2002: The Other Wind

Like the previous Earthsea stories, this book seems to be centred around Ged, the sorcerer who is most often recognised by his common name, Sparrowhawk. But, like all except the first bool, this one is in fact focused on the journey of a completly different character. Alder, the local village mage, is mourning his recently departed wife. Full of grief and against his wishes, he is probing for her through the boundary that separates the realms of the living and the dead. This barrier is of such a nature that usually, only mages can safely cross it. Unable to reconcile himself with this loss, Alder journeys to find Ged. Why it's on the list The Other Wind deals in a more mature way with themes that appeared in the previous four Earthsea novels: death, loss, greed, intelligence vs. wisdom, middle age and earthly vs. epic fears. This novel is, like Le Guin's previous books, a well-constructed and thoughtful fantasy. Unlike Tolkien, she is less troubled with epic battles and occurrences, and way more interested in the personal tribulations experienced by the characters. The Other Wind is perfect in that it reintroduces us to the major characters from the previous books and it perfectly closes some open-ended questions. Those who've enjoyed the Earthsea saga as well as Ursula K. Le Guin's writing will enjoy every moment of this tale. Read if you like High Fantasy