The Farthest Shore
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature, Fantasy |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Ursula K. Le Guin |
| Products | Fantasy novel |
The Farthest Shore is a fantasy novel authored by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin and released by Atheneum in 1972. As the third book in the Earthsea Cycle, it is frequently viewed as the final volume of the original "Earthsea trilogy," preceding the 1990 follow-up Tehanu. The story centers on the wizard Ged embarking on a pivotal mission.
The book earned the 1973 National Book Award for Children's Books and served as inspiration for Studio Ghibli's animated adaptation Tales from Earthsea.
Plot
A strange affliction begins to spread throughout Earthsea, diminishing magical powers and inducing widespread hopelessness. Archmage Ged, along with Arren, the young Prince of Enlad, sets off from Roke Island aboard the vessel Lookfar to uncover the source. Their travels lead them to Hort Town, where they meet Hare, a wizard ensnared in a dream-like spell cast by a dark sorcerer who offers eternal life at the expense of magic and selfhood.
They proceed southwest to Lorbanery, once famed for its silk dyeing industry, only to discover its magic vanished and residents listless. Continuing toward the Reaches, Arren falls under the dark mage’s sway. After Ged suffers injuries inflicted by hostile islanders and nearly perishes, they are saved by the Raft People—nomadic folk beyond the affliction’s reach—who restore their vitality. Yet soon after, this curse overtakes them as well, silencing their traditional singers.
The dragon Orm Embar advises Ged to confront the dark sorcerer on Selidor, where dragons are succumbing to madness and destruction. There, they encounter Cob—the dark wizard Ged had previously defeated—now a master of necromancy who has escaped death but inadvertently opened a rift between worlds that drains all life. In their battle, Orm Embar sacrifices himself to momentarily halt Cob’s advance, but Cob retreats to the Dry Land of the dead. Ged follows and ultimately vanquishes Cob there, closing the breach but losing all his magical abilities in the process.
With Arren and aided by Kalessin, the eldest dragon, Ged returns to life. He entrusts Arren with fulfilling an ancient prophecy as King Lebannen, destined to unite Earthsea’s islands.
Le Guin originally drafted two conclusions: one featuring Ged departing alone after Arren’s coronation, and another with Ged returning home to Gont’s forest—the latter was chosen when she continued the narrative in Tehanu in 1990.
Publication
The Farthest Shore debuted in hardcover through Atheneum in 1972, adorned with cover art by Gail Garraty. A paperback version followed from Puffin Books in 1974, showcasing artwork by David Smee. The novel has since seen numerous reprints.
Major characters
- Cob: a sorcerer previously confronted by Ged
- Ged: Archmage of Roke, also known as Sparrowhawk
- Kalessin: the oldest dragon
- Lebannen: young prince of Enlad, called Arren (meaning "rowan tree" in Old Speech)
- Orm Embar: mighty dragon from the West Reach, descendant of Orm
Power and responsibility
Similar to the previous installments in the trilogy, The Farthest Shore functions as a bildungsroman that primarily chronicles Arren’s transformation from an awestruck youth into a self-assured leader destined to become Earthsea’s first monarch in generations. Ged’s character also evolves, moving away from his former impulsive nature toward a more deliberate archmage, motivated by necessity rather than personal ambition. He counsels Arren to take action only when it is absolutely essential, demonstrating his matured perspective on wielding power and embracing responsibility.
Facing One’s Inner Darkness
Cob serves as a stark contrast to Ged, embodying a path where forbidden necromantic practices led to ruin. Ged’s ultimate showdown with Cob, culminating in the closure of the rift between realms, mirrors his earlier struggle against his own shadow self. This resolution fulfills Ged’s longstanding wish to reverse the effects of his youthful necromantic mistake, though it demands a significant sacrifice, including the diminution of much of his magical strength.
The Principle of Balance
The narrative further delves into the themes of Balance and Equilibrium—key Taoist concepts that Le Guin weaves into Earthsea’s system of magic. The interplay between life and death is depicted as mutually dependent forces, with death acting as an essential counterbalance. Embracing this philosophy, Ged emerges as a more enlightened archmage who exemplifies harmony within a magically governed world.
Reception
In his review targeted at genre enthusiasts, Lester del Rey characterized the novel as "fantasy executed with a logic typically reserved for science fiction ... abundant in imaginative ideas, vivid details, and inventive elements."