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Description
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power,... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis
Summary
The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. The Gontishman have gone forth to serve the Lords of the Archipelago as wizard or mage, or just for pure adventure.
The greatest voyager was a man called Sparrowhawk, but this tale is about the time before his fame.
His mother died... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Sparrowhawk: Became both dragonlord and Archmage. His life was told in the Deed of Ged and in many songs. Born in a village called Ten Alders. The name he born as a child was Duny. Mother died before he was a year old. Father was the bronzesmith of the village. Had 6 elder brothers. Very wild and carefree. True name is Ged.
- Duny's aunt: Teaches Duny different rhymes. The witch of Ten Alders
- Kargs: Savage people, white skinned, yellow haired and fierce.
- Ogion the Silent: Mage of Re Albi. Trained Ged with the knowledge and rhymes and way of the wizard.
- Girl: Wants to know about sorcery. Is half witch.
- Archmage Nemmerle: Warder of Roke
- Jasper: Enwit's son of the Domain of Eolg on Havnor Isle.
- Vetch: Student at wizard school. Name: Estarriol.
- The Nine: Grey Cloaked Masters of Roke.
- Master Chanter: Taught the Deeds of heroes and the Lays of wisdom.
- Master Windkey: Taught arts of wind and weather.
- Master Herbal: Taught the ways and properties of things that grow.
- Master Hand: Taught sleight and jugglery and the lesser arts of Changing.
- Master Namer/ Kurremkarmerruk: Lives on Isolate Tower.
- Elfarran: Ged resurrected her.
- Gensher of Way: New Archmage.
- Master Patterner: The Doorkeeper.
Memorable Quotes
-
“And the truth is that as a man's real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower: until at last he chooses nothing, but does only and wholly what he must do...”
Master Summoner -
“Even foolery is dangerous, in the hands of a fool.”
Jasper -
“For magic consists in this, the true naming of a thing.”
Narrator
First Sentence
THE island of Gont, a single mountain that lifts its peak a mile above the storm-racked Northeast Sea, is a land famous for wizards.
Table of Contents
1 - Warriors in the Mist
2 - The Shadow
3 - The School for Wizards
4 - The Loosing of the Shadow
Errata
p. 18 - There had BEEN no weapons in the village but hunting bows and short knives, for the mountain folk of Gont are not warlike; it is not warriors they are famous for, but goat-thieves, sea-pirates, and wizards.
p. 31 - He looked down a the white flowers that brushed against her white skirt, and at first he was shy and glum and hardly answered. BUT she went on talking, in an open, careless, wilful way that little by little set him at ease.
Series
This is book 1 in the The Earthsea Cycle series.
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