the books of earthsea the complete illustrated edition

It even had a school for wizards, which in 1968 was not a ubiquitous idea. It might be nice at some point to see a version of this collected as individual volumes and in paperback for those who may want to bring it along while traveling.Įarthsea is a fully realized world and a groundbreaking work, one of the true classics of the genre, in which LeGuin blended magic, mythology, and philosophy into an enchanting story beloved by generations of readers. This is a serious work, meant for distraction free reading, if you can manage it. Instead, it’s reminiscent of the old favorites of college literature students, The Riverside Shakespeare/Chaucer, and indeed, I think that is the point. At almost a thousand pages, and weighing in at nearly five pounds, it isn’t exactly portable.

The one complaint that some readers may have is the sheer hugeness of this book. To me, this Saga Press version is reminiscent of the 1990s era Houghton Mifflin version of Lord of the Rings, which was illustrated by Alan Lee. It’s a lovely treatment of a beloved world that both longtime LeGuin fans and those new to the series are sure to want in their collections. The book includes over fifty illustrations and boasts a lovely, vivid jacket that depicts Ged amid tempest-tossed seas and a dragon hovering above him.

According to Vess, he worked closely with LeGuin to align his vision of Earthsea with hers in what is likely to be the definitive edition for many years to come. Vess’ illustrations are a wonderful complement to these works.

In short, this giant of a volume includes everything you need to know about Earthsea, and it’s a delight to see it all collected in one place. Also included are Tales from Earthsea, LeGuin’s 2001 collection, and four other stories, including the never before published “Daughter of Odren.” Her illuminating essay, “Earthsea Revisioned,” which she delivered as a lecture in Oxford in 1992, is also here, along with an introduction from the author. This collection includes the original trilogy: A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), The Tombs of Atuan (1971 ) and The Farthest Shore (1972), as well as the novels in which LeGuin revisited the trilogy, Tehanu (1990) and The Other Wind (2001), which conclude the saga many years after the events of the originals. Saga Press has released Ursula LeGuin’s collected Earthsea works, beautifully illustrated by Charles Vess.

The books of earthsea the complete illustrated edition