A Wizard of Earthsea is the classic fantasy novel by Ursula Le Guin. It has delighted readers since it's publication in 1968 with it's story of magic and personal growth, and remains a favourite of mine since I first read it as a child.

Ged is a young boy from a village on the Isle of Gont, who has a natural talent for magecraft. He yearns to learn all the things he has heard that Wizards can do, but he has no patience and no understanding of the balance needed to practice the craft safely.

In his pride, he unleashes a creature of darkness on the world, which attacks him, leaving him scarred across the face, and doubting himself. He learns now for the sake of defending himself against this creature, and hoping to destroy it.

In many ways, this is almost the archetype of fantasy fiction, the boy from humble beginnings, the fall from pride, the concept of good and evil, and balance. Yet it is told with a directness and simplicity that is often missing from other fantasy.

The story is really about Ged learning and understanding about the consequences of his actions, and discovering the true nature of the creature he batttles. When he learns what it is, he learns the greatest lesson of his life.