of how I would like to be when I am old.

This is another wonderful book from Ursula Le Guin. Exploring themes such as fear of death and belief in reincarnation. This is not a fantasy book full of large battles and insurmountable odds but a book about people and how they live life, deal with grief and try to make the right choices when they are presented.

I would advise reading the prior Earthsea books before The Other Wind as some of the references may otherwise be lost. I would really just advise reading the Earthsea books, full stop.