of achieving). Balance With a greater understanding of the Balance and Equilibrium that encompasses Earthsea (fundamental parts of Taoism, a philosophy Le Guin encourages in her works), and how life comes from death as much as death comes from life (death itself being a balancing force in the book), Ged is portrayed as a wiser and sager archmage. Reception Reviewing the novel for a genre audience, Lester del Rey reported that it was "fantasy with a logic of execution that is usually found only in science fiction ... rich in ideas, color and inventions". Notes References Bibliography External links Earthsea novels 1972 American novels 1972 children's books 1972 fantasy novels American young adult novels Young adult fantasy novels National Book Award for Young People's Literature winning works American fantasy novels adapted into films Sequel novels Dragons in popular culture Atheneum Books books