Other Wind

Ursula Le Guin has earned massive acclaim for her writing over the years, counting a World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement among her trophies. This fifth novel in the wonderful Earthsea series will, like her other works, be enjoyed by fantasy fans of all ages. Alder, a stranger, the son of a witch, arrives in the bustling town of Gont Port, and the sailors with whom he has just shared a ship are only too delighted to see the back of him. As white sails billow in the breeze and the rough banter of the fish market sets the scene, we learn that this man brings trouble, and maybe even danger, to those he encounters. He is looking for the Archmage Sparrowhawk, a man who once spoke with dragons but who has lost his power, a man who 'has done with doing', who now ekes out a frugal life, shunned by his fellow villagers. Alder shares the burden of his dreams and soon has Sparrowhawk deeply worried about the consequences of the recurring nightmares from where the dead call out to threaten much of what he and the king had achieved many years before. Alder's quest takes him on through an intricately woven world, where he befriends the king, visits great cities and hears of how the dragons are once again restless and stirring up trouble. No detail is overlooked by Le Guin, a consummate story-teller, who fills Earthsea with Herbals and Summoners, true-names and user-names, Master Patterners, God-Kings and the threat of war. And once you've started on the pages that lie behind the detailed map of Earthsea, you'll feel compelled to read on to the very end. Ages 10+ (Kirkus UK)