Author: Ursula Le Guin
Score: 9/10
Year: 1979* (trilogy first published in 1979 but the parts comprised in it are from 1968, 71 & 74)
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN 0140050930
Pages : 478 (this review for pages 9-168 : A wizard of Earthsea)
Language: English
During one of his visits, my wife's cousin brought both the movie adaptation and this book on which it was based. After watching the dvd, he told me that the book was much better and that the movie hadn't detailed much of it.
Prior to reading this novel, I let time pass, reading other books that had been waiting. Not long ago, I read that the author had been quite displeased that she had given up to Goro Miyazaki as his animated adaptation didn't do it justice, and that it had taken too many different paths than those she had laid in this novel.
I have to concur both with her and the cousin ; I understand that one cannot include the richness detailed in this triple novel into a movie, but not the choices of those differences.
This trilogy tells of Sparrowhawk, the greatest wizard of Earthsea, and starts with his difficult childhood, on the island of Gont, where he learns spell-working and wards-off an invasion, which sets him on his long journeys.
Ursula Le Guin's characterisation is very interesting and weaved gradually as the pages of Sparrowhawk's youth, adventures and studies of mage-lore.
I really like the philosophical aspects of this fantasy-based story, where we learn of this young man, who has to learn and muddle his way through, sometimes a bit blinded by his emotions and wills, and thus to grow in wisdom and humility.
Though some elements will make you think of The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings, Urusula Le Guin's aim doesn't seem to me as a mere plagiarism. JRR Tolkien's influence is clear, but she tells a very different story.
Some word or phrase-choices appear a bit sloppy or lazy, but this novel is full of quotable literary and philosophical gems, which sometimes are akin to Tolkien's richness, but with a far smaller mythological scope than his.
I equally like the psychological aspects in the story-telling, and how the author chose to convey the hero's doubts, fears and how he has to face them.
Sparrowak can be hot-tempered in his youth ; yet, as a male protagonist, I find that he is very different in the sense that he walks about with a tiny animal, curled up in his pocket or on his shoulder.
In his adventures, he learns of the importance of actions and consequences, of the balance in Earth and between living-beings, and of friendships.
Much like Patricia McKillip's Forgotten beasts of Eld, Earthsea emphasizes the paramount, vital importance of knowing the names of each person's and existing things, as part of understanding and having power over them. Here, however, there are additional aspects to this knowledge, told through one particular factor that I want to discuss, without spoiling anything off course:
There are several tongues on this imagined Earth, and the name that must be known to own the power over a person or thing is in the most ancient language of them all. The fact that it is told only to those the characters trust and never in the presence of a third party makes me think of those personal aspects we tell to our closest friends.
The given, public name by which a character is known to everyone, without revealing one's inner core through that particular True name is a bit like a last name, and our public personas. I really love this aspect in the novel.
Le Guin makes the very important point that being a wizard doesn't make the hero full-proof and invincible. There are many prices to pay, and dangers of losing one's own identity are very clearly said - and in psychological terms, how all persons must remain truthful to their core identity (even if we learn and evolve, there are things in us that define us).
There were too many omni meals in this novel, but there were a few passages that I found less pleasant to read, hence the overall score.
I love the conclusion to this first part of Earthsea trilogy ; the ending wasn't totally foreseeable and I enjoyed the literary, metaphorical nature of this journey.
I'd recommend reading it to any fantasy readers, and those who like somewhat richer language than all the pop-culture easy reading but devoid of substance books that abound everywhere.
PS : after starting to read this "trilogy book", I learned that another 3 books were released in the years after, expanding Earthsea series to 6 volumes. The reference of trilogy corresponds, therefore, to my edition of the first 3 of those volumes.
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