A Wizard of Earthsea graphic novel, by Ursula Le Guin, adapted & illustrated by Fred Fordham

[rachelmanija]

An incredibly beautiful book and a very faithful adaptation. Much of the language is word-for-word from the book. I would happily hang most panels on my wall.

A number of sequences are completely wordless, and while very beautiful I don't think I would have understood what was going on in all of them if I hadn't already read the book. There's also a lot of panels which are extremely dark, so much so that it's hard to tell what's happening. Most of these are indoors. I know there's no electricity but in most of these there is magelight!

Also, the otak is the size of a mouse and looks very much like a mouse. That is too small - in the book it catches a mouse and brings it to Ged, and other people tease Ged that it's a rat or a dog. I pictured it the size of a kitten or squirrel, and looking somewhat like a stockier weasel, or a small wolverine or marten. Definitely not a mouse!

It's always interesting to see other people's visualizations of books. The dragon of Pendor is seen mostly through a thick fog, all glowing eyes and fiery breath and insinuation. The flying creatures that pursue Ged and Serret from the Court of the Terrenon are not monstrous pterodactyls, as I always imagined them, but hideous living gargoyles.

I highly recommend this to anyone who's already read the novel, but I don't suggest reading it instead of or before the novel.

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Comments

[greenwoodside]

Ooh, that looks wonderful. I read The Wizard of Earthsea in one gulp when I was maybe in my early teens. The shadow, being chased by it and chasing, made a huge impression on me. Few works have ever recaptured that sense of terror and threat then release. I'll have to get my hands on a copy.

[rachelmanija]

Parts of the book are terrifying.

You should reread it, and then read the graphic novel.

[musesfool]

Oh, I didn't even know this was a thing. I will have to check it out!

[rachelmanija]

You will love it

[hamsterwoman]

I loved looking through this! I think you're right and it would be sometimes hard to follow without knowing the story already, but as a companion, it's gorgeous and lovely.

[rachelmanija]

Companion is the perfect word for it

[cyphomandra]

I did not realise I had strong otak opinions but that otak is definitely TOO SMALL. Otherwise it looks gorgeously atmospheric!

(also have you seen the recentish Watership Down graphic novel? My daughter is currently obsessed with it)

[rachelmanija]

No! Thanks, I'll look for it.