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The Farthest Shore (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 3) | |||||||
 
| 80% Recommended by our customers. Publisher: Pocket Catalog: Book Release date: 2004-11-23 Media: Paperback Number of pages: 272 Ean: 9781416509646 Book Isbn: 141650964X  Tip: compare prices with similar booksAuthor:
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Book Three of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle Darkness threatens to overtake Earthsea: the world and its wizards are losing their magic. Despite being wearied with age, Ged Sparrowhawk -- Archmage, wizard, and dragonlord -- embarks on a daring, treacherous journey, accompanied by Enlad's young Prince Arren, to discover the reasons behind this devastating pattern of loss. Together they will sail to the farthest reaches of their world -- even beyond the realm of death -- as they seek to restore magic to a land desperately thirsty for it. With millions of copies sold worldwide, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle has earned a treasured place on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere, alongside the works of such beloved authors as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.
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| User Reviews: |
 Written on April 3, 2005 Summary: one of the strongest books in the series The Farthest Shore is the third book in the Earthsea series, and the concluding one for several decades. Since it's highly recommended to have read the first two, I'll work on the assumption that the reader has. If book one, Wizard of Earthsea has the most action/magic and book two, Tombs of Atuan, is the slowest and most introspective of the opening trilogy, then The Farthest Shore is a nicely-balanced blending of the styles. We return to many of the basics from Wizard. Ged is once again the main character instead of a side character as in Atuan, the setting once again moves island to island throughout the archipelago rather than being limited to a single place as in Atuan, magic is much more present than in book two, and there is an actual villain in opposition to Ged unlike the more abstract problems in the previous book. All of these will probably be welcome changes to those who found Atuan too slow or limited in place and character. Shores shares with both Wizard and Atuan a coming-of-age theme, in this case it is Arren, a young prince who has come to Roke to tell Ged and the Master Wizards that magic is bleeding away in his land only to learn that the same is true all over Earthsea. Arren joins Ged in the quest to find out what (or more accurately who) is causing magic to die away, and why/how. The broadening of characters that began in Atuan continues in Shore. Though Ged is once again the main character, he is not the sole focus as Le Guin gives considerable attention to Arren's growth as well as, though to a lesser extent to the other Masters of Roke. In fact, the small scenes involving the Masters are some of the most exquisite and most moving. Much of the same personal reflection and introspective nature of Atuan is also present in Shore, mixed in nicely with more dramatic, action-oriented scenes. Ged is an old man at this point, and mortality is an issue as it really hasn't been before. Death and its flip side Life are in fact, the a major subjects of the novel, and as we have in the past, we cross over that stone wall separating the land of the living and the land of the dead, though in this book we go much farther. While the first two books dealt with larger themes through the focus on a single individual, this one deals with its themes both individually and socially as well. Much more than the other works, Ged deals here with a problem that has an impact that affects the greater society more deeply and broadly than other obstacles he has overcome. The book is darker than the first two, but also more moving, more achingly beautiful, more poignant. Ged's age and sense of caution are artfully counterbalanced by Arren's youthful innocence and impetuosity, the more philosophical discussions nicely balanced by the more dramatic action scenes. And the ending, as one should expect by now, is not nicely wrapped up in sweet, comforting fashion. As always, the language is sharply vivid, highly efficient and beautiful; the world-creating sense of history and backstory is quickly yet fully conveyed; the characters are fully fleshed out and utterly believable. Wizard may be the most "fun" book of the series, Atuan is certainly the slowest and most introspective (simple description, not criticism), but in many ways, The Farthest Shore is the strongest, a judgment I think holds true considering the books that come after as well as those that come before. Highly recommended.  Written on December 22, 2004 Summary: End of a series Overall, this series rates a 4, but individually, it's difficult not to rate them a bit lower. The sum total of Ged's story seems better than each part. This definitely is a story that a reader thinks about once it's done. Here, the story encompasses the whole of Earthsea, as a darkness creeps from island to island, killing wizard's ability to perform magic, and others' memories of traditions and ceremonies. When Prince Arren arrives in Roke to tell, Ged, now the High Mage, that there is no longer magic on Enlad, the two set out to find the origins of the darkness. Led by natural instinct, Ged allows his boat, Lookfar, to take them to islands already in despair. Where they find the cause brings the trilogy full circle in many respects. The where and who could mean the death of both travelers. But Ged has matured and has gained strength and wisdom. Arren is young and strong and devoted to the Arch Mage. Together, they face the danger, hoping to bring magic and lightness back to their world. Written on December 12, 2004 Summary: One of the best in Heoric Mythology Le Guin enjoys no press, no fanfare, no fan clubs. She has no movies (until now the mini-series), no trading card games, no computer games. Her writing is not flamboyant: it is thoughtful, considered, and quiet. Her books are generally short and are closer to novelettes. Yet she remains as one of the principle authors of the fantasy genre and her work survives. It will outlive, we suspect, a great deal of those novels that enjoy such extraordinary popularity today. JK Rowlings is the Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz) of our generation. Le Guin is the CS Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) of our generation. The distinction is in decibels and the scope. Earthsea, we believe, is one of those rare series of books that will quietly fill every library of every parent who has a child who loves to read. Incidentally, we feel that the later books Tehanu and The Other Wind detract from the series rather than add to it (as is the case with many sequels). Those later books are better avoided. WHO SHOULD READ THIS: As we mentioned, the series is aimed at grade levels somewhere around 5th to 9th. These are a series of books that are invaluable for this age group. It is mythology--both relevant and exciting--that teaches us not didactically how to live but shows us what it means to be alive. Many critics have said many different things about her books but the (overused) phrase "deeply human" seems just about right. These are books that--if the reader can meet the level that Le Guin sets in--will be revered for many, many years. People who have enjoyed Ender's Game, Tales of the Otori, and The Chronicles of Prydain will find these books very special. WHO SHOULD PASS: As we often say about books that are especially good, this is a novel of introspection. There is a bit of death but you won't see blood sprayed across the page. There are no great battles, sieges, or other events of great war. There is no overt sex. The magic is not "Terry Magic" (that is, Terry Goodkind or Terry Brooks type that shoots forth as fire, lightning, and death in the air) but rather a magic of language, of truth, of world harmony. To use a video game analogy, don't start playing Myst expecting to have whatever enjoyment you get out of playing Grand Theft Auto. READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM Written on November 29, 2004 Summary: again almost 5 As with the second book I loved it but there is too much of a span of time between the first and the second. When you leave off with the second book Ged and Vetch return from Ged over coming the shadow, in the third it starts some 15 years later. Now Ged is the Archmage. What happened in the 15 year span. Even a brief telling would be sufficent. Even with that the book was great. Kept me intrigued as to what will happen next. Written on November 13, 2004 Summary: The loss of magic "The Farthest Shore" may be the best of the Earthsea books, combining subtle, evocative prose with realistic characterization and a pair of equally important, entwined plotlines. Dragons, magic, wizards, and dozens of different islands are all entwined in an intriguing contrast between the young and the old, death and life. Arren, prince of Anlad, comes to Roke to tell the wizards there dire news: Magic is seeping out of his country, where words no longer have power and spells are forgotten. The aged Archmage, Ged Sparrowhawk, sets off with the eager, sheltered young prince to find out what is draining the "wells of wizardry." As they cross Earthsea, they find more difficulties, places where magic is draining away, the dragons are dueling, spells and songs are forgotten, and the dead are crossing over under the influence of a mysterious figure who is at the source of it all. Great changes are in store for both Arren and Ged before they can deal with the strange forces changing Earthsea... It's undeniable that the original trilogy of Earthsea novels were superior to Le Guin's later Earthsea works, both in literary and storytelling terms. Le Guin's writing had clearly matured somewhat from the more formal manner of "Wizard of Earthsea," as here we have better insight into Arren's thoughts and feelings. The dialogue is also less formal, as we have more jokes, teasing, and an amusing scene where Arren and his "nuncle" Ged are playing around with accents and dialects. It is still fairly formal; however, the villain of this piece evokes greater horror than did Ged's shadow in the first book. At the same time, deep poignancy is present in such scenes as the dead looking out at the living, and the old woman hysterically crying out her true name, because "there are no secrets, and there is no truth, and there is no death." The relationship between the young, naive Arren and the more experienced, older Sparrowhawk is the underlying thread in this novel. Though Ged, to Arren, lessons and philosophies are revealed to the reader and spelled out in a way that will leave them thinking carefully. And Le Guin provides an intriguing contrast between age and youth: Ged's experience and wisdom are necessary as Arren knows virtually nothing about what could cause the crisis, while Arren's innocence and loyalty are necessary as a counterbalance. Ged shows a weariness in this book not present before; his reflections on death and life seem to be connected to his greater age. Arren is an essentially good young man, very realistic in that he is not a spoiled brat, but has never been given the opportunity to do anything difficult and good before in his life. The supporting characters are rarely around long, and none develop the depth of those main two; though many references are made to the previous two books, especially the second, it is not necessary to have read them to understand this. An entrancing fantasy epic and a thought-provoking look at life and death, this book may be the most fulfilling and well-made of Le Guin's many Earthsea books. |
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 The Farthest Shore (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 3) |
 The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2) |
 A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1) |
 Tehanu (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 4) |
 Tales from Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 5) |
 The Other Wind (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 6) |
| Our price | $11.90 | $6.99 | $10.20 | $6.99 | $7.99 | $7.99 |
| List price | $14.00 | $6.99 | $15.00 | $6.99 | $7.99 | $7.99 |
| Lowest used price | $2.66 | $1.82 | $4.50 | $0.40 | $3.59 | $3.57 |
| Lowest new price | $4.64 | $2.98 | $5.34 | $3.20 | $3.77 | $2.98 |
| Collectible price | $14.00 | $10.00 | $15.00 | - | $14.00 | $24.99 |
| Catalog | Book | Book | Book | Book | Book | Book |
| Release date | 2004-11-23 | 2001-09-01 | 2004-09-28 | 2001-09-01 | 2003-10-28 | 2003-09-30 |
| Media | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Paperback | Paperback |
| Number of pages | 272 | 192 | 192 | 252 | 304 | 224 |
| Ean | 9781416509646 | 9780689845369 | 9780553383041 | 9780689845338 | 9780441011247 | 9780441011254 |
| Book Isbn | 141650964X | 0689845367 | 0553383043 | 0689845332 | 0441011241 | 044101125X |
| Reading level | - | Young Adult | Ages 9-12 | Young Adult | - | - |
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