The new trailer for The Rings of Power has recently been released. As awestruck as I was watching the trailer, I can’t help but be reminded of my frustration on just how underappreciated Earthsea is and the kind of "justice" it has received throughout the years.
The rich and magnificent world-building of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea certainly deserves a grandiose depiction in mainstream media as that of JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and CS Lewis’ 'The Chronicles of Narnia’ (no, I won't count the Sci-FI miniseries and Studio Ghibli adaptation of 'Tales from Earthsea' as canon; nor did Ursula). And not only did its stupenduously written plot make it deserving of a big break, but also because the saga has been a pioneer in a lot of controversial aspects of our society and continues to slay in its own way to date.
Introduced in 1968, the Earthsea saga has since been breaking stereotypes and deviating norms by having women and characters of color become the blood, heart, and soul of the story–a notorious trademark of Le Guin. Ursula even had to fight publishers to make sure Ged was depicted as copper-brown skinned in the covers as he was described in the books.
Not to mention the only pale skinned people in the whole archipelago were the Kargs and their far descendants that migrated west 2,000 years ago during the dark times, the Osskilians. And they were decribed in the first book as "savage people, white-skinned, yellow-haired, and fierce, liking the sight of blood and the smell of burning towns"--in short, barbarians. If this is not Ursula-level savagery, I don't know what is.
Another thing is that the Great House of Roke from A Wizard of Earthsea, if not one of, certainly is the original, the finest, and the best of the wizarding schools that has ever been introduced in all of history. It has undeniably become a beacon of inspiration for contemporary wizarding schools such as JK Rowling's Hogwarts.
I could go on and name a thousand other reasons for people to read and love Earthsea, but that is all–I can't do anything else but hopelessly rant about a book series that is severely underappreciated and plead of how deserving it is for a shot at redemption. I could only ramble about my desperation to see the epicness of this saga come to life.
Oh, how I long of the chance to gaze upon Erreth-Akbe’s sword atop the highest tower of Havnor!
I would die just to have a glimpse of the golden roofs of Berila, the orchards of Enlad in spring, and the towering height and ice caps of Mount Gont.
I am forever tormented by the fact that I’ll never get to see Ged confront his shadow, defeat the Old Powers that plagued the Tombs of Atuan, and his epic standoff with the old Dragon of Pendor, Yevaud.
My soul would forever lament and bear the agony of never witnessing King Lebannen’s journey with Ged to Selidor, their return from the death’s realm, and his coronation as the first king of Earthsea in 800 years after the reign of and as prophesied by his predecessor, King Maharion.
I'd want to explore and see other stories and events that shaped the archipelago, like the tragic fate of Morred and Elfarran and how the island of Soléa sank; the founding of the Great House and how Roke was tauted the 'Isle of the Wise'. I wanna see how prosperous Earthsea was during the rule of the 14 Kings of Havnor. I'm desperate to hear how the rendition of the Creation of Éa would sound and how epic it would look as it's played in the Long Dance, and sooo much more!
Earthsea deserves better.
Ursula K. Le-Guin deserved better.
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