Five Bubble Book Club discussion

"Mentor".
I came across this word much more frequently as I'm switching jobs and taking online courses. There is so much to exploit under this topic in the SFF world: almost every hero has some guidance along the way. Some of them became greater mentors themselves.
It would make a perfect fit for September's Teacher's Day, but why wait on a good idea?

I'm having to come at this topic more from the angle of Apprenticeship than Mentorship, because I'm having trouble finding many from the PoV of the mentor.

Unfortunately, one of the books I'd have most strongly recommended in this category, John M. Ford's The Dragon Waiting, isn't due for a reprint and e-book release until the very end of September. Even so, I can't tell you how pleased I am that Ford's work is coming back into print! It's been undeservedly obscure. (Note: Ford's Web of Angels would also be on this list, but it's republication is even further out.) If you're willing to take on out-of-print paperbacks, either of these would be very good.

Mort -- Death takes an apprentice, and you see some of what follows from its PoV. It's hilarious and poignant, as befits a Diskworld book.

The Left Hand of Darkness -- can be considered a really strange mentorship. Really strong book.

Norstrilia -- this one has not one mentor, but many; a truly surreal, somewhat dated, bildungsroman. No audiobook, but this recent paperback/ebook edition includes "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" which sets up some background for the novel.

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit -- a mercenary spearswoman guards and guides a "cursed" prince to his mysterious destiny. Translated from the Japanese and also available as an excellent anime series. Simpler text and more YA-oriented than I'd normally suggest for this group, but could work.

The Hollow Hills -- it's a second book in the best Arthurian trilogy I know, describing Merlin's mentorship of the young Arthur. I haven't read this in forever, so I can't tell you if it stands alone all that well.

The Fort at River's Bend -- The fifth book of the second-best Arthurian series I know, again with Merlin mentoring Arthur. Note: this series is strictly historical -- there's no magic -- but since Arthur is mythic, I'm good with it being here. What I'm less sure of is whether you can pick up at book five and have a satisfying read.

I'll be very curious to hear what others suggest on this theme!
Robert

Sure, I will take either mentor or mentee.

Robert wrote: "I'm having to come at this topic more from the angle of Apprenticeship than Mentorship, because I'm having trouble finding many from the PoV of the mentor.

Unfortunately, one of the books I'd have..."

For greatest mentors, google gave me this list
https://screenrant.com/best-mentors-s...

Eric wrote: "For greatest mentors, google gave me this list
https://screenrant.com/best-mentors-s..."

Regrettably, all the sources cited in that list are movies or comic books. The two mentors from movies with underlying texts are Dumbledore in Harry Potter and Gandalf from LoTR/The Hobbit.

Got another recommendation
Bitni, that looks like a popular one