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Ursula K. Le Guin
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Earthsea: The First Four Books Paperback – 24 Jun. 1993

by Ursula Le Guin (Author), Matt Jones (Designer)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 181 ratings
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A superb four-part fantasy, comparable with the work of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, the "Earthsea" books follow the fortunes of the wizard Ged from his childhood to an age where magic is giving way to evil. As a young dragonlord, Ged, whose use-name is Sparrowhawk, is sent to the island of Roke to learn the true way of magic. A natural magician, Ged becomes an Archmage and helps the High Priestess Tenar escape from the labyrinth of darkness. But as the years pass, true magic and ancient ways are forced to submit to the powers of evil and death.
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  1. Reading age
    9 - 11 years
  2. Print length
    704 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm
  5. Publisher
    Puffin
  6. Publication date
    24 Jun. 1993
  7. ISBN-10
    0140348034
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0140348033
  9. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

Ursula Le Guin was born in Berkley, California, in 1929, daughter of the writer Theodora Krober and the anthropologist Alfred Krober. Her published work includes twenty-one novels, eleven volumes of short stories, three collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation. Among her novels are the The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed, both winners of the Nebula and Hugo awards, Always Coming Home, winner of the 1985 Kafka Award, and Four Ways to Forgiveness. In 2009 she won her sixth Nebula award for Powers.

Penguin/Puffin published the first volume of the Earthsea books, A Wizard of Earthsea, in 1971. The Earthsea books have been translated into many languages around the world and are global bestsellers.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin; 39th edition (24 Jun. 1993)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 704 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140348034
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140348033
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 181 ratings

About the author

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Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (US /ˈɜːrsələ ˈkroʊbər ləˈɡwɪn/; born October 21, 1929) is an American author of novels, children's books, and short stories, mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. She has also written poetry and essays. First published in the 1960s, her work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.

She influenced such Booker Prize winners and other writers as Salman Rushdie and David Mitchell – and notable science fiction and fantasy writers including Neil Gaiman and Iain Banks. She has won the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Locus Award, and World Fantasy Award, each more than once. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Le Guin has resided in Portland, Oregon since 1959.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
181 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and brilliant. They praise the magical storytelling, detailed world-building, and high moral tone. The writing quality is also praised, with nice language and an easy read.

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ReadabilityStorytellingWriting qualityAge range
28 customers mention ‘Readability’28 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an enjoyable, engaging read that is thorough and straight to the point. The book is described as a brilliant epic that creates fantastic worlds and lands full of mythical creatures. While some readers feel the writing can be turgid at times, overall they consider it a great series and classic.

"...safe to give to children (no sexual descriptions) and a good read for grownups." Read more

"Earthsea has to be one of the greatest and most powerful fantasy worlds ever created...." Read more

"This is the third time I have read this book and it still is very impressive...." Read more

"...Don't let that put you off buying, and reading, this brilliant epic. It's suitable for older children and adults alike...." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Storytelling’15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the magical storytelling and detailed fantasy world. They find the plot enthralling and the book holds their imagination for years. The author is skilled at supporting their imagination with fantastic stories.

"...This is a well crafted set of stories, safe to give to children (no sexual descriptions) and a good read for grownups." Read more

"...don't always live happily ever after, but the combination of fantasy and reality is utterly compelling...." Read more

"...It is a fantasy, but what is so compelling is the high moral tone, beautifully expressed...." Read more

"...It's finely written with a plot which will keep you enthralled...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Writing quality’9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find the stories well-written with nice language and a high moral tone that is beautifully expressed. The books are not difficult to read without being simplistic.

"...a fantasy, but what is so compelling is the high moral tone, beautifully expressed. Good triumphs over evil, but with many hairy moments on the way...." Read more

"...It's suitable for older children and adults alike. It's finely written with a plot which will keep you enthralled...." Read more

"...Part 1: A Wizard of Earthsea An extremely well written book, A Wizard of Earthsea is a very relaxing read, that's what the title is and that's..." Read more

"...The books are well written with nice use of language and are not a difficult read without being simplistic...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Age range’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for both young and old readers.

"...This book will appeal to young and old alike - something u can't say about many works of fiction. Peta" Read more

"...It's suitable for older children and adults alike. It's finely written with a plot which will keep you enthralled...." Read more

"...years ago but it is still a good book, will read again, good book for younger readers" Read more

"A must read for all teenagers: thoughtful quality material..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Rearda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stories that quietly notch up. You wonder where it's going, then you're hooked like a fish!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is four books in one, spanning the life of a mage/wizard of Earthsea, a world on an archipelago where every person has a use name (the name they use every day) and a true name which they keep secret, revealing it to only a few, or no-one. All named things of the Earthsea also have a true name, many of which are unknown and those that are, are known only to the mages. Only the first book is in the first person of the principal character; the other three come from the point of view of his companion, or even someone he doesn't encounter until two thirds of the way through the story! The stories show the character arc of the mage, from his own point of view at first, and then from the point of view of others while they are developing their own stories alonside his. The world is well-realised with just the right amount of topographical information (though the drawn maps in my edition were too small for the detail given). This is a well crafted set of stories, safe to give to children (no sexual descriptions) and a good read for grownups.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Peta
    5.0 out of 5 stars IF U CAN ONLY BUY 1 URSULA K LE GUIN BOOK - BUY THIS ONE !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2003
    Verified Purchase
    Earthsea has to be one of the greatest and most powerful fantasy worlds ever created.
    This collection of the 4 original Earthsea novels charts the story of Ged, a young boy who discovers his magical powers, as he rises to power as one of the great mages of Earthsea. His journey from boyhood to manhood is accompanied by a maturing of the Earthsea world as it too, struggles to change and grow. Ursula K Le Guin's world is not a utopia and people don't always live happily ever after, but the combination of fantasy and reality is utterly compelling.
    It is horrible, coming to the end of the quartet, when Earthsea seems to be on the edge of change, but the book has finished. Readers can't help wanting the book to continue, to know more. However, all is not lost ! "Tales of Earthsea" and "The Other Wind" are the latest additions to the quartet. They are just as impressive as the original "Wizard of Earthsea", written over 30 years ago.
    But if u can't afford to buy the entire collection, make sure u get "The Earthsea Quartet" - it will provide food for your imagination for decades to come. This book will appeal to young and old alike - something u can't say about many works of fiction.
    Peta
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Hugh Sedon
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantasy with a high moral tone.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 March 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is the third time I have read this book and it still is very impressive. It is a fantasy, but what is so compelling is the high moral tone, beautifully expressed. Good triumphs over evil, but with many hairy moments on the way. There is a remarkable understanding of the depth of "human" nature, even though it is set in a make-believe world.
    I have never read the trilogy alone, so to me "Tehanu" seems a logical extension of the story. Indeed, the ending is my most-remembered event of the four books!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Esdien
    5.0 out of 5 stars More than just fantasy.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2014
    Verified Purchase
    For some unfathomable reason Ursula Le Guin seems to be out of fashion these days. Don't let that put you off buying, and reading, this brilliant epic. It's suitable for older children and adults alike. It's finely written with a plot which will keep you enthralled. Although it falls into the "fantasy" category, I believe it works on so many other levels. Buy it - I challenge you to be disappointed!
    One person found this helpful
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  • The Shreester
    4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome trilogy but weak ending.........
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2002
    Verified Purchase
    I first read the Earthsea Trilogy when i was 12 & it was brilliant back then. After re-reading it recently, it still held my imagination after 5 yrs ! As a huge fan of SF & Fantasy, I rate her first 3 books in my top ten with their historically evocative depiction of magic practised with the Taoist philosophy of needful action only. This 4th book was written 10 years after the previous 3 & attempts to continue on where the others left off. Unfortunately, it does a very poor job of it !
    The first 3 books are "coming of age" novels whose main characters grow into adulthood through their travels & deeds as the books progress. Tehanu however, is mostly an old woman's reflections on the bitterness of her life ! The world described is a much darker & clearly sexist place as seen through the eyes of Tenar than it ever was with Ged.This is actually the best thing about the book since it does show a woman's view of a world where men rule & hold all the knowledge & wealth, but there is little to inspire the reader to challenge these views ! Tenar grudgingly accepts things as they are & does not attempt to change this status-quo. The young girl Therru is more of a mystery & there are indications that we will read great things of her in "The Other Wind" which is Le Guin's continuation of this story.
    I think it would have been better to write this as a prequel to "The Other Wind" rather than as a finale to a trilogy which was quite capable of standing on its own (5 stars !). There was little reason to tie the stories of Ged & Tehanu together as she has done, although it does provide for continuity & allows her to explore Ged's lose of his magic & Tenar's bitterness towards the men in her life at the same time.
    In summary I would say this book (3 stars !) is best read as an intro to "The Other Wind" rather then as part of the original Earthsea Trilogy which is a masterpiece in a class of its own. Whether Le Guin's newer work will rival it remains to be seen, but if this indication of what to expect then I fear we have already seen her best.
    43 people found this helpful
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  • Jagjeet K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ursula such a pro at supporting your imagination in creating some of the most fantastic lands and worlds full of mythical creatu
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    One of my all time faves, Ursula such a pro at supporting your imagination in creating some of the most fantastic lands and worlds full of mythical creatures brought to life all set in some great narrative.
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  • L Gosling-Myers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2014
    Verified Purchase
    If you love fantasy, dragons, magic etc, this is the best book you will ever find. Its the most thought out detailed fantasy - its been a favourite for over 10 years so I treated myself to a new copy.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • S Lee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 12 September 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Four books in one highly portable package.
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  • Lookfar
    5.0 out of 5 stars 再度購入
    Reviewed in Japan on 3 April 2023
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    とても面白かったので再度購入し、スキャンしてタブレットで読んでます。
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  • Hema
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!
    Reviewed in India on 19 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a brilliant book. It could seem to be too small for four stories, but the stories are fabulous. I felt some similarity to the Lord of the Rings books on the language. Even though it is classified under fantasy and there is magic, it does not really dominate the story lines. Do read even if you are not a fantasy fan.
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  • Jean-Luc Delaveau
    5.0 out of 5 stars Toujours aussi fascinant
    Reviewed in France on 24 August 2014
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    C'est avec plaisir que j'ai relu l'ensemble de Terremer. Ce qui est fascinant c'est l'économie de moyens de Mme Le Guin; la saga n'est pas basée sur ce qui arrive mais sur la qualité des personnages;
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  • Brian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy world with depth.
    Reviewed in the United States on 8 January 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This was less cut and paste fantasy and more of an anthropological masterpiece with a fully developed world and characters that actually grow as the book goes on. I didn't much care for Ged as the story started. He seemed arrogant and childish but it worked so well as he grows and learns from the mistakes that haunt him across the breadth of the world. Having all 4 of the Earthsea books in one package means I can fully immerse myself without having to wait or even pick up another book.

    As for the book itself the quality is great, the maps are all included and the print is readable which was my problem with the last Library of America book I read. Worth the price versus paying for each book separately and it is a series I strongly recommend to fantasy reading enthusiasts.
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