A Wizard of Earthsea

by Ursula K. Le Guin

ISBN: 978-0-241-95687-8

First published 1968

167 pages

Publisher: PENGUIN Fiction

Designed by Edward Bettison

5 / 5 Stars

Ursula K. Le Guin started with a map, before writing.

The titular hero of the book then visits many of these islands. The world Ursula creates is one where ocean covers most things, there are no continents, only bigger and smaller islands.

Here is the map she first drew, which she then revisited later to colour and add more detail:

The story starts in the Isle of Gont, but then moves to Roke, Pendor, The Ninety Iles, the Hands and many more. The pace is brisk and even, mishaps befall the hero, but each time he comes through, he is changed and made stronger by the experience.

A part-redemption story, a part coming of age story. Sorcerers abound, but so do fisher-folk and farm-folk, castles and harbours, the unknown and strange, the homely and the comforting.

There are 3 other books in this quartet, written at different times in Ursula’s life.

As the protagonist Ged / Sparrowhawk is on a journey, so is the reader on the journey with him…..