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Quick answer: If you loved A Wizard of Earthsea, read Le Guin's The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore, then The Hobbit, The Book of Three and The Dark Is Rising. All are thoughtful fantasies about young heroes, magic and the cost of power.
Ursula K. Le Guin's 1968 novel follows Ged, a gifted boy who becomes a wizard and unleashes a shadow he must face. It is short, calm and wise, and shaped modern fantasy and the idea of a magic school. The books below offer similar quests, magic with rules and heroes who grow wiser.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Tombs of Atuan | Ursula K. Le Guin | Ages 11+ | the second Earthsea book |
| The Farthest Shore | Ursula K. Le Guin | Ages 11+ | the third Earthsea book |
| Tehanu | Ursula K. Le Guin | Adult | the fourth Earthsea book |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | the adventure |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | Adult | epic quest |
| The Book of Three | Lloyd Alexander | Ages 9-13 | classic quest |
| The Dark Is Rising | Susan Cooper | Ages 10-14 | old magic |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | Ages 9-13 | space-time adventure |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling | All ages | the magic school |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical storyteller |
| The Magicians | Lev Grossman | Adult | magic school for adults |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | witty magic |
| The Last Unicorn | Peter S. Beagle | Ages 12+ | lyrical quest |
| The Hero and the Crown | Robin McKinley | Ages 12+ | dragon slayer |
| The Goblin Emperor | Katherine Addison | Adult | kind political fantasy |
1. The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
A young priestess guards ancient tombs until a stranger arrives. Darker and more intense.
Best for: the second Earthsea book.
2. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ged and a prince travel to find why magic is fading. Quiet and moving.
Best for: the third Earthsea book.
3. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin
The story returns years later with new focus. Mature and reflective.
Best for: the fourth Earthsea book.
4. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins joins dwarves on a quest. A foundation of modern fantasy.
Best for: the adventure.
5. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
A small hobbit sets out to destroy a ring. The model for epic fantasy.
Best for: epic quest.
6. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
An assistant pig-keeper joins a quest to stop a dark lord. The start of the Chronicles of Prydain.
Best for: classic quest.
7. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
A boy discovers he is the last of the Old Ones. Atmospheric and mythic.
Best for: old magic.
8. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg searches for her missing father across the universe. A classic.
Best for: space-time adventure.
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
A boy learns he is a wizard. The best-known gateway to magical fantasy.
Best for: the magic school.
10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his own story. Beautiful and slow.
Best for: lyrical storyteller.
11. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
A young man enters a secret college for magic and finds a darker world. Smart and grown-up.
Best for: magic school for adults.
12. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A young woman cursed to old age meets the wizard Howl. Funny and original.
Best for: witty magic.
13. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
A unicorn searches for others of her kind. Beautiful and bittersweet.
Best for: lyrical quest.
14. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
A princess becomes a dragon-slaying hero. A classic fantasy with a strong heroine.
Best for: dragon slayer.
15. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
A half-goblin becomes emperor after his family dies. Gentle, detailed and heartfelt.
Best for: kind political fantasy.
How to Choose
For the rest of Earthsea read The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu. For classic quests choose The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring or The Book of Three. For old magic and myth pick The Dark Is Rising. For magic schools read Harry Potter or The Magicians. For lyrical fantasy try The Name of the Wind or The Last Unicorn. Earthsea is short and spare, so these picks suit readers who like calm, thoughtful fantasy. Earthsea's idea that knowing the true name of a thing gives power has inspired many later fantasy writers, and it makes a good topic for book clubs. The Earthsea books can be read in order or by theme. Younger readers may prefer the first three, while older readers may appreciate Tehanu and Tales from Earthsea. Audiobooks of Earthsea, read by various narrators, bring out the quiet rhythm of Le Guin's prose.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Wizard of Earthsea about?
A young wizard named Ged unleashes a dark shadow and must face it.
Who wrote it?
Ursula K. Le Guin.
When was it published?
1968.
Is it for children?
It was written for young readers, but adults love it too.
How many Earthsea books are there?
Six: four novels plus Tales from Earthsea and The Other Wind.
Is it like Harry Potter?
It also has a wizard school, but it is calmer and more philosophical.
Is it long?
No, it is about 200 pages.
What should I read next?
Try The Tombs of Atuan.
Is Earthsea a good first fantasy?
Yes. It is short, clear and thoughtful, and a fine start for new fantasy readers.
Is there a film or TV version?
Yes, there is an animated film and a TV miniseries, though Le Guin was critical of some adaptations.