Following on from our popular previous event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea in November 2018, BookTalk volunteer Christie Collins delved into the vast poetic oeuvre Le Guin left behind.
Tag: twentieth century
A reader’s view: Check out this fantastic report from our recent event celebrating Ursula Le Guin
Our November event exploring Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea and the author’s enduring legacy was one of our most popular yet, with almost 100 Le Guin readers and fans sharing in the discussion. If you weren’t able to make it (or if you … Continue reading A reader’s view: Check out this fantastic report from our recent event celebrating Ursula Le Guin
On ‘Spiritual Directions’ in Ursula Le Guin
One of our speakers at our forthcoming event, Dr. Liesl King, shares her thoughts on the spiritual influences in the works of Ursula Le Guin.
10 Reasons Why Le Guin’s Earthsea Books Can Still Change Your Life
1) They offer three very different takes on the heroic journey We live in a time when the “Hero’s Journey” rules popular culture, in the wake of Star Wars. But years before George Lucas decided to distill Joseph Campbell into a simple space Western, Le … Continue reading 10 Reasons Why Le Guin’s Earthsea Books Can Still Change Your Life
Finding light in the heart of darkness
In September 2003, A Wizard of Earthsea was selected as Classic of the Month as part of the ‘Building a Children’s Library’ series run by The Guardian.
How Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea Subverts Racism (But Not Sexism)
As part of a series for Tor.com commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of A Wizard of Earthsea’s publication, Gabrielle Bellot considered what Le Guin’s pioneering sci-fi classic meant to her, as well as the ways it pushed against the boundaries of its time while simultaneously not quite pushing far enough.
BookTalk event, 19 November: Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea
Cardiff BookTalk continues its exploration of science fiction and fantasy this semester with a very special evening celebrating the legacy of the great American novelist, poet, and essayist Ursula Le Guin.
BookTalk Event Review: Harry Potter – Twenty Years Later
In celebration of the birthday of the Boy Who Lived, Caitlin Coxon reviews the final BookTalk event of the 2016/17 year, ‘Harry Potter – Twenty Years Later’.
Harry, Ron & Hermione meet on the Hogwarts Express
Our event, Harry Potter – Twenty Years Later begins tonight at 7pm in the Cardiff University Optometry Building on Maindy Rd. The event is now all booked up, so we’re looking forward to seeing you all this evening!
Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone: Excerpt #5
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Harry heard a familiar voice: “Firs’-years! Firs’-years! Firs’-years over here! All right there, Harry?”
Hagrid’s big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
“C’mon, follow me – any more firs’-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs’-years follow me!”
Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.
“Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” Hagrid called over his shoulder, “jus’ round this bend here.”
There was a loud “Oooooh!”.
The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione.
“Everyone in?” shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, “Right then – FORWARD!”
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
“Heads down!” yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them directly underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out on to rocks and pebbles.
Excerpt taken from Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone (London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2013), pp. 83-4.
