Book description
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1)
Ursula K. Le Guin's debut novel in the Earthsea Cycle establishes the author's characteristic mastery of anthropological storytelling through the journey of Ged, originally known as Sparrowhawk. This audiobook presents Le Guin's exploration of power, responsibility, and self-discovery within a richly constructed archipelago setting.
The narrative follows Ged's transformation from an impetuous youth to the legendary sorcerer of Earthsea through his confrontation with the shadow he inadvertently unleashes. Le Guin's background in anthropology, inherited from her father Alfred Kroeber, manifests in the detailed cultural frameworks and linguistic precision that define the magical system. The protagonist's trials-including his mastery of the "mighty words of power," dragon taming, and traversal of death's threshold-function as both literal adventures and metaphors for psychological maturation.
The author's treatment of otherness and cultural difference, themes that permeate her broader body of work including The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed, emerges through Ged's relationship with his shadow self. This duality serves as Le Guin's examination of the integration of opposing aspects of personality rather than simple moral dichotomy.
The audiobook format enhances Le Guin's lyrical prose and the rhythmic quality of her world-building. Her systematic approach to magic, where language itself becomes the source of power, creates an immersive experience that transcends typical fantasy conventions. The narrative's first-person psychological depth, characteristic of Le Guin's preferred storytelling method, allows listeners to experience Ged's internal transformation alongside his external trials.
This recording preserves the philosophical sophistication that earned Le Guin Hugo, Nebula, and National Book Award recognition while maintaining accessibility for listeners seeking both entertainment and literary merit. The work functions simultaneously as origin story, bildungsroman, and philosophical treatise on the nature of balance and self-knowledge.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience