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The Wind's Twelve Quarters

The Wind's Twelve Quarters

FantasyFolklore
Pages
303
Published
1991
Language
English

Synopsis

Discover the origins of the beloved Earthsea series in this collection of stories by Ursula K. Le Guin. Featuring the foundational short story that introduced readers to this magical world and its compelling characters, this volume offers a glimpse into the early days of Le Guin's acclaimed creation. It's a perfect starting point for new readers and a treasured addition for long-time fans.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

Thought-ProvokingAtmosphericReflectiveComplex

Genres

Fantasy Folklore Literary Fiction Mythology Science Fiction Short Stories

About the author

U
Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (née Kroeber; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author. She is best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the Earthsea fantasy series. Her work was first published in 1959, and her literary career spanned nearly sixty years, producing more than twenty novels and more than a hundred short stories, in addition to poetry, literary criticism, translations, and children's books. Frequently...

Characters

All characters in The Wind's Twelve Quarters

Frequently asked questions

  • Does this collection contain only Earthsea stories?

    This volume is a broad retrospective of the author's short fiction from the first decade of her career and includes only two stories set in the Earthsea world. The remaining fifteen stories explore diverse settings, including several entries in the Hainish Universe and various standalone speculative concepts.

  • Are the author's introductions to the stories worth reading?

    The author provides a brief note for each of the seventeen tales, offering personal context regarding their inspiration, editorial history, and her own reflections on how her writing style evolved during that period.

  • Do I need to have read the author's novels to understand these stories?

    These stories function independently and do not require prior knowledge of the author's longer works, even in cases where a story served as a conceptual germ for a later novel.