Orion Children's Books Tales From Earthsea: The Fifth Book of Earthsea

This book from Ursula Le Guin is a masterpiece!

I was first introduced to Earthsea by the 2006 Studio Ghibli feature, and then later read the collected edition of the first four Earthsea novels a few years ago, which left a lasting impression on me. So I was excited to read Tales from Earthsea, a collection of short stories that each take place at different times and places throughout the Earthsea universe. As with anything that you love, there is always an element of fear when starting a new, later addition. Will it be as good? Has the author written from the heart, or for an easy paycheck?The answer, in the case of this book, is that five stars isnt nearly enough! Le Guin's writing is hauntingly beautiful, rich and fluid and timeless, and the universe of Earthsea unfolds in ever more wonderous ways in these stories. Two of the stories in particular, Darkrose and Diamond, and The Bones of the Earth, are incredibly moving, beautifully written tales that I felt a genuine, emotional connection with.The collection is rounded out with a set of short essays describing the history and people of the Earthsea universe, written by Le Guin as straight, historical accounts. And I think that is where one of the strengths of the Earthsea books lies - Le Guin truely knows this universe, as intimately as if she had lived and travelled there her whole life. It gives the stories an honestly and a simple truth that has you believing them as if there were a newly discovered history of our world.Some sword and sorcery epics have left me feeling a little cold, and stories of Royal courts set in high fantasy realms bore me. With Earthsea, the magical is presented as something old, something basic to the nature of the universe, a fundamental power that exists in all things (in the same way that I believed in The Force as a child), and this then coupled with the rich, detailed history and geography of Le Guin's world gives the stories such a solid base to build upon. That she can also write complex, intriguing characters that you genuily care about, means that these are stories I feel have imprinted on me somehow, become a part of me, rather than simply something I have read.If you have not yet discovered the Earthsea novels, I urge you to give them a try. These are warm, delightfully written books to be treasured and returned to, time and time again.

Amazing book. I love her writing style. It's unique and the story gives you chills.

前４巻を補ったり、５巻につないでくれたりする、中篇・短編です。「ゲド戦記」シリーズは、少し重く暗い物語ですが、この「Tales from　Earthsea」は、それぞれの話が短いので、重くならず、それでいてしっとりと、心に染み込んでくるような作品です。若き日のOgionにも、大賢人だった時のGedにも会えます。個人的には、全６冊になるシリーズの中で、一番好きです。ペーパーバック版に関して言えば、今まで読んだいくつかの種類に比べて本が大きく、余白部分が多いのでとても読みやすいのです。また、表紙絵が美しくて、ハードカバーが欲しくなりました。

This is an essential addition to the Earthsea collection, a beautiful, mature and intricately well-imagined fantasy world (where magic is a metaphor for a particular level of responsibility and approach to living and being in connection with nature).What will I recall about this book? Apparently the Studio Ghibli movie interpretation is not too faithful, perhaps because it's the son who directed it and not the master. Major pity, but I shall see it all the same. I like what she writes in the intro about Earthsea, as a changing place..and the nature of how stories change....I also had to put some of her words to a piece of guitar music, because i liked the 'Darkrose and Diamond' story so much....I very much enjoyed the book, although at times not quite as engaging as the novels. The stories extend and increase the resonance of Earthsea, and I sometimes wish for less spiritual significance and more spiritual action. Spiritually, the book scores as high as you'd expect, and at times the detail is beautiful and ideal. It was a great book to take on holiday to Devonshire.The last story is an important bridging piece, but to be honest I found this the hardest work to get through. Sometimes involvement in the magical relevance seems to come less naturally until Le Guin finds a suitable cause. It can get a bit 'far out' like with Frank Herbert's Dune books.People keep mentioning the gender issue but I feel this is always exaggerated: I'm more than happy with Le Guin's evolved approach to the sexes, and that Roke should be finally more open to both. It suits my own, equal opinion of the sexes, and I like the idea that we might all have once been dragons.....So i look forward to reading The Other Wind...standby for a forthcoming review....!