Ursula K. Le Guin

Did I mention that Ursula K. Le Guin read my book?

Did I mention that Ursula K. Le Guin liked my book?

Did I mention that Ursula K. Le Guin agreed to provide a blurb for the book?

“It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing not only with the kind of accuracy of language absolutely essential to fantasy-making, but with real music in the words as well. Wherever Pat Rothfuss goes with the big story that begins with The Name of the Wind, he’ll carry us with him as a good singer carries us through a song.”

Yeah. Can I get a “wow” from the audience?

On a closely related note, if you’ve never read her Wizards of Earthsea books, you really need to. Not only are they absolutely brilliant, but they’re one of the cornerstones of modern fantasy.

If you have read the Earthsea books, you should make sure you’ve checked out her more recent stuff too. She writes at a consistently awesome level that I hope to emulate over the years.

I’ve got a cool announcement to make, but you’ll have to wait for Friday. It’s a leap-day announcement. It’s nothing HUGE, but… well… I think it’s pretty cool….

Oh, and lastly, the deadline for nominating books for the Hugo ballot is only a couple days away. So if you were planning on doing it, but you’re like me and you tend to forget what day it is, don’t be caught unawares….

Later all,

pat

This entry was posted in being awesome, recommendationsBy Pat34 Responses

34 Comments

  1. Jen Fu
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 9:10 PM | Permalink

    Swoon. Ursula LeGuin is my absolute favorite. How wonderful for you! I love the Earthsea books, of course, but my absolute fave book of all time is The Dispossessed. (There are an awful lot of esses in that title.)

  2. TK42ONE
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 9:11 PM | Permalink

    You know, your head is going to be as big as Joe Abercrombie’s pretty soon.

  3. Anonymous
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 9:24 PM | Permalink

    How exciting! I love her! And since there are so many covers of A Wizard of Earthsea, I was suprised (and pleased) that you picked that one. It’s the best and also the one I own. Congrats to you Pat! Your lyrical writing is what I so love about your book.

  4. Michael Damian Thomas
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 9:38 PM | Permalink

    9 out of 10 SFWA grandmasters agree:The Name of the Wind is made of win.

  5. Micah Cowan
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 9:40 PM | Permalink

    ScfFi chan, of course, did a mediochre miniseries on Earthsea.What <>really<> sucks about that, is that Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, etc) has released their own work based on Earthsea, which is already available throughout the rest of the world (it released in Japan in 2006!), but because they have to wait for Scifi’s rights to expire, we won’t see it stateside until 2009.Much like another awesome work I’m being forced to wait on until 2009. ;)Info on it from the Miyazaki fansite:< HREF="http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/earthsea/" REL="nofollow">http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/earthsea/<>Note that, although it appears on the Hayao Miyazaki fansite, the movie is not being done by him, but rather his son Goro Miyazaki.I saw the crappy miniseries, but haven’t gotten around to reading the books, which I should probably do (but maybe I should wait until the Ghibli film is available? Howl’s Moving Castle departs quite a bit from the book).I seem to remember names playing a pretty key role in her magic system, though… I suppose it’s good that she took pleasure in your like-thinking rather than getting in a tizzy over perceived “idea plagiarism”. :)

  6. Kisaoda
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 9:41 PM | Permalink

    You know how much of a geek I am? I can tell that the dragon used in that book cover is a slightly modified piece done by Ciruelo Cabral. (A quick google will show you)But congratulations, Pat. Having Le Guin’s stamp o’ approval is no small victory. I myself have not yet got to reading Earthsea, though I’m almost certain it’s better than the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries.Good job! We’re rooting for ya.

  7. Amanda
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 10:35 PM | Permalink

    I liked the blurb. It explained NoTW perfectly.When I have free time again (aka when I graduate) I’ll definitely read those books.

  8. Kim
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 10:36 PM | Permalink

    What a wonderful blurb! That’s a very glowing recommendation.I like her book “Changing Planes” and also “The Left Hand of Darkness.” They were pretty awesome books, “Changing Planes” is hilarious though, it’s a neat variation on satire

  9. Steve
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 10:46 PM | Permalink

    OK, so this isn’t totally as cool–but it’s coincidental at least. I saw Michael Chabon speak last night in Davidson, NC and he was going on and on about Le Guin and when I got to his signing line I asked him what the last good fantasy he read was and he said he’d been on a kick re-reading Le Guin, and I recommended NOTW–and he wrote it down. Now, I don’t know if he was just humoring me or maybe someone just as cool as Ursula will be reading and blurbing for you. You can send the check to Steve In Asheville. :-)

  10. Arevanye
    Posted February 27, 2008 at 11:31 PM | Permalink

    Le Guin! You definitely get a WOW from me. I absolutely love her books – just finished her <>Annals of the Western Shore<> series. Congratulations, Pat, you couldn’t ask for a better author to “blurb” your book.

  11. mmmmmpig
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 1:25 AM | Permalink

    Okay, I will give you a “Wow”WOWO_O

  12. Mary J.
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 2:33 AM | Permalink

    WOW!

  13. bluharlequin
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 4:56 AM | Permalink

    Oddly, I’m only just now reading the Earthsea books for the first time. I’m just about finished the second one. Why it’s taken me so long, I’ll never know.Yes, I’ll hand in my Lifetime Fantasy Geek membership card on the way out the door.

  14. Gehennaheretic
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 5:05 AM | Permalink

    Wow! That’s awesome! I read and loved her Earthsea novels when I was a kid. I read them between readings of Lord of the Rings, and though they were fast reads, the series is extremely rich and deep. It’s definitely one of my favorites. Congratulations!

  15. Dynishra Shin
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 9:02 AM | Permalink

    Wow!That is very cool! I remember reading Ursula K. Le Guin when I was a pre-teen and just loving Earthsea. It must be amazing to get a review like that from such a well respected and noted author as she. Congrats!And also, good luck with the Hugos!~Dyn~

  16. Mike Toot
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 3:53 PM | Permalink

    Great news, Pat!And does your surprise announcement have anything to do with a gentleman named Schafer?

  17. Dischord
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 4:44 PM | Permalink

    ‘Carry his with us?’ Is that error hers or yours?Seriously, though, this is great news. LeGuin is a giant in the field and her support is an amazing thing. Next thing we know, Tolkien’s ghost will appear from beyond the grave to give you a blurb. None more deserving.

  18. Dischord
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 4:46 PM | Permalink

    “carry us with his”So it is easy to get things wrong. haha! Something about pitards and foisting or something. Meh.

  19. black Sunshine
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 4:54 PM | Permalink

    AWESOME! Earthsea was one of the first series that I ever read!Micah, that Earthsea animation is get-able if you know where to look ;-) ping me if you want to know.

  20. kelli
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 5:35 PM | Permalink

    Congratulations! Soon you’ll be giving blurbs to new authors, i.e.“Purple, because ice cream has no bones.” -P. Rothfuss Hugo Award winnerBetcha can’t wait!

  21. gapyeargirl123
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 6:08 PM | Permalink

    Woo!Well done, Pat!

  22. Joshua Champion
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 6:37 PM | Permalink

    Ursula LeGuin is such a terrific author. Its a shame about that crappy Sci-Fi adaptation. You wouldn’t do that to use, would you Pat?

  23. CasinoReview
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 7:11 PM | Permalink

    Wow! BIG WOW!Well, I am on page 331 of NOTW. Normally I read books MUCH faster, especially one as excellent as this. However, since I found out your next won’t be out until 2009, I chosen to savor the last half, instead of burning through it.I can say I KNOW I will be sad when I read the epilogue, and will be anxious to continue with your next!Kudos to you and your continual achievements!Laurie

  24. suziko
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 7:35 PM | Permalink

    Wow, what an honor! Congratulations!

  25. Jordan R
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 7:59 PM | Permalink

    Earthsea is what got me started on fantasy. I read them was I was but a mere mooncalf.

  26. Pat
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 11:12 PM | Permalink

    Dischord: Whoops. Yeah. That’s my mistake. Embarassing typo…. *Fixed*Thanks for bringing it to my attention…

  27. Pat
    Posted February 28, 2008 at 11:16 PM | Permalink

    Steve: That’s awesome. Thanks so much….

  28. Jessica
    Posted February 29, 2008 at 12:12 AM | Permalink

    Wow wow wow! Triple wow. Awesome wowness.

  29. Anonymous
    Posted February 29, 2008 at 12:55 AM | Permalink

    well…this says something for NOTW…i own 6 copies, a proof and an arc and haven’t even read it yet…though i already know it’s my type of book.I have though read The Earthsea Trilogy and it was probably one of the first fantasies i read. Wonderful set of books.

  30. lovesmasher
    Posted February 29, 2008 at 2:57 PM | Permalink

    I just checked out your Con schedule and it may appear as if I am stalking you. This would be entirely untrue.I’m willing to bet after your impression at WisCon last year, you’ll find a lot more people who are impressive writers who have read your book. Also, you need to be on my panel ‘What the Hell is God Doing Up Here’. I’ve requested you and Nick Mamatas specifically due to last year’s ‘Good Books/Bad People’ panel.

  31. Kalligenia
    Posted February 29, 2008 at 3:26 PM | Permalink

    Wow. I am in awe for you and of you.

  32. Althalus
    Posted February 29, 2008 at 8:39 PM | Permalink

    Mmk, I’ve been refreshing for like 4 hours now. Where is out surprise!

  33. Mary J.
    Posted February 29, 2008 at 8:41 PM | Permalink

    Me too! Isn’t Mr. Rothfuss a terrible tease?P.S. Stalkers unite!

  34. Brian Igelchen
    Posted March 14, 2008 at 9:17 AM | Permalink

    Phew, I was scared for a moment that she’d write “NOTW is the new Lord of the Rings” all fantasy reviewers tend to do that… It’s REALLY annoying ^_^ But since she is a fantasy author herself she probably thinks that herself :PI have an idea! Let’s all write a blurb for Lord* Rothfuss, I’m sure he will find it awesome!My blurb (it’s gonna be a bit dramatical & theatrical, since I don’t have to worry about it ending up on the book anyway!): “In the vast sea of fantasy novels a storm now stirs. All now stare in the direction of Name of the Wind. Enthralled, frightened or both. Because this book marks a major shift in modern fantasy with it’s witty humour and grand storytelling. Let yourself be swept away, by The Name of the Wind.”Not too bad if I might say so myself XD*)Lord of NOTW, and the geeks that follow it’s teachings!

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