Hardcover, 1008 pages
Published Oct. 30, 2018 by Gallery / Saga Press.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the timeless and beloved A Wizard of Earthsea—“…reads like the retelling of a tale first told centuries ago” (David Mitchell)—comes this complete omnibus edition of the entire Earthsea chronicles, including over fifty illustrations illuminating Le Guin’s vision of her classic saga.
Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novels are some of the most acclaimed and awarded works in literature—they have received prestigious accolades such as the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor, the Nebula Award, and many more honors, commemorating their enduring place in the hearts and minds of readers and the literary world alike.
Now for the first time ever, they’re all together in one volume—including the early short stories, Le Guin’s “Earthsea Revisioned” Oxford lecture, and a new Earthsea story, never before printed.
With a new introduction by Le Guin herself, this essential edition will also include fifty illustrations by renowned artist Charles Vess, …
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the timeless and beloved A Wizard of Earthsea—“…reads like the retelling of a tale first told centuries ago” (David Mitchell)—comes this complete omnibus edition of the entire Earthsea chronicles, including over fifty illustrations illuminating Le Guin’s vision of her classic saga.
Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novels are some of the most acclaimed and awarded works in literature—they have received prestigious accolades such as the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor, the Nebula Award, and many more honors, commemorating their enduring place in the hearts and minds of readers and the literary world alike.
Now for the first time ever, they’re all together in one volume—including the early short stories, Le Guin’s “Earthsea Revisioned” Oxford lecture, and a new Earthsea story, never before printed.
With a new introduction by Le Guin herself, this essential edition will also include fifty illustrations by renowned artist Charles Vess, specially commissioned and selected by Le Guin, to bring her refined vision of Earthsea and its people to life in a totally new way.
Contents: Introduction “Earthsea Revisioned” (a retrospective essay by the author) A Wizard of Earthsea The Tombs of Atuan The Farthest Shore Tehanu Tales from Earthsea The Other Wind “The Word of Unbinding” “The Rule of Names” “The Daughter of Odren” (never before published in print) "Firelight" (never before collected with other Earthsea stories; originally published in Paris Review Summer 2018)
With stories as perennial and universally beloved as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of The Rings—but also unlike anything but themselves—this edition is perfect for those new to the world of Earthsea, as well as those who are well-acquainted with its enchanting magic: to know Earthsea is to love it.
I started reading these books in April. Loved going thorough all the characters, locations, travels, and conflicts. I'm sure I'll get this on paper to also enjoy the drawings and reread.
Six books in one, need to start reviewing this before I finish. The Kindle version of this could tempt me to the physical one, the drawings look pretty washed out (and small) on the eInk display. I enjoy the author's notes about why she was writing each one and what she liked and didn't like. Also a useful reminder for me coming at them in 2022 what the time gaps were.
The first one is very mythic, I felt that there was more narrative of scenes than dialogue, for more of a Dunsanay vibe. I'm sure I've read it before but I don't remember more than "the wizard floated around in a boat a lot". Even the author in her afterwords says it's generic at this point, but I like it. Ged starts arrogant and becomes progressively more humble.
Second one felt a lot more grim. The point of view …
Six books in one, need to start reviewing this before I finish. The Kindle version of this could tempt me to the physical one, the drawings look pretty washed out (and small) on the eInk display. I enjoy the author's notes about why she was writing each one and what she liked and didn't like. Also a useful reminder for me coming at them in 2022 what the time gaps were.
The first one is very mythic, I felt that there was more narrative of scenes than dialogue, for more of a Dunsanay vibe. I'm sure I've read it before but I don't remember more than "the wizard floated around in a boat a lot". Even the author in her afterwords says it's generic at this point, but I like it. Ged starts arrogant and becomes progressively more humble.
Second one felt a lot more grim. The point of view is a girl very much out of her depth until she meets Ged. I could see myself skipping this one on a re-read of the sequence. I don't want to be trapped underground in the dark, where a lot of people end up.
Third one is Ged and his new close friend on a (standard fantasy) quest to encounter a bunch of things then fight the Big Bad. They do that.
Fourth one I thought was slow in building until it turned out it wasn't building, it was the plot. The main character is a woman with no arcane or physical power (but some political power) who then has to deal with (another) evil mage. It's a cozy book until it isn't - when suddenly what seems safe is suddenly a threat due to things out of her control. Five stars just for that one.
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