Today Ged is the greatest mage of Earthsea, but in his youth he recklessly rushed toward power and knowledge. By stepping onto a path that seemed the shortest and easiest, the young man touched an ancient secret—and it was because of him that great evil entered the world. To set things right, he must take another path—one that lasts a lifetime. Risking everything at every step, overcoming unimaginable obstacles, changing until he is unrecognizable, understanding his purpose—and then facing the decisive duel with the black shadow. The cycle “A Wizard of Earthsea” brought its author world fame, and today he stands alongside such fantasy masterpieces as J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and C. S. Lewis’s “Narnia.”