Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea

A book about the experience of reading Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea novels explores the reasons why readers fall in love with her world-building, mixing comfort and revelatory, emancipatory unsettlement. It also reveals the boldness and coldness of the later three books, which unfold a distinctive vision of the writer's task.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

A Book on the Experience of Reading Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Novels

Ursula Le Guin, a renowned author, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with her Earthsea novels. At the tender age of eight, she encountered John Plotz, a fellow reader, on the second floor of the DC library. Over four decades and countless re-readings later, Le Guin's Earthsea continues to hold a special place in his heart. The reasons for loving her Earthsea are manifold. Le Guin skillfully transports readers across diverse worlds, creating a sense of peripatetic exploration while simultaneously instilling a profound sense of belonging. She masterfully blends elements of comfort and revelatory unsettlement, offering a profound experience of emancipation. Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea is a testament to her passionate simplicity and her intricate complexity. It has inspired a generation of speculative writers, including Neil Gaiman, Kim Stanley Robinson, and N. K. Jemisin.

The later three books of Earthsea, namely Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea, and The Other Wind, stand out for their boldness and coldness. In these works, Le Guin turns a critical eye back on the comfortable green world she had previously created. Through these novels, she presents a distinctive vision of the writer's task: worldbuilding as a responsibility coupled with openness. This approach can be termed "invitational realism," as she builds a world that invites readers to engage in the act of building, creating, imagining, and reimagining. By leaving the actual task of worldbuilding to her readers, Le Guin encourages a deep and meaningful exploration of the narrative's themes and ideas.

John Plotz, in his exploration of the Earthsea novels, draws upon his own unique journey, encompassing a childhood in DC, teaching experiences in Prague, journalism in San Francisco, graduate school, and parenthood. Through his personal narrative, Plotz maps the ways in which readers of all ages find solace and inspiration in Earthsea. He highlights the mutable surface of the novels, which rewards repeated contemplation and introspection. Plotz emphasizes that Earthsea serves as a kind of scholar's stone, a delightfully malleable surface that fosters intellectual growth and personal discovery.

In conclusion, Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea novels have left an enduring impact on the world of literature. Through her masterful storytelling, she transports readers to diverse worlds, blends elements of comfort and revelatory unsettlement, and presents a distinctive vision of worldbuilding. The later three books of Earthsea, in particular, showcase Le Guin's boldness and coldness, encouraging readers to engage in the act of worldbuilding and introspection. John Plotz's exploration of the novels highlights the mutable surface of Earthsea, which rewards repeated contemplation and intellectual growth. Le Guin's Earthsea continues to inspire readers of all ages, and her legacy as a visionary writer will undoubtedly continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 235 x 145 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192847881