Promotional Information

Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea books are enduring children's classics; this will be a real publishing event First new Earthsea novel since TEHANU was published by Gollancz in 1990 'Earthsea [is] one of the most deeply influential of all 20th century fantasy texts' ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FANTASY Le Guin is one of the finest fantasy writers of our time 'Le Guin writes like a dream' The Bookseller 'Ursula Le Guin ... is a creator of marvels ... ' The Times 'a profound and philosophical novel' Books for Keeps 'A masterpiece of chilling narration' The Guardian "This absorbing philosophical debate can stand alone for Le Guin's new readers; for long-standing fans of the Earthsea saga, old friends are here." TES

About the Author

Ursula K. Le Guin has won many Nebula and Hugo Awards, as well as a National Book Award, a Pushcart Prize, the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Newbery Honor and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.

Reviews

"...a thought-provoking continuation of the chronicle of Earthsea...a luminous, absorbing meditation upon life, death and man's relentless quest for immortality." Booktrusted News "This absorbing philosophical debate can stand alone for Le Guin's new readers; for long-standing fans of the Earthsea saga, old friends are here." TES, 31 May 02 "...a masterpiece of chilling narration" Guardian, 27 Jul 02 "The characters and fantasy world are all vividly drawn and the fascinating issues raised by the story are important and profound." Northern Echo, 12 Nov 02 "Le Guin's storytelling is remarkable...Without giving away the ending, it is both melancholy and affirming...moving and rewarding." The School Librarian, Winter 02 "If you think you don't like fantasy, think again; Leguin's books simply give "reality" another shape." -- Erica Wagner The Times, 7 Dec 02 "The Other Wind, a new Earthsea novel, felt like a homecoming to the magnificent otherworld that I escaped to at 14; wise, graceful, classic myth-making for all ages" -- Julie Bertagna The Scotsman, 7 Dec 02 "A powerful and thought-provoking story of magic, love and loss." Perth Shopper, 25 Apr 03

"...a thought-provoking continuation of the chronicle of Earthsea...a luminous, absorbing meditation upon life, death and man's relentless quest for immortality." Booktrusted News "This absorbing philosophical debate can stand alone for Le Guin's new readers; for long-standing fans of the Earthsea saga, old friends are here." TES, 31 May 02 "...a masterpiece of chilling narration" Guardian, 27 Jul 02 "The characters and fantasy world are all vividly drawn and the fascinating issues raised by the story are important and profound." Northern Echo, 12 Nov 02 "Le Guin's storytelling is remarkable...Without giving away the ending, it is both melancholy and affirming...moving and rewarding." The School Librarian, Winter 02 "If you think you don't like fantasy, think again; Leguin's books simply give "reality" another shape." -- Erica Wagner The Times, 7 Dec 02 "The Other Wind, a new Earthsea novel, felt like a homecoming to the magnificent otherworld that I escaped to at 14; wise, graceful, classic myth-making for all ages" -- Julie Bertagna The Scotsman, 7 Dec 02 "A powerful and thought-provoking story of magic, love and loss." Perth Shopper, 25 Apr 03

What a year it's been for Le Guin. First, there was The Telling, the widely praised new novel in her Hainish sequence, followed by Tales from Earthsea, a collection of recent short fiction in her other major series. Now she returns with a superb novel-length addition to the Earthsea universe, one that, once again, turns that entire series on its head. Alder, the man who unwittingly initiates the transformation of Earthsea, is a humble sorcerer who specializes in fixing broken pots and repairing fence lines, but when his beloved wife, Lily, dies, he is inconsolable. He begins to dream of the land of the dead and sees both Lily and other shades reaching out to him across the low stone wall that separates them from the land of the living. Soon, more general signs and portents begin to disturb Earthsea. The dragons break their long-standing truce and begin to move east. The new ruler of the Kargad Lands sends his daughter west in an attempt to wed her to King Lebannen. Even Ged, the former archmage, now living in peaceful, self-imposed exile on Gont, starts to have disturbing dreams. In Tehanu (1990), the fourth book in the series, Le Guin rethought the traditional connection between gender and magic that she had assumed in the original Earthsea trilogy. In her new novel, however, she reconsiders the relationship between magic and something even more basic: life and death itself. This is not what 70-year-old writers of genre fantasy are supposed to do, but then, there aren't many writers around like Le Guin. (Oct. 1) FYI: In addition to five Hugo and five Nebula awards, Le Guin has won a National Book Award, the Kafka Award and a Pushcart Prize. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

In the author's first "Earthsea" novel in ten years, the sorcerer Alder is troubled by the dead and must appeal to the former archmage for help. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.