| This is the first of a trilogy of stories in the world of Earthsea which is set in a Tolkien-time of dragons, wizards, and magic which lives and works alongside the trades of blacksmith and farmer. On the island of Gont, long famous for its wizards, lives a village boy named Sparrowhawk. His natural powers are soon put to the test when the island is invaded by pirates who run riot, burning and looting. Cloaking the village in fog and illusion-casting he saves his people, but it is nearly his downfall. Over-reaching his powers he falls into a trance and it takes Ogion, a fully trained wizard, to save him. He is speedily apprenticed to Ogion, one of Earthsea's wisest and most powerful mages. But he is a proud and wilful lad, quick to learn what he wants to learn, and not to absorb wisdom in the quiet of the mountains. He asks to go to the island of Roke, where is the great wizard training school, that he may earn his wizard's staff.
He makes a good friend on Roke and he learns at unusual speed, but he is dogged by his temper and lack of social graces. He foolishly challenges a more advanced student to duel in magic and he unwittingly releases a savage monster which almost kills him. Although he recovers his face is scarred for life and he must live in fear of the creature which will return and try to finish him. He graduates from Roke and takes up a lowly position as wizard to a fishing community which is menaced by dragons spawning nearby. When the attack does not come he sails out to face the dragon brood and the ancient giant bull-dragon in a pre-emptive strike. He sails back with a curious victory, won by a mixture of power and cunning, and takes his leave of the fisher-folk as he knows his doom awaits him elsewhere. He must flee from his enemy, which he does not know how to fight, but he does even know if it is possible to flee. Somehow it has power over him, but he, a most mighty of the great wizards, does not even begin to see how to defeat it. He is finding that power without control is nothing. Eventually he returns to Gont to seek the wisdom of master Ogion who perceives that he must turn and face his enemy to defeat it and not run, which is the sign that he is already defeated. And so, in a thrilling climax, he does. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 30 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - a teen If magical mental powers: - can change shapes - can talk to animals - fire/lightning/weather cntrl - can fly - can cast many different spells - healing Main Adversary Identity: - An "It". Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - mind reading - mind control - super strength - can fly - teleportation - can cast all sorts of spells - Invisibility - is very quick Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters Setting Terrain Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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