Earthsea #1
by Ursula K le Guin
fantasy
copyright 1968
read in June 2022
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
The author writes that she began with a map. Then the story unfolded as the wizard travelled round the map.
It's easy to believe.
The story drifts from place to place. There are little incidents which, mostly, could have happened anywhere. Several of the incidents add up to a lightweight story.
The key plot driver is an evil "shadow" which must be defeated. In the climactic battle... there is no explanation. Wizard tackles shadow, wizard wins. eh?! How?
The explanations of the magic could have been written by a tripping out hippie. The explanation of the final battle is even less clear.
The book is a rather dreamy tour of the map, following a well meaning rather nice but uninteresting wizard.
Easy to read. Worth reading only as part of the history of fantasy.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper ... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved === "I have seen the TRUTH -- and my chains have been broken" … Thrall === Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)
