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  • A Wizard of Earthsea

  • The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1
  • Written by: Ursula K. Le Guin
  • Narrated by: Rob Inglis
  • Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (243 ratings)

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A Wizard of Earthsea

Written by: Ursula K. Le Guin
Narrated by: Rob Inglis
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Publisher's Summary

"The shapeless mass of darkness split apart. It sundered, and a pale spindle of light gleamed between his open arms. In the oval of light there moved a human shape: a tall woman...beautiful, and sorrowful, and full of fear." - from A Wizard of Earthsea, first in a tetralogy that includes The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore, introduces the listener to Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, known also as Sparrowhawk. When Sparrowhawk casts a spell that saves his village from destruction at the hands of the invading Kargs, Ogion, the Mage of Re Albi, encourages the boy to apprentice himself in the art of wizardry. So, at the age of 13, the boy receives his true name - Ged - and gives himself over to the gentle tutelage of the Master Ogion. But impatient with the slowness of his studies and infatuated with glory, Ged embarks for the Island of Roke, where the highest arts of wizardry are taught. There, Ged's natural talents enable him to surpass his classmates in little time. But when his vanity prompts him to summon Elfarran, the fair lady of the Deed of Enlad, he unleashes a shapeless mass of darkness - the shadow.

©1968 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)1992 Recorded Books, LLC

What listeners say about A Wizard of Earthsea

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Wish there had been more

I was so relieved when I got to the end. There was so nothing here. World development was good, but oh I never really knew any of the people. The narrator even seemed bored with it. Glad it was short.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story cycle - Earthsea: First book.

This is a wonderful tale of magic and a young man's coming to age and into his power.
It was very good narration, for which I only subtracted a star as our hero Sparrowhawk's voice sometumes seemed much older than his young years.
If you love this series, read or listen right through to the fifth book, The Other Wind. The sixth book, Tales of Earthsea, are stories which tell elements of the backstory. Happy days in Earthsea!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow!

This books was so interesting, this world of Earthsea. The young wizard getting himself into trouble by uttering a spell he should not have been. For prides sake. The shadow was simply terrifying! Especially when it first emerged.

Not overly long but still quite interesting for a book written in the 60’s. My only regret as I took this in as an audio book was not seeing a map. Because the wizard did a ton of travelling and was always describing what country he was in or what isle were in which direction.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A great story very well written

This is a very entertaining story that is superbly written and superbly narrated. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
However this is clearly a children’s book, that skips along without too much depth or complexity, which is why it’s quite short. It’s been a very long while since I was a child, but I still enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beat fantasy writer

The most elegant stirring writer who ever lived. Ursula k Leguin has no equal. A beautiful story

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • K
  • 2022-10-13

The Great Fantasy Begins!

Absolutely love this book! it is pure fantasy, distilled and purified. I could barely put it down, and never had any issue with losing concentration and zoning out. Every word feels so purposeful.

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lovely book

read the book when I was a teenager after the Harry Potter series started, this story is so well done and refreshing, it was worth the listen and I truly appreciate the authors talents, excellent narrator

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

i kept falling asleep

I was actually really excited to listen to this book. the summary and reviews really sold me on the story.

then the narrator began. and it's not his fault. but his voice is so soothing. I could not stay awake!

I tried three separate times to listen to this, but I couldn't make it.

I gave the book 5 stars because this is most likely just me. I'm sure the book is wonderful, and the story is wonderful. it's honestly just the narrator. his voicing isn't even boring or anything. I literally just end up feeling so calm and falling asleep haha

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Decent, though I had trouble knowing who was who!

I enjoyed this book well enough, hearing it for the first time here. I did have trouble keeping track of the characters even though I was paying close attention and often replayed the parts I didn't follow well as I went to really take in the whole story. Other then "Ged" I can't remember a single other character's name and I just finished the book not two minutes ago. The character names were utterly forgettable, which is unfortunate, as were the names of all the islands and towns.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding Fantasy

This novel reminds me of Patrick Rothfuss' "The Kingkiller Chronicles'" - a lot - but it's clearly aimed at a younger audience (the writing is just a little too immature). The book follows the progression and training of a legendary Wizard from his discovery of sorcerous powers as an impetuous boy to his eventual revelation as a wise conqueror of Dragons and Evil Spirits.
LeGuin's Ged - Sparrowhawk - is an eminently human character.. complete with insecurities and personal faults. He is a hero, but one that is relatable. The author's descriptions are vivid and the events are captivating and filled with adventure. LeGuin pens a thought-provoking morality tale confronting impatience and hubris.. while simultaneously providing an entertaining chronicle and introducing a fascinating Fantasy setting (Earthsea).

Rob Inglis is a very good narrator (clear, excellent diction, admirable tone), but his slow style of reading reminds me that this is a children's story. It is perhaps appropriate to the intended audience.. very much like reading a comfortable bedtime story.. but somewhat annoying for an Adult. I sped it up to 1.15X and the result was excellent.

I bought this as a Daily Deal, but will likely continue this charming tetralogy. Although it's ideally meant for kids aged 10-14 or so, this recording merits 8.5 out of 10 stars even to an adult reader, and promises good things to come.

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  • Marjorie
  • 2012-05-14

A little gem, excellently narrated.

A Wizard of Earthsea is the first installment of Ursula K. Le Guin's classic fantasy. Having read the Earthsea novels (five in all, plus a collection of short tales) years ago, I was very happy with this audio version, which is beautifully done. Re-visiting Earthsea, it's interesting to notice how many of what are now conventions of fantasy writing were in fact pioneered by Le Guin so long ago.

One thing that's different about her books: the writing is beautiful but spare. She can tell you in a few paragraphs what other fantasy writers seem to need long chapters to explain. Each of the Earthsea books comes in at something around 200 pages, quite a contrast to the bloated tomes of so many contemporary fantasy writers.

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89 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Finance Guy
  • 2010-08-03

Elegant & unique fantasy, deliciously performed

I can't believe I didn't listen to or read this book sooner. Ursula K. Le Guin has rekindled my believe that fantasy can be a legitimate literary genre.

Charming and entertaining like a fairy tale but simultaneously dripping with the suspense, drama, and authenticity of a Viking Saga or Epic Poem, A Wizard of Earthsea (the first of the series) cannot be ignored by any serious fantasy reader. So much sub-par fantasy is written in this, age of World of Warcraft and Eragon, that it's refreshing to have Ursula K. Le Guin to discover and delight in.

The narrator of this book makes it sound like he is recounting an ancient tale around some campfire in the Iron Age. Amazing!

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  • Robert
  • 2013-05-09

A Classic

While Ursula K. Le Guin wrote several novels about the fantasy world of Earthsea, A Wizard of Earthsea appears to be the first of the main cycle by that name. I found it difficult to pin down whether the series is written for children and/or adults. I concluded that while there are a number of philosophical themes that adults could appreciate, the target audience was probably that of a younger age. Let’s say YAs.

Further, on the subject of age, this is basically the coming of age story of a young mage named Ged who is drawn to wizardry and develops into just that as the story unfolds. There’s much in the way of magic, spells and personal discovery along the way. However, as Ged learns, all of the power and might of of a wizard comes with a price. Wizardry is not for the faint-hearted nor is its magic lightly wielded by the ignorant or arrogant. Much of this is taught Ged by Ogion his primary mentor along with his own life’s little (and not so little) foibles in and around Earthsea. Does all this sound a bit familiar?

The monster of the story we learn is… uh, not so fast. That would be a major spoiler. And I believe the book is worth reading to discover that as well as the other things Ged learns along his way through apprenticeship and personal discovery. The book is very straight forward. That appears to be Le Guin’s style. After recently reading a bunch of China Mielville prior to Earthsea, the latter was a refreshingly, relaxing read. However, we probably should not be fooled by her simplicity. Contained within the pages are a depth and breath that can be easily missed if we’re not paying attention. What can I say; it’s obviously a classic and who could not recommend that.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • B. Mertz
  • 2011-06-02

This one is a classic for a reason

Incredibly engaging, masterfully crafted, full of some of the best-written and most complex wizards you will find in literature, A Wizard of Earthsea is the fantasy genre at its absolute finest.

Those of us who read a lot of fantasy have read too many "kid goes to wizard school" books. Many are badly written with flat characters and predictable plotlines. Ursula Le Guin dazzles in this book, which though originally published in 1968, reads as fresh and new and inspiring as all great art does. The old fantasy archetypes are brilliantly and creatively revisited, and adventure abounds.

Anyone who loves fantasy will love Earthsea, and those who don't may find this an ideal introduction. Kids, adults, you name it, Earthsea is short, well-paced, suspenseful, epic, and a delight to read. This audiobook version is excellent.

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  • Brian
  • 2015-02-03

An old favorite beautifully realized

I had forgotten how beautiful and spare LeGuin's writing can be. Here she's like a cross between Tolkien and Hemingway: lyrical, but no extraneous cruft.

I am a big fan of the performer/narrator, Rob Inglis, who can also be heard reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I was so happy to find more opportunities to listen to him read to me.

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  • Cai
  • 2016-03-17

A classic: 2018=50 years in print

I first read this in the 70s. It was among the first fantasy novels I encountered, and hooked me into the gene. It was a delight to encounter it once again.

These days we tend to compare magic systems and world building, but when LeGuin was writing it was as one of the pioneers of modern fantasy. If it seems familiar at times, that would be because she helped to chart these waters. After 40 years, I had forgotten much of the story. To me, it still stands strong and tall on its own.

As this is an old school audio book, the narrator doesn't use character voices, and apparently didn't need to. His resonate deep voice carries the story along in a strong, clear, captivating tone.

There was a curious moment when out of nowhere came instructions to switch to the second cassette. But that adds to the old school charm of the book.

I would recommend this book to people who can enjoy a fantasy book for more than its action. It is appropriate for YA, with any dark elements being fairly tame. There is a coming of age element to the book. In fact, it has many delightful layers of elements to uncover if you choose to dig in. But some will want to know that there is not a significant love interest.

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24 people found this helpful

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  • Nothing really matters
  • 2016-07-22

I’m not usually into fantasy, but … WOW.

A Wizard of Earthsea was published in 1968. Read it and you’ll see that J. K. Rowling borrowed a *surprising* number of its key elements for her Harry Potter series. That said, this and the other Earthsea books struck me as covering a more inventive magical universe. The writing and dialogue are also much better.

It’s interesting to compare the magic in both series. Earthsea magic has less flash and more substance. Potter magic is flashy and occasionally illogical. You can also say the same things about their respective plots.

The Wizard of Earthsea is unconventional. For example, most of the characters are not handsome caucasians and the universe is not some variant of the England of the Middle Ages. Again, it’s interesting to compare this with the Potter series which is quite conventional. And while this book is progressive, the Potter books promote the last acceptable prejudice, that being the one against the overweight. Nice one, J.K.

Earthsea series is now my favourite sci-fi/fantasy series and I’d rank it second only to my favourite series of any type, the Hornblower books. That’s high praise.

After starting this book, I listened in every spare moment and promptly downloaded the next book as soon as I finished this one. I did the same with the second one. All the books are excellently narrated by Rob Inglis, btw.

I highly recommended this and the other two Earthsea books Audible carries. I only wish Audible had the last three books in series.

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  • Sarah Clarke
  • 2015-08-08

Classic Ursula Le Guin never gets old

This is an archetypal story told much like a ballad from times of old. It is sparse yet full of detail at the same time. The narrator readsbeautifully, with feeling, pacing himself lovingly through the tail. I felt like I was a child again listening to my granddad. It is a wonderfully told story that I can't wait to listen to again.

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  • Jefferson
  • 2015-06-13

A Capable Reading of a Fantasy Classic

Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea (1968) is a heroic fantasy classic, telling the tale of the growth of Ged, the future Archmage of Earthsea, from a proud and reckless boy hungry for knowledge and power to a young man at peace with himself. Written with poetic concision and grace, Le Guin's novel depicts compelling events in an other world with more thought, imagination, philosophy, and care than the majority of the bloated heroic fantasy novels these days can begin to muster. Her convincing depiction of a fully realized secondary world, Earthsea, complete with legends, traditions, songs, tales, different cultures and environments, and well-thought out and philosophically consistent and cool system of magic, is impressive, especially given how short her book is.

Although the short novel adheres to some genre traditions, as in, for instance, depicting the maturing of a hero through adversity and adventure with female characters playing subordinate roles as flawed teachers, beautiful temptresses, or cute supporters ("weak or wicked as woman's magic"), it also performs (especially given its era) some remarkable subversion and expansion of the genre, as in making Ged and his fellow Archipelagans people of color, depicting a school for wizards with different types of magic to be mastered, and rendering the climactic struggle as something much more interesting and meaningful than a struggle between the hero and an external evil monster.

And Le Guin's prose is a taut pleasure, every sentence being comprised of the perfect words in the perfect order with the perfect syntax and punctuation and rhythm, so that the book may be re-read multiple times, each time with a new appreciation. This is so whether she is describing characters ("He grew wild, a thriving weed, a tall, quick boy, loud and proud and full of temper") or settings ("Now the dark forest-crowned cliffs gloomed and towered high over his boat, and spray from the waves that broke against the rocky headlands blew spattering against his sail, as the magewind bore him between two great capes into a sound, a sealane that ran on before him deep into the island, no wider than the length of two galleys"), or voicing wise aphorisms ("Heal the wound and cure the illness but let the dying spirit go"), or evoking horror ("So it came over the sea, out of the Jaws of Enlad towards Gont, a dim ill-made thing pacing uneasy on the waves, peering down the wind as it came; and the cold rain blew through it") or epiphany ("In that moment Ged understood the singing of the bird, and the language of the water falling in the basin of the fountain, and the shape of the clouds, and the beginning and end of the wind that stirred the leaves: it seemed to him that he himself was a word spoken by the sunlight").

Some words about the audiobook read by Robert Inglis. I have twice listened to Inglis' definitive readings of the entire The Lord of the Rings and think he is ideally suited for Tolkien's masterpiece, giving them their necessary gravitas, pathos, suspense, humor, and beauty (including effectively doing different voices for the different characters—his Gollum, Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam are all perfect—engagingly singing the different genres of songs, and so on). However, perhaps because I first listened to Harlan Ellison's over-the-top but entertaining reading (in which he shouts, screams, whispers, sighs, sobs, sings, laughs, lectures, or just reads, endowing key words with special weight or particular pauses with extra pregnancy), Inglis sounds here a touch pale, thin, and tired. Or is it that Le Guin and Ellison are American, Inglis British? Whereas Ellison's version brought out different aspects of A Wizard of Earthsea that I hadn't noticed before, Inglis' version felt more routine. Mind you, Inglis is an excellent, professional reader, and Ellison's version is no longer available on Audible.

Anyway, people who like philosophical, poetic, concise, and original fantasy should read Le Guin’s Earthsea books, beginning with this one.

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  • P. M. ONeill
  • 2016-11-09

Puts Harry Potter & Game of Thrones in perspective

Having never read this book, nor having more than passing knowledge of the author, I gave this audiobook a try based on a strong recommendation. The story seems to presage very well known fantasy fiction of more recent times, so much so that they have to be considered part homage at a minimum. Yet it stands apart in the author's light reliance on magic to propel. I'm now looking forward to the next book in the series!

Performance wise, I have no criticism, though predictably an American author has been given voice by regional and class accents of the British Isles. I would have welcomed a different approach.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2022-10-12

not bad i guess

a bit short . could develop more details imo. but ok overall ! .

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