The Finder

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction

Unknown Binding

About the author

Ursula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.

She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Earthsea Prequel.

Le Guin's "The Finder" is a prequel to the main Earthsea series. The story follows Otter, a young man with a natural talent for finding things, who lives in a world dominated by oppressive lords and slavers. After being captured and enslaved, Otter discovers his latent magical abilities and begins to resist the forces that seek to control him. As Otter grows into his power, he takes on the name Medra and joins a group of rebels working to establish a sanctuary for those persecuted by the oppressive rulers. This sanctuary eventually becomes the foundation for the School of Roke, a central institution in the Earthsea series. The story itself is serviceable, but most of the entertainment value comes from whether you want more Earthsea worldbuilding. If so, perfect. If not, a fine little coming-of-age story.

[Frederik Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how the school of Roke came to be is actually really good. I enjoyed the concept of women being the ones who pull the strings and how men are corrupt as is explored in the previous books as well

[Rojo Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story about the founding of the magic school of Roke. A history of Earthsea. Written in the style of A Wizard of Earthsea, it has all the ingredients of the classic High Fantasy genre plus the, typically Le Guin, social side of things (involving gender, politics, etc...), always great. For the lovers of the Earthsea series, it is a (many) great adventure with mythical air. Part of Tales of Earthsea.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

History from the Book of the Dark, written 600 years ago, about the Council of the Wise, the kings of Enlad, dragons & wizards, and the Founding of Roke. Centers on Otter, a young boy in Havenor, who has great potential power that is forbidden.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novella about the founding of the school on Roke.

This is in the Earthsea world.