A young motherless boy discovers he has huge magical potential, and goes to wizarding school to learn his art. Soon he finds himself the hunted and the hunter in a quest to stop a terrible being, a Thing That Cannot Be Named, whose fate is inextricably linked to his own, from consuming him and using his form and powers to wreak destruction on the world. So far, so Harry Potter, only the boy in...
more A young motherless boy discovers he has huge magical potential, and goes to wizarding school to learn his art. Soon he finds himself the hunted and the hunter in a quest to stop a terrible being, a Thing That Cannot Be Named, whose fate is inextricably linked to his own, from consuming him and using his form and powers to wreak destruction on the world. So far, so Harry Potter, only the boy in question is Ged and A Wizard of Earthsea was published in 1968. It’s hard to imagine J. K. Rowling wasn’t influenced by Ursula Le Guin. The latter is arguably more inventive, drawing on Celtic and Norse myth, and her magic has a much stronger internal logic than Rowling’s. But J. K. creates more engaging characters, her style is less portentous and humour is allowed a freer rein. And she’s a better plotter. But A Wizard of Earthsea is a landmark book and an enjoyable read even 40 years on. Will Harry Potter age as gracefully?
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