A Wizard of Earthsea

atuan @ 2007-05-16T21:52:00

2007-05-16T11:52:10Z

Okay, so the other day (or so) someone from Australia posted asking about the Earthsea film. At the time, I hadn't heard anything, but I just got wind of the fact that Gedo Senki (Tales of Earthsea in English) will be playing limited runs in Sydney and Melbourne. Apparently Australia will be the first English-language market to get the film (HA! IN YOUR FACE AMERICA! ;) ), but it will only be playing for about 10 days in each location. If you're in Sydney, make your plans quickly - the run starts tomorrow! (I'm going on Sunday. Hooray!)

More info here.

Tales of Earthsea

2007-05-09T13:32:51Z

Does anyone know anything about the Earthsea movie comming out? I've seen a bit on it but can't find it in Australia

Two Good Quotes from 'Lathe of Heaven'

2006-11-10T13:03:12Z

Again as with my last entry, I'm reading through the book called "Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula K. LeGuin about a man whose dreams, if strong enough, can change reality around him.

Anyway, it's a really good book and it makes you really feel deeply that huge things are happening and shifting and all that. But all that aside, i just wanted to share 2 quotes that i read in there - the first one i really relate to (and recently wrote an entry about), and the second one is relevant to today's world (it was written in 1971)

"[He] had a tendancy to assume that people knew what they were doing, perhaps because he generally assumed that he did not." - Pg. 33

"He had grown up in a country run by politicians who sent the pilots to man the bombers to kill the babies to make the world safe for children to grow up in." - Pg. 87

Alder is Very Similar to George

2006-11-08T01:11:55Z

I'm reading "The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula K. LeGuin, and the character George is VERY much like Alder of "The Other Wind". Both have dreams that can affect real life in tremendous, and epic ways. Although it is described in The Other Wind that Alder's dreams were more of the message of the world changing being sent through him, whereas George's dreams actually change the reality of the world for everyone, making those people think what he had dreamed had always been the way of life.
But their personalities are so similar - they feel like they are small people, not really worthy of messing with the high powers of the universe.

George is trying not to have dreams because they might end up changing the world, and he doesn't believe he should have the right to change things as they are.
Alder is trying not to have dreams so that he isn't pulled over the low stone wall in the Dry Land and let all the dead that cry out to him loose, or pull him over the wall with them.

Both of them don't believe they are "big" enough people in their worlds to be meddling with such world-altering affairs.

Both of them are very quiet, almost shy men, very humble and heartfully honest. To use this character twice in her books, i wonder who she is refering to ... or if she is refering to herself? Has it ever been known whether she has had dreams that she wished not to have? So much that she had tried to escape them by any method available to her?

George with his illegal use of the drug-cards, Alder with little Tug, the kitten. And then if you remember Ged as well was pulled back into his body by the touch of the little Otak, but that wasn't really sleep ... just a parallel reference.

And in one of George's dreams he sees an Alder tree. A little bit of a stretch, but you never know ... maybe she wanted a 'George' in "The Other Wind" and came across the word 'Alder' when she was re-reading through "The Lathe of Heaven" and came across the word, as i did, and thought, "That'd be a perfect name!"

Le Guin's response to the Ghibli movie

2006-08-18T12:40:41Z

For those interested, Le Guin has posted Gedo Senki, a First Response on her website. It's a good read. I have to say it is such a treat to read her reaction to the film after having seen it. The movie is quite different from the books in many ways. What she told Goro Miyazaki, the director, was "It is not my book. It is your movie. It is a good movie." And I really think that sums it up. Her response does contain spoilers.

Legend of Ged: Wind Waker

2006-05-26T00:13:35Z

I just bought the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker for the Gamecube the other day and i also just recently re-finished A Wizard of Earthsea.

How is this relevant? Well, see, Link in the game sails the open seas, calling forth the wind to push his sail in the right direction ...
And Ged sails the open seas, calling forth the mage-wind to push his sail in the right direction ...

I just feel like i'm Ged out there, chasing the shadow, speeding around on my sailboat ... she may not be the Lookfar ... but it's like, "Ahhh, so THIS is what it feels like ... virtually ..."

I just thought i'd share ... it's cool to see similarities in other things with the Earthsea books!

Just like Illusion of Gaia for the Super Nintendo has many story points and scenes that feel like they're taken directly from "The Farthest Shore" ...

Ghibli Film: Tales from Earthsea, Second Trailer

2006-05-23T12:50:28Z

The second trailer is up.

It looks different and yet good. There is Lookfar and there is more "sea" in this one. You can kinda piece together what the story will be. And I love the song. And the dragon! And film is finished, according to the production blog. Now, just to wait. That's all I'll say for now.

Gedo Senki Synopsis on Le Guin's site

2006-04-23T21:53:53Z

Just a heads up that she has posted a translation of the synposis Studio Ghibli sent her.

The first trailer for "Tales from Earthsea" and article: "Waiting for the Other Wind"

2006-04-14T09:59:13Z

The official Studio Ghibli Website has uploaded the first trailer for the movie "Gedo Senki" (Tales from Earthsea).

I'll give you the link, but before you click, please read what I have to say about it: It's nothing like the Earthsea I imagine in my mind. Nothing. I find so many things wrong with it. The way the characters were drawn, the way the story looks like it will go, all of it. It is not Le Guin's Earthsea. It's just not. And it's not mine either.

But, it looks beautiful. I think it's something else entirely. Not bad, I can't say that yet, just different. It's a different interpretation of Earthsea.

Unlike Narnia and Middle-Earth, there are no representative pictures of Earthsea. No illustrations came with the books except for simple wooden carvings, maps by Le Guin, and cover art that was deemed incorrect by the author. There is no concensus on what Earthsea looks like, so no movie could possibly satisfy fans. We have all drawn our own Earthsea.

So here is the link to the trailer and my rough translation of the Japanese. (Note: I didn't translate any of the credits)

The balance of the world is falling apart.

People
are moving around without problems, but
without purpose,
what is reflected in that day,
is it dreams, is it death,
it was a world somewhere.

Peoples minds, were becoming odd.

Gedo Senki

Archmage Ged,
on a journey to find the source of the misfortune,
met a boy with darkness in his heart,
a prince of Enlad,
Arren.

The boy was chased by a shadow.

In front of Arren,
afraid of the shadow,
appeared a girl with a burned face,
Therru.

Goro Miyazaki's first film.

"I hate anyone who doesn't treasure life!"

"Goro Miyazaki's first film. Gedo Senki.
This summer, dragons and men will become one" [me gagging] Also keep in mind, trailers are rarely ever like the movie.

Also, here is an article written by the woman who translated Earthsea into Japanese. I find her very insightful and I put my faith into her words. "Waiting for the Other Wind." Le Guin hasn't put up anything on her site about it other than the link to nausicaa.net's page.

Skyehawke archive

2006-03-17T00:57:41Z

The Skyehawke archive now has an Ursula Le Guin section for fanfiction & poetry of all genres set in Earthsea, or other writings of Le Guin. Do take a look if you're interested in fan writing.

PS I'd be willing to sponsor writers who'd like to archive works in this fandom for Skyehawke membership. Comment or drop me a line (the_espresso_addict [at] fireflyuk.net)

Gedo Senki

2006-02-23T23:53:41Z

Just quickly- a small trailer-type thing (havn't watched it myself yet, so busy!) for Gedo Senki is now available!

Go to http://www.ghibliworld.com/news.html to see it.

Also, updates to the voice cast have been made, see http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6147. More speculation about the plot should now be possible ^_^.

Enjoy!

Earthsea anime update

2006-02-15T09:34:20Z

For anyone following Ghibli's anime adaptation of Earthsea (Gedo Senki):

Ghibli has announced some of the Japanese voice cast- Bunta Sugawara (Kamaji in Spirited Away) as Ged, and Junichi Okada as Prince Arren.

Source: www.animenewsnetwork.com; http://www.ghibliworld.com/

On another note, I hope we see some work from it soon...it should be really pretty ^_^

(x-posted to leguin)

How does The Farthest Shore end?

2006-01-16T16:41:20Z

I was re-reading The Farthest Shore the other day when I noticed a tiny detail about the ending that really impacted me.

Previously, I'd assumed that Ged depleted his power by closing the portal Cob had opened. Of course, this was very sad. But then I noticed recently that Ged does perform one magical feat after closing the gate: he releases Cob. Here's how the text goes:

"'By the word that will not be spoken until time's end I summoned thee. By the word that was spoken at the making of things I now release thee. Go free!' And bending over the blind man, who was crouched on his knees, Ged whispered in his ear, under the white, tangled hair.

Cob stood up. He looked about him slowly, with seeing eyes. He looked at Arren and then at Ged. He spoke no word, but gazed at them with dark eyes. There was no anger in his face, no hate, no grief. Slowly he turned, went off down the course of the Dry River, and soon was gone to sight.

There was no more light on Ged's yew staff or in his face."

This alternate interpretation, that Ged could've recovered after closing the gate, but that he knowingly expended the last of his power to release the man who had opened it, knocked the breath out of me. How perfect. And how subtle of le Guin to write it that way. For those of you who've read it, it reminds me very much of her short story, "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas", available here, where the question is asked whether the absolute suffering of one is acceptable if it means perfect bliss for everyone else. One of my undergraduate professors believed that le Guin would've walked away, and I think this is what Ged does in The Farthest Shore. His power is probably much more valuable than the freedom of Cob, who almost drained all originality from Earthsea. And yet, Ged refuses to realize a great profit at even the slightest expense to others.

Does anyone else interpret the book this way? Or, if this is the generally accepted interpretation, did anyone else overlook it as I did? Since I don't actually know anyone in my non-LJ life who's read these books, I'm very interested in the opinion of everyone here.

Cross-posted to leguin.

LeGuin interview in the Guardian

2005-12-21T12:49:55Z

Here it is.

My current personal thoughts on Ghibli and Earthsea

2005-12-15T07:07:23Z

No matter what happens, Earthsea will survive all. No matter how many times and how many ways it is brought to the screen, whether it be TV or movie, the books will always be better. No matter what happens, Earthsea will not be tainted by anything. It will not be ruined by anything. It cannot be ruined by anything. Because nothing is stronger than the truth which is contained in its covers.

That being said, I have no uneasiness about Ghibli doing Earthsea. It will be beautiful, because it is Ghibli and it will not be the Earthsea I know because it is not in book for. Being at peace with it, I am fully looking forward to it.

Reading the production blog and the director’s blog in the two days since it has been brought online, I have learned that these are people (the director and producer) who respect Earthsea. Perhaps more than I do. They see a different Earthsea than mine. They see probably a different Earthsea than LeGuin. But it is full of respect. So much respect that I am almost afraid they have created too large of a wall for themselves.

(For those who can understand Japanese, I’ve made a syndicated account for both of them: ghibli_gedstaff and ghibli_gedsenki)
I’ll translate these when I get the time, or perhaps someone else with more time for these things will get to it before I do. But here is a quick rundown of the points I found interesting in one article from each blog.

The producer introduced Earthsea by quickly going over the story (with what would be considered spoilers in a sense) and then he said that Earthsea changed the style of the fantasy genre. He said that fantasy books before Earthsea were all about some magical land where the main character had to go up against and terrible, evil enemy or some horrible injustice in the land. Then Earthsea came out, where the main character didn’t battle great evils, but had to face himself. And then the fantasy genre started to see books where the journey was no longer of grandeur, but of self realization.

The director said that he decided to take on this project because it was Earthsea. He first read it when he was in high school. He didn’t go buy it, it was just laying around the house. And he was amazed because the book had an idea of magic that he never encountered before. Not flashiness, but an art, a study. And that the magic in Earthsea was to know the true nature of something and know it’s true name. He says that the idea of “fantasy” is currently “gaining magical powers and having adventures” but he questions if this is the real nature of fantasy. To wonder why the world is so beautiful, even at the slightest thing, the ability to think that is the true fantasy.

I think this movie will be good. With these two at the head, with this much respect and understanding of Earthsea, I think they are okay. I still have issues that the boy on the poster looks white, but I’ll forgive that as long as the magic is in tact.

As for what the content of the movie will be, both have not said anything just yet. They have hinted that it is different. With the English subtitle of “Tales from Earthsea” and the lines on the poster, “Dragons and Men were once the same; Men chose earth and sea; Dragons chose wind and fire,” It most definitely will not follow “A Wizard of Earthsea.” That poem is not from the original three. That kind of idea started coming up in Tehanu and continued in the next two books. There are only three dragons in the original trilogy. The Dragon of Pendor, Orm Embar and Kalessin. And they don’t play huge roles. Important roles, yes, but not huge. And the producer mentioned a poem from Tales from Earthsea, I wish I could quote the original English, but my books are back in California. “Men chose the yoke, Dragons chose wings; Men chose to have, Dragons chose not to.”

And as much as I said in my original post that Ghibli was doing “A Wizard of Earthsea,” the Japanese title, “Gedo Senki” refers to the entire cycle, not just the first. Until I see reason to believe otherwise, I am going to bet the movie is going to be more rooted in the latter three books. Those are the safer bet when it comes to transfering Earthsea into moving pictures. The first three, as fabulous as they are, lack visual action. They are very internal.

Anyways, that's all for now, I will probably continue to go on and on about this as the blogs continue to get uploaded.

Studio Ghibli's next movie is going to be "A Wizard of Earthsea"

2005-12-13T11:00:32Z

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki. It's on the official Studio Ghibli website (Japanese). Apparently his father is against the idea. I'll post a translated summary later. Just had to share the news as soon as learned about it.

Oh, and poster here.

LeGuin hasn't posted anything on her site just yet.

Fanfiction challenge

2005-12-03T01:53:48Z

There's a new challenge for December up at earthsea_fic: Festivals. If you enjoy fanfiction, do come along and join in the seasonal fun.

(And if that doesn't inspire you, the previous challenges remain open: Beginnings, Journeys and Songs & poetry.)

hello!

2005-10-18T00:18:00Z

Hi! I just discovered this community and I'm relieved to see that there are other people out there who were as enraged as I was (and still am) at the miniseries.
But! I also had a question for you guys:
Does anyone know if a poster sized map of earthsea exists and if so, where? I heard once that there was such a thing, but no one seems to know whence it came.

thank God!

2005-10-17T14:40:51Z

I am SO glad I am not the only one who hates the miniseries! I watched it yesterday and was so stunned that I could not begin to list what was wrong with it until now. To spare you, I'm not going to share my list. I'm going to mourn their adaptation of Ged and try desperately to move on with my life. *sighs*

On a happier note, does anyone else love Eye of the Heron?

question

2005-08-13T16:38:53Z

So I'm doing my annual re-read of Earthsea and every year I think this and every year I forget to ask people who may know.

Until now.

In A Wizard Of Earthsea when Ged arrives at the School and he's having his encounter with Archmage Nemmerle, the raven doth spake to him, right?

"Terrenon ussbuk orrek."

Does anyone know what that actually means? I always figured it was a reference to the later trial at Terrenon with the spirit trapped in the stone. Is that too simplistic a connection? Or is there more that Le Guin's explained or hinted at somewhere else?

Apologies if this has been asked and answered before.

Русскоязычное сообщество, посвященное Ле Гуин.

2005-07-13T12:44:18Z

Сообщество, посвященное творчеству Урсулы К. Ле Гуин:
ru_le_guin

New Le Guin community

2005-02-13T15:30:15Z

Hello,

I've submitted an announcement of a new community, save_earthsea, to community_promo. I'm hoping it will appear so I can direct people who are interested to it. This is about the SciFi channel adaptation of Le Guin's Earthsea series last year, making nearly all the characters white. (Which Le Guin HATED, as you probably know: http://www.ursulakleguin.com/UKL_info.html.)

I'll post here if the announcement comes up. Meanwhile, I'm going to need to x-post this invite to a number of multiracial, feminist, environmentalist and sf-related communities, though I'm going to try to stagger the specialties so it doesn't appear as spam. I'm trying not to post anywhere I don't intend to comment later.

Thanks for reading. And BTW, though I'd love you to join, you do not have to join to take part in a project (basically a petition) to protest what they've done to Ma's song. It's basically a petition, though maybe a little more interesting than the average ugly petition. I hope you like the idea.

atuan @ 2005-01-08T21:46:00

2005-01-08T21:47:08Z

I'd almost stopped browsing the Le Guin shelf at the Forbidden Planet because of the nausea induced by all the OMG SCIFI MINISERIES!!!! Wizard of Earthsea reprints, but on my last visit I had a quick look, and was pleasantly surprised. They had copies of new editions of both The Left Hand Of Darkness and Orsinian Tales; I've only ever seen Tales once before, in a second-hand bookshop (I duly pounced on it). They're both lovely editions, in newfangled softcover rather than paperback (do I understand the distinction correctly?), and come not all that long (if I remember correctly) after Rocannon's World, Planet of Exile and City of Illusions (previously out of print) were all republished together.

What I'm getting at is, is it possible that the miniseries, dreadful though it was, has triggered a resurgence of interest in Le Guin's works in general? A somewhat awful means to a laudable end?

(Cross-posted in leguin)