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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780553383041
ISBN number: 0553383043
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 192
Printing Date: September 28, 2004
Publishing house: Spectra
Age index: Ages 9-12
Release Date: September 28, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 9989
Studio: Spectra
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
From the Paperback edition.
Amazon.com Review:
Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books (A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, and Tehanu) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers.
In this very first book, A Wizard of Earthsea readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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One of the basic tenets of writing good fiction is "show me, don't tell me." An example: Tell - "Ged didn't like Jasper." Show - "Ged felt a strong urge to punch Jasper right in his sniveling little face every time he looked at him. Every snide remark, every condescending look, increased the power of that urge."
Both of those examples convey that Ged didn't like Jasper, but which one brings you into the story and adds character development? That's the problem with the author's writing--pages and pages of narration. Too much telling and not enough showing. It makes the pace of the book very fast, which is nice, but it feels like watching a movie with the fast forward button pressed--you get the basic idea of what's going on, but none of the finer details. That's how reading this book feels.
Rated by buyers 
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Le Guin has written one of my favorite short stories, "The Ones who Walked Away from Omelas", and I picked up this book hoping her experimental narratives and beautiful world creation would translate well into novel form.
Long story short, they did - but other more novelistic elements came somewhat more sketchy. The book's main character, Ged, sometimes seems as faceless as the horrors he confronts - he simply doesn't have much personality, even though the third-person narrator seems to be lodged near the back of his mind. His emotions are real, his development as a human being is real, but he never seems to conjure up any sort of lasting, memorable personality. None of the characters excel very much, from Ged's master to his kind-of sort-of love interest, except for maybe his best friend. Don't be expecting the likes of Frodo, Aragorn, or Gandalf from Earthsea.
However, the world is brilliant, and as a high fantasy adventure it certainly captivates. The system of magic Le Guin creates for her universe is intuitive and frightening - everything has a very, very real price, and the best mages are those who scarcely use magic. The beasts, from island-sized dragons to lovable (if violent) dog-rat familiars, are exemplary and the world they inhabit lives and breathes with them.
This book is worth reading, definitely - but it could be better. The ending alone makes it a worthwhile read.
Rated by buyers -
A wonderfully written tale that is enjoyable at many levels. It is highly readable, flows well and has some profound lessons about human nature, death, good, evil, etc. LeGuin's choice of names leaves something to be desired (i.e., Ged, Vetch and Jasper) and the characters are not developed as fully as one might expect. Overall, a satisfying read. This book predates Harry Potter by some 30 years and the parallels that Rowling borrowed are striking and a tribute to the notoriety of this book. Recommended.
Rated by buyers -
Many reviewers have been irked by comparisons between this book and the Lord of the Rings. Having read both I can see that there are some similarities. Like Middle Earth, the world of Earthsea is intricate and detailed and feels authentic. There is a sense of mythology behind the mythology and history behind the history that is rare in modern works of fantasy. I would go so far as to say in many ways Earthsea is more realistic than Middle Earth. Unlike the latter it is gritty and dirty and gets under your fingernails.
Having said that, for me that is where the comparison ends. I found Wizard of Earthsea to be a difficult read. If I were to endeavor to summarise the plot, the book is really about one person's journey from humble beginnings on an island to eventual eminence as a wizard. To me that journey is all too often pondering, repetitive and just plain boring. I couldn't help but feel that a brilliant, realistic world had been invented in which nothing very interesting actually happened. I also felt that the importance given to names started off interesting but palled badly towards the end. As a plot device I felt it was overused and often left me unsatisfied. The characters and dialogue also irked me. It felt as if everyone in the world was badly constipated. Just one light-hearted and perhaps even humerous character would have made all the difference, but there were none.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book, but I don't see myself ever reading it again, nor attempting any of the sequels. I give it three stars for the depth of the world that the author has created. I just wish she'd come up with a better story and better characters to go with it.
Rated by buyers -
This is a classic book and with good reason. It takes the standard concepts good vs evil, becoming a better person or become the person you are meant to be; and Le Guin makes is it feel fresh and inviting you want to know more. The reason for only 3 stars is due to my personal bias of finding the writing style a bit cumberson. This will however not stop me from reading the rest of the series because I want to know Ged's journey.
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