Description
Fiction. Fantasy. HTML: A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation, based on the first three books in Ursula Le Guin's bestselling 'Earthsea' cycle. Set on a vast archipelago of islands, where magic is a central part of life, 'Earthsea' tells the intertwined stories of Ged and Tenar. Ged is a boy from the island of Gont, born with innate magical talent and a reckless nature, who tampers with long-held secrets and releases a terrible shadow into the world. He must risk everything in order to restore the balance... Meanwhile, Tenar, a girl from the island of Atuan, is taken from her home and family to become Arha, the Priestess Ever Reborn, guardian of the ominous Tombs of Atuan. Deep within the Tombs, Ged and Tenar encounter one another and seek a way of bringing peace to the troubled archipelago. Ursula Le Guin's 'Earthsea' series have sold millions of copies and been translated into sixteen languages, and this epic dramatisation of 'A Wizard of Earthsea', 'The Tombs of Atuan' and 'The Farthest Shore' will take you deep into a rich fantasy world of sorcery, wizards and dragons. Among the cast are Shaun Dooley (Broadchurch) and Toby Jones (Dad's Army. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes approx..… (more)
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Available
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Publication
(1977)
User reviews
LibraryThing member marylegoth
I read this for the first time last year and was blown away. What a miss from my youth.
LibraryThing member ninanana19
A necessary read for old-school fantasy buffs...they've probably already read it though. This book proves that you don't need to have lots of words to immerse readers in a masterfully rendered world. It tells the story of a young, impudent boy and his journeys and interactions with fellow wizards
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and people of different regions of his world. Reading it is very soothing and literally enchanting. Read alone - 13+, Read aloud - 9+ Show Less
LibraryThing member phoebesmum
One of the best and strongest young adult fantasies ever written.
LibraryThing member StefanY
Having previously read Ursula Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness, I was a little leery of starting on the Earthsea Trilogy. I found Le Guin's style in Left Hand of Darkness to be very difficult to slog through for me and, while her ideas and story were very well crafted, I did not enjoy my reading
My experience with the Earthsea Trilogy couldn't have been more different from that of Left Hand of Darkness. Maybe because Earthsea is more intended for a younger audience, none of the writing seemed nearly as heavy and dense as Left Hand of Darkness. I once again did find the story and ideas to be well-crafted, however this time the language and style conveyed a magical quality to the story and I found all three volumes included within this omnibus to be unique and enjoyable in all aspects.
This was a fun trilogy to read and I will continue the series with the final volume and the short story collection that Le Guin has also written.
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experience at all.My experience with the Earthsea Trilogy couldn't have been more different from that of Left Hand of Darkness. Maybe because Earthsea is more intended for a younger audience, none of the writing seemed nearly as heavy and dense as Left Hand of Darkness. I once again did find the story and ideas to be well-crafted, however this time the language and style conveyed a magical quality to the story and I found all three volumes included within this omnibus to be unique and enjoyable in all aspects.
This was a fun trilogy to read and I will continue the series with the final volume and the short story collection that Le Guin has also written.
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LibraryThing member sallyawolf
Book One - A Wizard of Earthsea
This is about a young man's journey from a lonely poor boy to a wizard of legend. I think This little adventure is well written. It is about the way pride and envy can make you loose yourself. This is one man's quest to find it again before it destroys him forever
The moral of it all being to face your fear head on and beat it before it beats you. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Two- The Tombs of Atuan
At age five a young girl is taken from her family and is striped of everything including her name. Her job is to be the High priestess to the ancient and nameless powers of the earth. Her whole existence is changed however when she meets a thief who has come to claim a treasure that was long since lost.
I think that this book is about the dangers of major organizations that have to much power and how they can take everything away from you. Then blind you from the reality of what is really important Love!
A quote from the book says it best
"What she had begun to learn was the weight of liberty. Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice maybe a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it." © Page 141 in the book The Tombs of Autan by Ursula K. Le Guin
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Three- The Farthest Shore
In the beginning of this book a boy fallows a wizard on a quest to find what has gone wrong with the world. In the end the Wizard fallows the man to his destiny. This book is about the circle of life and the balance between good and evil. Everything that lives must die and everything that dies must live first. That is the way of the world. I think that this book was a good summery of all that one has learned from the other books. That you have to live and do what you love because that is what holds the world together. Balance and order are accomplished by the the opposites of Life, Death, Hate and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
As a whole this Trilogy is a fantasy twist of the truths of reality. They all are worth the read for young and old alike.
This is about a young man's journey from a lonely poor boy to a wizard of legend. I think This little adventure is well written. It is about the way pride and envy can make you loose yourself. This is one man's quest to find it again before it destroys him forever
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Just like any quest it is full of adventure, joy and pearl. The moral of it all being to face your fear head on and beat it before it beats you. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Two- The Tombs of Atuan
At age five a young girl is taken from her family and is striped of everything including her name. Her job is to be the High priestess to the ancient and nameless powers of the earth. Her whole existence is changed however when she meets a thief who has come to claim a treasure that was long since lost.
I think that this book is about the dangers of major organizations that have to much power and how they can take everything away from you. Then blind you from the reality of what is really important Love!
A quote from the book says it best
"What she had begun to learn was the weight of liberty. Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice maybe a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it." © Page 141 in the book The Tombs of Autan by Ursula K. Le Guin
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Three- The Farthest Shore
In the beginning of this book a boy fallows a wizard on a quest to find what has gone wrong with the world. In the end the Wizard fallows the man to his destiny. This book is about the circle of life and the balance between good and evil. Everything that lives must die and everything that dies must live first. That is the way of the world. I think that this book was a good summery of all that one has learned from the other books. That you have to live and do what you love because that is what holds the world together. Balance and order are accomplished by the the opposites of Life, Death, Hate and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
As a whole this Trilogy is a fantasy twist of the truths of reality. They all are worth the read for young and old alike.
Show Less
LibraryThing member harrietbrown
These books are AWESOME!!!! You should read them if you are interested in practicing magic, ritual, or meditation because they illustrate why it's important to deal with your own sh*t if you're going to go exploring "inner space," and what happens if you don't. Serves as a good warning to those
The first book, "A Wizard of Earthsea" was on my first coven's reading list, and I learned a great deal from it. I now own a hardcover copy of the book, and I'm never letting go of it! That was my introduction to the "Earthsea" trilogy. LeGuin wrote several more stories beyond the original trilogy, including "The Other Wind" and "Tales from Earthsea."
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just starting out on their path of spiritual soul-searching, of the harm that ego, selfishness, and hubris (that fatal flaw the old Greek tragedies warned against) can do to a seeker and those near and dear to her. The first book, "A Wizard of Earthsea" was on my first coven's reading list, and I learned a great deal from it. I now own a hardcover copy of the book, and I'm never letting go of it! That was my introduction to the "Earthsea" trilogy. LeGuin wrote several more stories beyond the original trilogy, including "The Other Wind" and "Tales from Earthsea."
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LibraryThing member Waianuhea
I love the magical system of names! If you read this, you will definitely like The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
LibraryThing member DriderQueen
First book that I read about fantasy. I loved Ged and what happened to is life to make him who he is. It's a beautiful tale, amazing in many thing.
If someone can explain the weird cover, I would like to know !! -_-'
If someone can explain the weird cover, I would like to know !! -_-'
LibraryThing member sallyawolf
Book One - A Wizard of Earthsea
This is about a young man's journey from a lonely poor boy to a wizard of legend. I think This little adventure is well written. It is about the way pride and envy can make you loose yourself. This is one man's quest to find it again before it destroys him forever
Book Two- The Tombs of Atuan
review to come
Book Three- The Farthest Shore
review to come
I borrowed this book from my Mother-in-law while I am held up at her house thanks MeMe.
This is about a young man's journey from a lonely poor boy to a wizard of legend. I think This little adventure is well written. It is about the way pride and envy can make you loose yourself. This is one man's quest to find it again before it destroys him forever
Show More
Just like any quest it is full of adventure, joy and pearl. The moral of it all being to face your fear head on and beat it before it beats you. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.Book Two- The Tombs of Atuan
review to come
Book Three- The Farthest Shore
review to come
I borrowed this book from my Mother-in-law while I am held up at her house thanks MeMe.
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LibraryThing member isabelx
When I re-readi the Earthsea trilogy by Ursula Le Guin, 20 years or more since I last read them, I could remember the general theme of Sparrowhawk becoming a wizard and the fact that Earthsea was a large archipelago, but that's about all.
LibraryThing member sallyawolf
Book One - A Wizard of Earthsea
This is about a young man's journey from a lonely poor boy to a wizard of legend. I think This little adventure is well written. It is about the way pride and envy can make you loose yourself. This is one man's quest to find it again before it destroys him forever
The moral of it all being to face your fear head on and beat it before it beats you. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Two- The Tombs of Atuan
At age five a young girl is taken from her family and is striped of everything including her name. Her job is to be the High priestess to the ancient and nameless powers of the earth. Her whole existence is changed however when she meets a thief who has come to claim a treasure that was long since lost.
I think that this book is about the dangers of major organizations that have to much power and how they can take everything away from you. Then blind you from the reality of what is really important Love!
A quote from the book says it best
"What she had begun to learn was the weight of liberty. Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice maybe a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it." © Page 141 in the book The Tombs of Autan by Ursula K. Le Guin
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Three- The Farthest Shore
In the beginning of this book a boy fallows a wizard on a quest to find what has gone wrong with the world. In the end the Wizard fallows the man to his destiny. This book is about the circle of life and the balance between good and evil. Everything that lives must die and everything that dies must live first. That is the way of the world. I think that this book was a good summery of all that one has learned from the other books. That you have to live and do what you love because that is what holds the world together. Balance and order are accomplished by the the opposites of Life, Death, Hate and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
As a whole this Trilogy is a fantasy twist of the truths of reality. They all are worth the read for young and old alike.
This is about a young man's journey from a lonely poor boy to a wizard of legend. I think This little adventure is well written. It is about the way pride and envy can make you loose yourself. This is one man's quest to find it again before it destroys him forever
Show More
Just like any quest it is full of adventure, joy and pearl. The moral of it all being to face your fear head on and beat it before it beats you. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Two- The Tombs of Atuan
At age five a young girl is taken from her family and is striped of everything including her name. Her job is to be the High priestess to the ancient and nameless powers of the earth. Her whole existence is changed however when she meets a thief who has come to claim a treasure that was long since lost.
I think that this book is about the dangers of major organizations that have to much power and how they can take everything away from you. Then blind you from the reality of what is really important Love!
A quote from the book says it best
"What she had begun to learn was the weight of liberty. Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice maybe a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it." © Page 141 in the book The Tombs of Autan by Ursula K. Le Guin
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
Book Three- The Farthest Shore
In the beginning of this book a boy fallows a wizard on a quest to find what has gone wrong with the world. In the end the Wizard fallows the man to his destiny. This book is about the circle of life and the balance between good and evil. Everything that lives must die and everything that dies must live first. That is the way of the world. I think that this book was a good summery of all that one has learned from the other books. That you have to live and do what you love because that is what holds the world together. Balance and order are accomplished by the the opposites of Life, Death, Hate and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy especially young adults.
As a whole this Trilogy is a fantasy twist of the truths of reality. They all are worth the read for young and old alike.
Show Less
LibraryThing member -Eva-
In A Wizard of Earthsea, we get to know Ged/Sparrowhawk on his journey to becoming a magician, through battles with dragons and with the conjured darkness that threatens to destroy him. In The Tombs of Atuan, we follow the Priestess through her training as a guardian of the tombs through to her
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eventual meeting with Ged and her subsequent flight. In The Farthest Shore, it is again time for Ged, now Archmage, to hunt the darkness, but now in the company of the boy-prince, Arren. For some unknown reason, I never read this while I was a child, and I sorely wish I had even if it's quite appropriate for adults as well. It's a proper adventure tale, where the baddies are extremely powerful and the only reason the hero falters is because his powers are not adequate - no characters getting in trouble because they do something stupid here (my biggest pet peeve). The first installment does a fantastic job at setting up the world of Earthsea (although my edition came with a very handy map) and you get the feel that this is a real universe. The second installment deals with the world from a completely different angle, which obviously adds even more depth to the world building. The third installment (for many years the last one in the series) wraps up Ged's fate nicely and shows a hint of optimism for the future. I particularly like that this is a world where you have to work for your magic - Ged is talented, but he still needs to study and work at getting his magic to work and when things go awry, there are real consequences. Show Less
LibraryThing member woollymammoth
My girlfriend was horrified that I hadn't read any science fiction so brought me a nice collection from Hay on Wye
Awards
Locus All-Time Best (Fantasy Novel — 4 — 1998)
Language
Original publication date
1977-03 (Omnibus)
1968 (A Wizard of Earthsea)
1971 (The Tombs of Atuan)
1973 (The Farthest Shore)
ISBN
0553051245 / 9780553051247