The Farthest Shore is possibly the most complex book so far of the Earthsea cycle, and probably the most challenging. The first two books examined the search for the truth within oneself: Ged embraces his darkness, Tenar her light. Both had to forgive themselves and find their absolution while dark worldly powers sought to use their fears against them. For a change of pace, The Farthest Shore sees its protagonists more or less at peace with themselves, but the world around them is collapsing because […]
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” – John F. Kennedy
It’s hard not be retroactively frustrated with this book when after finishing it I read the author information and found out that Ms. Dallamonica is gay but wrote a novel where her heronie only has straight romances. “I already have Tanya Huff in my life,” I thought. But I realize that that isn’t fair (to either Ms Dallamonica or Ms. Huff, who is an author that I adore (have you guys read her Valor series? Go read the Valor series.)) given the realities of getting […]
A quietly impressive redemption story with magic and a dangerous religion
The first book in the Earthsea cycle, A Wizard of Earthsea, offered a nuanced take on the fantasy trope of the wizard who comes of age into his power and learns that universal axiom “with great power comes great responsibility.” This second entry into the cycle shifts momentarily away from Ged’s story toward Tenar, who at birth is selected as the First Priestess of the Tombs of Atuan. Her story neatly deconstructs the equally common-in-fantasy Chosen One trope and also serves as a lesson about […]
Repetitive and sexist but not terrible for all that.
This is technically a review of the last book in two connected series but it can stand as a review of all ten books in both the The Belgariad and The Malloreon series. Because, let’s face it, they’re all more or less the same book. Now, unless it is loving satire written by Diana Wynne Jones, I am not typically a huge fan of quest fantasy. I find quest fantasy to be old-fashioned, trope-y, and sexist. And the books of David and Leigh Eddings hit […]