The Other Wind

The Earthsea Cycle, Book 6

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Samuel Roukin

The sorcerer Alder fears sleep. The dead are pulling him to them at night. Through him they may free themselves and invade Earthsea.

Alder seeks advice from Ged, once Archmage. Ged tells him to go to Tenar, Tehanu, and the young king at Havnor. They are joined by amber-eyed Irian, a fierce dragon able to assume the shape of a woman.

The threat can be confronted only in the Immanent Grove on Roke, the holiest place in the world, and there the king, hero, sage, wizard, and dragon make a last stand.

In this final book of the Earthsea Cycle, Le Guin combines her magical fantasy with a profoundly human, earthly, humble touch.

©2001 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2017 Recorded Books

Subtlely complex

a fitting and beautiful end to the journey, but I wouldn’t have minded more. Like 5 to 6 hours more. Or another whole book more haha but still. An awesome and different and strange fantasy

I am a fan of le Guin

Narration was fine, but only small complaint would be too many characters with similar names. Keeping them straight could be challenging.

Just a few flaws

The minor issue other have mentioned regarding alternative pronunciation of some words is really jarring against the overall quality of the performance. Otherwise, my only complaint would be that whispers were often too quiet to hear without backing up and jacking up the volume, at least when listening while driving.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the series, and I'm nearly certain I wouldn't have appreciated the bittersweetness of it when I started the series as a teen, so just as well it took a bit.

a masterpiece

A poignant and profoundly moving close to this fantastic series, everything a reader could hope for in an ending.

Small things cast a big shadow

This was amazing. This brought a return to the magnitude of the original Earthsea trilogy while combining it with the simplicity of the human experience that we found in Tehanu. Like small things that cast a big shadow, so does this book.

Roukin’s narrative performance was also very much of quality. All in all this book has become a favorite. I never felt I would say this, but Ged’s tale feels complete.