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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Can’t quite decide if I liked this one or The Tombs of Atuan better. I really appreciated the villain and his motivation in this one, and a lot of wisdom to be had throughout.
The weakest of the original Earthsea trilogy is still a good tale. The differing views of the main two characters give orthogonal, but equally valid, views of society, life and death. This is more a thinking exploration than a travel adventure.
This is a novel that I consider a must-read for every student of fantasy and those wanting to write in the genre. In both cases it is partly because readers and critics will have read it and partly because this novel shows how to explore places, cultures, and ideas at the same time.
This is a novel that I consider a must-read for every student of fantasy and those wanting to write in the genre. In both cases it is partly because readers and critics will have read it and partly because this novel shows how to explore places, cultures, and ideas at the same time.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I missed the more magical aspects in this book compared to the earlier ones in the series. This one delves more into character development and feels like a handing-off for the story. I still really enjoyed it and really appreciated having more thoughtful themes brought out through character development. Also, dragons.
‘What is evil? Asked the younger man.
The round web, with its black centre, seemed to watch them both.
‘A web we men weave’, Ged answered.
The round web, with its black centre, seemed to watch them both.
‘A web we men weave’, Ged answered.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was narrated by Rob Ingles. Many years ago he performed the Lord of the Rings; it was a wonderful surprise to hear that old favorite voice retelling this story. Perhaps because of this narration I felt there were echoes of Tolkien's work. An old wizard, a rising king, a long journey.
I loved the characters, particularly Ged. The idea of a great person who is also extremely humble, a sorcerer who loves to sail — I appreciate the juxtaposition.
I could also see a bit of Le Guin's interest in the Tao Te Ching seeping into the story. When Ged and the other characters discussed leadership, they depicted Lao Tzu's ideal of a sovreign who did very little and allowed people to govern themselves. Strange to have a story of the ascendency of a King to play upon anarchistic themes.
I loved the characters, particularly Ged. The idea of a great person who is also extremely humble, a sorcerer who loves to sail — I appreciate the juxtaposition.
I could also see a bit of Le Guin's interest in the Tao Te Ching seeping into the story. When Ged and the other characters discussed leadership, they depicted Lao Tzu's ideal of a sovreign who did very little and allowed people to govern themselves. Strange to have a story of the ascendency of a King to play upon anarchistic themes.
Ursula K. Le Guin continues the Earthsea cycle with the same beautiful narrative and imagery present in her other books. She uses fantasy as it should be, to critique and ponder over our own reality. I loved the further exploration of Ged's relationship with dragons, as she mentioned in one of the afterwords of the previous two books that she didn't really know where she was going with that (Le Guin had never planned to turn the Wizard of Earthsea into a series). The world of Earthsea is as beautiful, sombre, and complex as ever; I'm excited to start Tehanu and discover more.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix