A Wizard of Earthsea is one of the most important fantasy novels in the genre, right up there with Tolkien. Reading this book, finally, for the first time, I see how other novels have stood on its shoulders (most notably the Kingkiller Chronicles), and I am glad this book exists.

That being said, it is not a book for me; possibly, Ursula K. Le Guin is not an author for me. It reads like it was written by an anthropologist (in fact, I was certain she must be until I looked it up just now), which was fine during The Left Hand of Darkness, but dry and wearing during a fantasy adventure.

As with many books I'm just getting around to, I think to myself, "If only 10, 15, 20 years ago someone handed me this book."