The Farthest Shore

View other editions of The Farthest Shore.
View books by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Amazing book - Rated
I am really surprised to see that some people have given 'The Farthest Shore' less than five stars. To my mind this book, with its predecessors, A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan, is one of the great books of the 20th Century, a book that every serious fantasy enthusiast should have read. I suppose this really does prove that no one book can please everyone!

It's superbly written, with a spare, clear style that is a complete joy. It's full of ideas about the world and power and death that have coloured my thoughts since I first read it. The setting is original and beautiful, and the characters are real people that I would love to meet. The story makes me cry every time I read it.

In short: if you have you have an attention span and a soul, but have not yet read this book, drop everything you are doing right now and buy not only this one but the other two as well. Then read them.

The last enemy - Rated

Another great tale full of wisdom and moving eloquence.....and another tiring voyage of discovery for Ged and co.

The theme is Death, and there are comforting words here regarding its role for life and the Equilibrium.

Dragons appear again too, and there are some really memorable accounts once more, of their great presence, being and power.

A nice work of fantasy with a strong perspective, but there could have been something more here too, more likeable realism to the characters, and a bit more potter-esque drama... Still, it excels with its artistry and quiet wisdom.

I've yet to read the next one, and 'Tales from Earthsea' etc, so the world is not completed yet...

Overcoming Fear - Maintaining Balance - Restoring A King! - Rated
Young Prince Arren of Enlad, heir to the Principality of Morred, sails to Roke, the Isle of the Wise, to warn Ged that the world's magic is disappearing. Word had reached his kingdom from other points in Earthsea, and he and his father had begun to notice signs of this malaise in their own land. Sorcerers, mages, witches and chanters, no longer remember their spells, nor are they able to sing their songs. The names of things are on the verge of being forgotten. Wizards are being maimed and killed in some places. Men and women who have long depended on magic to enrich their lives, seem not to care at all anymore. Roke is "defended," invulnerable, protecting the Masters from harm, so the prince's warning is the first heard on the Island.

Ged, now the Archmage: the greatest wizard of all Earthsea; "the man who had capped the Black Well of Fundaur and won the ring of Erreth-Akbe from the Tombs of Atuan and built the deep founded sea wall of Nepp; the sailor who knew the seas from Astowell to Selidor; the only living Dragonlord," confers urgently with the other Masters. They know the Balance has been disrupted. Whatever balance remains, now resides in Roke when it should lie in the hands of a king. Eighteen years before, the Ring of the King's Rune was returned to its rightful place. This deed improved the world for a while, but it did not bring oneness. There has been no king on the high throne in Havnor for 800 years. Now a king must sit on the throne of Earthsea again, to wield the Sign of Peace and unite the lands and peoples. However, a prophecy must be fulfilled first: "He shall inherit my throne who has crossed the dark land living and come to the far shores of the day." Ged insists on taking action before any more discussion takes place about kings and future. He would go where the trouble is now, immediately, to find the source of the blight. He must find and close the hole in the world that is leeching out the light. Ged will take one companion with him, Arren.

As the two sail south and then west, they discover decay, decline, darkness, forgetfulness. Many people they encounter take drugs to numb, and to let the body be free of the mind. Others seem to have their minds' dimmed without using substances. Clearly, magic and meaning have been drained from the ports, towns, cities and countrysides of Earthsea, as has all sense of well-being and vigor from her people. The dead are mysteriously crossing over under the influence of a vile mysterious creature. Even Orm Embar, the powerful Dragon of Selidor, seeks help from Ged and Arren to rid the world of this insanity.

"The Farthest Shore," the final novel in the initial trilogy, is my favorite. Ged's and Arren's commitment to prevent their world from falling apart, is inspiring and often extremely moving. There is a theme of human development here, a sense of passing on the torch which reminds me of T. H. White's "Once and Future King," with Ged as Merlin, the mentor and tutor, guiding the young king toward his future. Arren is ascending to his power, moving towards his prime, while Ged makes the transition to old age, leaving behind his legacy. Both books focus on peace, unity and harmony.

Ms Le Guin examines the delicate balance between life and death. She focuses on the importance of death and how its inevitability makes life more meaningful. As with the first two books in the trilogy, her approach is influenced by eastern philosophy. The eternal cycle of life, death, the return of the body to the earth, and one's energy to the universe, is part of the natural world which maintains the equilibrium of our planet.

As always, the author's prose is exquisite.

Overcoming Fear - Maintaining Balance - Restoring A King! - Rated
Prince Arren of Enlad, heir to the Principality of Morred, sails to Roke, the Isle of the Wise, to warn Ged that the world's magic is disappearing. Word had reached his kingdom from other points in Earthsea, and he and his father had begun to notice signs of this malaise in their own land. Sorcerers, mages, witches and chanters, no longer remember their spells, nor are they able to sing their songs. The names of things are on the verge of being forgotten. Wizards are being maimed and killed in some places. Men and women who have long depended on magic to enrich their lives, seem not to care at all anymore. Roke is "defended," invulnerable, protecting the Masters from harm, so the prince's warning is the first heard on the Island.

Ged, now the Archmage: the greatest wizard of all Earthsea; "the man who had capped the Black Well of Fundaur and won the ring of Erreth-Akbe from the Tombs of Atuan and built the deep founded sea wall of Nepp; the sailor who knew the seas from Astowell to Selidor; the only living Dragonlord," confers urgently with the other Masters. They know the Balance has been disrupted. Whatever balance remains, now resides in Roke when it should lie in the hands of a king. Eighteen years before, the Ring of the King's Rune was returned to its rightful place. This deed improved the world for a while, but it did not bring oneness. There has been no king on the high throne in Havnor for 800 years. Now a king must sit on the throne of Earthsea again, to wield the Sign of Peace and unite the lands and peoples. However, a prophecy must be fulfilled first: "He shall inherit my throne who has crossed the dark land living and come to the far shores of the day." Ged insists on taking action before any more discussion takes place about kings and future. He would go where the trouble is now, immediately, to find the source of the blight. He must find and close the hole in the world that is leeching out the light. Ged will take one companion with him, Arren.

As the two sail south and then west, they discover decay, decline, darkness, forgetfulness. Many people they encounter take drugs to numb, and to let the body be free of the mind. Others seem to have their minds' dimmed without using substances. Clearly, magic and meaning have been drained from the ports, towns, cities and countrysides of Earthsea, as has all sense of well-being and vigor from her people. The dead are mysteriously crossing over under the influence of a vile mysterious creature. Even Orm Embar, the powerful Dragon of Selidor, seeks help from Ged and Arren to rid the world of this insanity.

"The Farthest Shore," the final novel in the initial trilogy, is my favorite. Ged's and Arren's commitment to prevent their world from falling apart, is inspiring and often extremely moving. There is a theme of human development here, a sense of passing on the torch which reminds me of T. H. White's "Once and Future King," with Ged as Merlin, the mentor and tutor, guiding the young king toward his future. Arren is ascending to his power, moving towards his prime, while Ged makes the transition to old age, leaving behind his legacy. Both books focus on peace, unity and harmony.

Ms Le Guin examines the delicate balance between life and death. She focuses on the importance of death and how its inevitability makes life more meaningful. As with the first two books in the trilogy, her approach is influenced by eastern philosophy. The eternal cycle of life, death, the return of the body to the earth, and one's energy to the universe, is part of the natural world which maintains the equilibrium of our planet.

As always, the author's prose is exquisite.
JANA

Excellent for older readers - Rated
I was given the Earthsea trilogy for Christmas when I was probably 8 or 9 years old. I loved the first two straight away but found the last one tough going and didn't finish it at that age. As I've got older, I've come to find it the most moving of the trilogy. It deals with issues I think are of more interest to adults than children, growing old, death and powerlessness, and is quite dark in tone. But unlike Tehanu it does seem to fit with the first two books and doesn't have the unbearable rawness, bleakness and lack of optimism I found in Tehanu which made me wish I'd never even read it. The Farthest Shore is still full of adventure and wonderful descriptions continuing the exploration of the Earthsea universe and is well worth reading but is perhaps too slow for younger readers.