petites histoires sympa, mais ça finit en pipi de dragon ( )

If the author's note is completely discounted, then these are five stories that merely take place in the world of Earthsea. If, however, the author's note is taken into account, then this acts poorly as an explanation of the history of Earthsea and more like a poor man's version of Tolkien's Silmarillion—a very poor version indeed, because I have never really wondered about the background of Earthsea like I did about Middle-Earth, and thus made the book come off as trite and self-indulgent.

The stories are good enough; the first was my personal favorite because it stood alone as one that seemed coherent, cohesive, and above all seemed to matter in the grand scheme of the novels (of course we want to know about how the wizardry school on Roke was founded!). The others were all right taken all together and had their own levels of intrigue, but it could have done without the too-scholarly "A Description of Earthsea" at the end. There simply hasn't been enough substance in these books for me to care about the history of the languages and writing to any great extent; there hadn't been enough emphasis placed on much of anything but the characters through the first four novels of the cycle, so to have something like that came completely out of left field. ( )

"AT THE END OF THE fourth book of Earthsea, Tehanu, the story had arrived at what I felt to be now. And, just as in the now of the so-called real world, I didn't know what would happen next. I could guess, foretell, fear, hope, but I didn't know. Unable to continue Tehanu's story (because it hadn't happened yet) and foolishly assuming that the story of Ged and Tenar had reached its happily-ever-after, I gave the book a subtitle: "The Last Book of Earthsea." O foolish writer. Now moves. Even in storytime, dreamtime, once-upon-a time, now isn't then. Seven or eight years after Tehanu was published, I was asked to write a story set in Earthsea. A mere glimpse at the place told me that things had been happening there while I wasn't looking. It was high time to go back and find out what was going on now."

She goes on to detail some time periods in which these stories are set (including Ged's). Some of this is written because people want more Earthsea stories, but comes out pretty reasonably, at 3.50.

A not quite 3.75 book.

Tales from Earthsea : The Finder - Ursula K. Le Guin
Tales from Earthsea : Darkrose and Diamond - Ursula K. Le Guin
Tales from Earthsea : The Bones of the Earth - Ursula K. Le Guin
Tales from Earthsea : On the High Marsh - Ursula K. Le Guin
Tales from Earthsea : Dragonfly - Ursula K. Le Guin

Otter go to Roke, or:
"Tern's nose into a book till he could read it. "Illiterate wizards are the curse of Earthsea!" he cried. "Ignorant power is a bane!"

3 out of 5

I'll be screwing, you wizard, and the rock and roll lifestyle is enough magic for me.

4 out of 5

Local mastery.

4 out of 5

Of cows and mages.

3.5 out of 5

Archmage political conflict.

3 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/07... ( )

This book has five short stories set in Earthsea - I've read Le Guin's four novels set in this world before, although I don't remember them too well. I might have to reread them soon. Again, I really enjoy Le Guin's writing style and world-building skills. I believe that the Earthsea books are supposed to be "children's fantasy", but they didn't feel dumbed-down at all, which I thoroughly approve of :) ( )

A nice collection of short stories from Earthsea. Individually good but there are nothing amazing. Hence an average rating of three stars. ( )