Ged is a powerful young wizard, but he needs training. After nearly dying dealing with forces stronger than himself, he is sent to live with the traditional elderly, wise man. But Ged is also proud, impatient and quite dislikeable, and the Galdaf-ish mage from Gont sends him to Roke, an island where the best wizards from Earthsea are trained. Not only will Get make friends and enemies there, but his imprudence and pride will set evil loose. 
 Perhaps I was expecting a little humour or slightly laughable lines here and there, but it was such a dark, sombre story that I found it hard to keep reading for an hour straight. Plus, a lot... a lot of names to remember and a very tiny map to follow Ged's quest all over Earthsea.