Ursula K Le Guin’s Earthsea Trilogy was originally written for young adults, but because of her writing style and the complex themes in the story, the novels also have a great appeal to adults. While there are adventures in the books, there is very little violence. Her characters and the world of Earthsea itself have such depth and detail that the reader comes to believe in their existence. Her Earthsea novels are considered among the best fantasy series, often compared to Tolkien’s Ring Trilogy and CS Lewis’ Narnia books. The Earthsea novels have won many awards, including five Hugo Awards, five Nebula Awards and the National Book Award.

Obviously, there are three novels in the trilogy: A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), The Tombs of Atuan(1970), and The Farthest Shore (1972). The novels are set on an archipelago in an ocean world and follow the adventures of Ged as he comes to manhood and discovers the true extent of his magical power. With his power comes an awesome responsibility; he also must learn to control it. Magic is central in this world and true names hold great power and are well guarded. Because of this Ged is also called Sparrowhawk. For a more in depth synopsis, visit The Green Man Review. Much later in her career, Le Guin added three more Earthsea novels: Tehanu (1991), Tales From Earthsea (2001), and The Other Wind (2001).

In December 2004, the Scifi Channel will air a miniseries version of Earthsea. The screenplay was written by Gavin Scott, who also wrote the screenplay for Mists of Avalon. The plot is from the first two novels in the trilogy: A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan. The cast includes Shawn Ashmore, Kristen Kruek, Isabella Rossellini, and Danny Glover. To find out more about this production, visit theScifi Channel’s Earthsea site.

Wizard of Earthsea

The Tombs of Atuan: The Earthsea Cycle

The Farthest Shore: The Earthsea Cycle, Vol. 3