Ursula K. LeGuin, The Other Wind

                  Ursula K. LeGuin's novel, The Other Wind, skillfully wraps up the fantastical Earthsea series. The Change that began in Tehanu meets another beginning. As the characters search for meaning in the chaos, they find, instead, more questions. What does it truly mean to die? to live? What is life immortal? What truly endures forever? Throughout the novel, the tone is critical of those who seek the the immortal life through undying: Life immortal is not to live forever and cheat death, but to overcome it and die to rejoin the undying world. To die, in Tehanu's words, is to give back.

                  Contrary to the past series of books, The Other Wind features a humble village mender as the protagonist. Far from a mindless peasant, Alder has "wisdom ... in his hands" and "follows his heart"; he is the catalyst of change and is the instrument through which the world is made whole again. Separated by death with his beloved wife, Alder becomes plagued by dreams of her calling to him from beyond the wall, even kissing him – the dead are calling to be set free. His love is no greater than any other epic love story, but is his less great? Ged, the once-Archmage, muses that perhaps true love is as close as man comes to what endures forever. The mysteries that arise from Alder's dreams meet with the wisdom and anger of the dragons, the myths and taboos of the Eastern peoples, and the forbidden lore of the ancient powers. "Who are those who go to the dry lands?" and, "Will a dragon cross the wall of stones?" Ged asks his dragon-daughter, Tehanu. With the dragons pressuring from the west, and the troubling attempts of the dead to speak to the living, King Lebannen and his party travel to Roke – to the forest at the centre of the world. There, the walls once erected by greed are destroyed, the world is made whole, and the last choice between the dragons and humans are made. Not only the world, but Alder also is reunited with his other half, Lebannen finds his queen and wife, and Tehanu's scars are healed in a new golden body.

                  In this tale of Change in all of Earthsea, LeGuin skillfully conveys through her simple, yet enticing words, the grand story, in a delicate balance between adventure and common-life. The details are not overlooked. In fact, perhaps it is the daily and common actions that hold a greater importance in one's life. The aged once-Archmage, Ged, now lives the simple life of a farmer with a wife and daughter; Alder, in his concern for his kitten, Tug, gives the feline to a young boy in the gardens; the women are treated with extravagance on the ship to Roke – they are good-luck according to sailors; Azver is coming on in age, needing a house now to rest in. The details of the many little things abound throughout the narrative, creating the sense of life not far from our own.

                  Not only the details of daily events, but LeGuin also makes use of dialogue and syntax to further the perception of reality. Through each character's words, there is no difficulty in determining the person's beliefs, hopes, and emotions. Alder is always polite with a silver-tongued weariness; Tenar is loving and tender; Lebannen is mature in kingship, yet boyish at romance; Seserakh is courageous and dignified in her fear; Irian has contempt at the wizards' greed and un-death; Master Summoner, Brand, is ignorant and self-justifying. All through the journey, the voices of various characters masterfully, and subtly, intertwine to reveal the other sides of the proceeding events, as well as the worries and musings of the fateful travellers.

                  Earthsea is not the only world changed after the novel, many characters are also left altered. Tenar, in the bitter sadness of motherhood, lets go of her daughter to fulfil her destiny. Alder, once confused and love-grieved, gains wisdom and ultimately, freedom. Tehanu, once timid and afraid, slowing opens up and embraces her fate and true being – a bright golden dragon. King Lebannen, strong yet indignant to the princess of the Kargad lands, sees past the red-veiled unmoving figure to a woman that stands his equal. Seserahk, once the fearful pawn of her father, gains courage to face the unknown and sorcery-filled culture of the Archipelago. Not one soul who embarked on the journey remained the same.

                  Recurring over and over, whether through dreams or legends, are the un-flying wings of the dead Hardic peoples. They are as "birds that cannot fly". As the dragons fly on the other wind, perhaps the Hardic people have forgotten how to find their way to death, trapped by the greed of those seeking immortality. Alder, giving up his gift of a mender to defend against the "great evil of [his] ignorance", finds he has lost an intangible part of him, like losing his way home; he realises Ged must also feel the same. Similarly, Tenar dreams of Ged without wings, saying he cannot fly, at which she feels an insurmountable anger. Surely, not having the gift of magic does not mean the right to die and find peace is lost. Ged, also, dreams, but of un-flying wings and a friend “well-yoked”. The souls are lost, unable to be free and fly on the other wind; they have forgotten their origins when people and dragons were one.

                  Once the stones laid by greed are toppled and the dragons return to flying on the other wind, Tenar returns weary and home-sick to her beloved Hawk of Gont, Ged. She doesn't know how to tell him everything of the Change that happened, of the journey that took place. "Tell it backwards," he says, as they look over the western horizon, waiting for Tehanu. Thus, The Other Wind ends, not in the satisfied sadness of an ending, but in the bittersweet hopefulness of another beginning.