Earthsea

The Earthsea Cycle is a celebrated series of high fantasy novels. The author, Ursula K. Le Guin, created this expansive world. The series began with the publication of *A Wizard of Earthsea* in 1968. It includes several novels and many short stories. These works explore magic, balance, and the nature of existence. The complete collection was released in 2018. This volume is titled *The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition*. It features artwork by the artist Charles Vess.

The setting of Earthsea is a vast archipelago. An archipelago is a large group of islands. This world contains hundreds of islands surrounded by mostly uncharted oceans. There are no large continents in this setting. The largest island is named Havnor. It is approximately the size of Great Britain. The climate in Earthsea is mostly temperate. This is similar to the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere on Earth. Northern islands like Gont and Osskil experience cold, snowy winters. Southern regions can be much warmer.

Diversity is a key feature of the Earthsea population. Most people in the archipelago have red-brown skin. People in the East Reach have darker, black-brown complexions. In the north, the people of Osskil have lighter, sallow skin. The Kargs of the Kargad Lands are described as white-skinned with yellow hair. Le Guin used these descriptions to challenge fantasy traditions. She wanted to move away from stories that only feature white characters. She also avoided making her societies look exactly like the European Middle Ages.

Magic is a central force in the lives of many people. It is an inborn talent that requires training to refine. Most people use magic for practical tasks. Weather workers assist sailors on ships. Fixers use magic to repair buildings and boats. There are also entertainers and court sorcerers. The most gifted students attend a school on the island of Roke. If they show enough discipline, they become staff-carrying wizards. However, magic is strictly forbidden in the Kargish lands.

Taoist philosophy provides the foundation for the series' themes. This philosophy focuses on the balance of opposites. This is often represented by the Yin-Yang symbol. In Earthsea, light and darkness are connected. Le Guin wrote that light is the left hand of darkness. The books explore many such polarities. These include male and female, or doing and being. Literary scholar Richard Erlich notes that the books embody these balances. For example, the character Ged returns to his roots in the book *Tehanu*. This movement completes a Taoist cycle.

The concept of the Dry Land is also very important. The Dry Land is a realm of shadow and dust. It is a place of eternal night where stars are fixed. Most people go there after they die, except for the Kargs. In this place, souls have a dreary existence. Even lovers pass each other in silence. The fifth novel, *The Other Wind*, provides a deeper explanation. It reveals the Dry Land was once part of the dragons' domain. Early mages stole it while trying to find immortality. By the end of the series, the land is restored to the dragons.

Earthsea has a rich history of publication and influence. The first three books are often called the "original trilogy." These were written between 1968 and 1972. The later books are called the "second trilogy." The series was influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien. Some scholars believe the Hardic language contains tributes to him. For example, the word "tolk" may refer to Tolkien. The series has won many prestigious awards. *The Farthest Shore* won a National Book Award for Children's Books. *Tehanu* won both a Nebula and a Locus Award. The BBC has even produced radio dramatizations of these famous stories.