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jasonben10 's review for:
A Wizard of Earthsea
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Interesting book. I recently re-read The Name of the Wind and there were some definite similarities but worlds of difference. Rothfuss is an eloquent little turtle and Le Guin is a monk with ADHD. She fires through this sucker, unconcerned with building out the magic systems, creating a rich world, or spending much time at all in any single place. I don't mean it as a criticism, the book felt extremely traditional but also fresh.
This has to be the least dialogue I've ever read in a fantasy. Every character is beyond reticent. Ged shares maybe 40 words total with his master. Perhaps 3 exchanges with his nemesis. Even his bff there's like a page and a half worth? I get the feeling Le Guin was intentionally avoiding exposition, maybe to make it easier for the reader to reflect their own humanity/experience/perspective onto Ged.
It was in the end a YA fantasy, seemingly the blueprint for many following it. Incredibly simple - a shotgun home type of story. There weren't really any climaxes at all. BAM dragon problem figured out in 2 lines. BOOM the ending happened in half a page. Very different to something like Wheel of Time.
In fact, fantasy elements were barely present, except to move the story along. Ged beats a couple of enemies with his staff instead of casting some type of spell. Most of the magic was building boats and moving wind. The end he grabs the shadow and re-appears in a bit. I kept wanting him to go avatar mode and go nuts and I think that's the point. I'm intrigued to read more of her books.
This has to be the least dialogue I've ever read in a fantasy. Every character is beyond reticent. Ged shares maybe 40 words total with his master. Perhaps 3 exchanges with his nemesis. Even his bff there's like a page and a half worth? I get the feeling Le Guin was intentionally avoiding exposition, maybe to make it easier for the reader to reflect their own humanity/experience/perspective onto Ged.
It was in the end a YA fantasy, seemingly the blueprint for many following it. Incredibly simple - a shotgun home type of story. There weren't really any climaxes at all. BAM dragon problem figured out in 2 lines. BOOM the ending happened in half a page. Very different to something like Wheel of Time.
In fact, fantasy elements were barely present, except to move the story along. Ged beats a couple of enemies with his staff instead of casting some type of spell. Most of the magic was building boats and moving wind. The end he grabs the shadow and re-appears in a bit. I kept wanting him to go avatar mode and go nuts and I think that's the point. I'm intrigued to read more of her books.