The Magicians
Summary
For those still missingThe Magicians , the sodding book to fill the void actually came out more than half a century ago – and , fittingly enough , it urge the late book series and television receiver show . The Magicians , adapt from Lev Grossman ’s record serial , ran on SyFy for five season , last bowing in 2020 . Despite five time of year being a expert run for any show , fans were left devastate as it was truly one of the undecomposed genre show on tv , withThe Magicians ' uniquely coloured and grounded storytellingand unbelievable character growing .
SinceThe Magiciansended after those five seasons , it ’s been hard to find a show quite like it . Audiences who had never read the original book turn to those to sate the nihility leave by the boob tube show , and then to the spinoff comic record book after the volume were wind up . Those still searching for something to fillThe Magicians - shaped hole in their hearts , however , could do worse than to call on their attention to a 1968 novel that influencedThe Magiciansin countless way : A Wizard of Earthsea .
Lev Grossman ’s The Magicians give readers a spin on a classic fantasy series , and now , this unexampled dark fantasy novel is doing the same thing .
A Wizard Of Earthsea Is The Perfect Book To Read Once You’ve Finished The Magicians
The Dark Magic School Concept Is A Great Chaser
A Wizard of Earthseais a echt classic of tiddler ’s lit , a beloved hail - of - age account that has charm so many narration that came after . Sci - fi and phantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin was one of literature ’s most influential writers in general , andA Wizard of Earthseais indisputably one of her greatest kit and boodle . The account follow Ged , a boy from a low village who start exhibiting surpassing magical ability at a young age . After read a second from a powerful wizard named Ogion , Ged decides to go to a renowned magical school . For fans of a sinister " magical schooling " concept likeThe Magicians , A Wizard of Earthseais a bang-up follow - up .
The Earthsea Books Inspired Lev Grossman’s Later Fantasy Series
The Influences Are Clear
In aRedditAMA , The Magiciansauthor Lev Grossman uncover thatA Wizard of Earthseastrongly shape his own book serial publication . When enquire by a Redditor if there were any other " magic school " series that inspiredThe Magicians , Grossman , without hesitation , name the Le Guin serial – and admitted he was a patsy for look so long to start writingThe Magicians . " 100 % Earthsea . That was where the idea begin , " he said . " I actually started The Magicians in 1996 – pre - Harry Potter – inspired by Le Guin – but instantly pay it up . Because I ’m an idiot . "
It ’s dear that Grossman made a point to cite that he had the idea forThe Magicianswell beforeHarry thrower , and reminded that Le Guin ’s series came out decades before that , even . Thanks to the ubiquity of theHarry Potterfranchise and the stranglehold it had on dada culture for so long ( even today),too many hoi polloi automatically assume that if a story direct position in a magical shoal setting , it ’s ripping offHarry Potter . In the true , J.K. Rowling owes virtually all of her report and setting to other , earlier works , with wads of democratic writers owing a debt of inspiration to the late Ursula K. Le Guin . It ’s neat to see Grossman acknowledge that .
The Magicians ' Brakebills edges out Harry Potters ' Hogwarts as the good overall magical school , though Hogwarts is a revered second pick .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
What A Wizard Of Earthsea & The Magicians Have In Common
Both Embrace The Darkness Inherent In Magic
In readingA Wizard of Earthsea , one can see whereThe Magicianstook its influence . For starters , like thedarkest moments ofThe Magicians , A Wizard of Earthseais one of the rare books aimed at untried adult or kids where illusion is check as inherently dangerous . WhileHarry Potter ’s deception never had real stakes and the scourge come only from those who would misuse it , The MagiciansandA Wizard of Earthseamake it clear that magic itself is a sharp - abut knife that can wrench on you . There is always a balance ; magic trick always exact a price , and if that balance is upset , it can have a dire ripple effect .
Tonally , they ’re also similar in ways . The Magicians , especially the television adaption , has at times a fantastic , trippy , surreal calibre . The same is true ofA Wizard of Earthsea , with the tale flip out back and forth between concrete reality and the more unreliable teller of Ged ’s inner thoughts . as well , while some of his adversaries are real , others are more fugacious and spirit - similar . And , while this is n’t rare in fantasy books , bothThe MagiciansandA Wizard of Earthseaincorporate subject of of mythmaking and caption , along with epic pursuance .
last , protagonists Ged and Quentin Coldwater are very similar in agency . In accurate personality musical rhythm , they take issue greatly . What they divvy up , however , is thatboth are not necessarily soft to love at first , or even like . Ged is self-important and impetuous ; Quentin is morose and depressed . Each is obsessed with magic but not yet equipped to exert it responsibly . They are both deeply flawed in the beginning , and their journeys to real wisdom and gallantry are prospicient and arcing . For readers who love Quentin ’s eventual development inThe Magicians , it ’s well worth readingA Wizard of Earthseafor that same feeling of satisfaction by the oddment .
The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
The Magicians pursue a group of vernal adults who enroll at Brakebills University , a closemouthed foundation devoted to teach deception . As they lock in an unlawful education in spellcasting , they realise that a puerility fantasy world is indeed substantial and presents a significant threat to humanity .
