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Ursula K. Le Guin's timeless and revered A Wizard of Earthsea is reimagined in a richly expansive graphic novel by acclaimed artist Fred Fordham, creator of stunning adaptations To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World.
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and unleashed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Experience the bestselling first adventure of Ursula K. Le Guin's Books of Earthsea as a masterly crafted graphic novel. Fred Fordham brings new life to Le Guin's iconic fantasy classic with his breathtaking illustrations and thoughtful text adaptation.
About the author
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters. Her body of work includes twenty-three novels, twelve volumes of short stories, eleven volumes of poetry, thirteen children’s books, five essay collections, and four works of translation. The breadth and imagination of her work earned her six Nebula Awards, seven Hugo Awards, and the Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Award, along with a PEN/Malamud Award and many other accolades. In 2016 she joined the short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America.
Fred Fordham is an artist and author of multiple acclaimed graphic novels. He most recently adapted and illustrated the graphic novel versions of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World ("Brilliant. A book that will keep your bedside light burning long into the night." —Guardian) and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird ("Gorgeously rendered.” —USA Today). He has also designed and drawn several other comics and produced illustrations for The Phoenix, the Guardian, Aces Weekly, Delcourt, and others. He currently resides in London. Find Fred online at fredfordham.com.
Summary
Ursula K. Le Guin’s timeless and revered A Wizard of Earthsea is reimagined in a richly expansive graphic novel by acclaimed artist Fred Fordham, creator of stunning adaptations To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World.
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and unleashed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Experience the bestselling first adventure of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Books of Earthsea as a masterly crafted graphic novel. Fred Fordham brings new life to Le Guin's iconic fantasy classic with his breathtaking illustrations and thoughtful text adaptation.
Report
"The world of Earthsea has been widely known since Le Guin's original publication in 1968 and paved the way for non-Tolkienian fantasy novels for decades. Fordham's artistic vision will bring in a new generation of fans with vivid colors, dialogue-driven pages, and fast pacing...Fantasy lovers and art lovers alike will make this graphic version of the classic novel a highly sought-after addition to library shelves." - School Library Journal
"[V]isual magic that is able to blur between the light and dark that churn at the story's core. A worthy adaptation of an enduring classic that manages to bring forth all the quiet power of the whispered secret of someone's true name." - Booklist
"Fred Fordham's graphic novel adaptation...stay[s] faithful to Le Guin's beautiful prose and story while bringing her world to life with lush illustrations...Wondrous. If anyone attempts to adapt Le Guin's work to film or television again, this is a model they should hold to as tightly as her wizards guard their true names." - Avclub
"[I]ntentionality and mindfulness behind...the portrayal of Ged as "a young copper-skinned man." A beloved cornerstone of the genre brought vividly to life through striking illustrations." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Does A Wizard of Earthsea work as a comic? I'd certainly say so. I think it's in the upper tier of the literature-to-comics adaptations I've read...[a]n A-tier book, and an absolute must-read for fans of Le Guin, high fantasy, or both." - The Beat, #1 source for comics and graphic novel news
