A Wizard of EarthseaA Wizard of Earthsea
Score Classic
What it's about
In the archipelago of Earthsea, a gifted boy named Ged goes to a school for wizards. In a moment of pride, he unleashes a terrible shadow into the world, and as he grows to manhood, he must hunt it down.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most influential fantasy novels ever written, a classic of wisdom and wonder. Later Earthsea books won major awards, including a Nebula for Tehanu.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hobbit
The Name of the Wind
The DispossessedGood to know
It's short and written for young readers, but adults love it. It's the first of six Earthsea books.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics65 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #60 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #141 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #291 of the 762 classics we rank
- #953 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Dispossessed
The Left Hand of Darkness
Powers
Always Coming HomeIf you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Magician
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
This Present Darkness
The Uplift WarExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is A Wizard of Earthsea worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most influential fantasy novels ever written, a classic of wisdom and wonder. It ranks #953 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Wizard of Earthsea about?
In the archipelago of Earthsea, a gifted boy named Ged goes to a school for wizards. In a moment of pride, he unleashes a terrible shadow into the world, and as he grows to manhood, he must hunt it down.
How long does it take to read A Wizard of Earthsea?
About 6 hours (251 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has A Wizard of Earthsea won?
Nebula Award winner (1990, for Tehanu).
What should I read after A Wizard of Earthsea?
If you liked it, try The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss or The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin.