The Other Wind, Ursula K Le Guin

The Other Wind is the final book in the Earthsea series. It was published by Harcourt in 2001. It tells the story of the sorcerer Alder and further explores that of Tehanu. Alder is troubled by dreams. He dreams of the Dry Land (the land of death) and his wife who died young. She longs to return to him and kisses him across the wall between the land of the living and dead, a land where lovers pass without knowing each other.

Ged (the once Archmage) advises Alder to see Tenar. Tehanu agrees to go on a mission with King Lebannen to seek the dragons. This is not easy for Tehanu as she is still shy and emotionally dependant on Tenar. It is a mission to find her own destiny.

The story deals with life, death and balance. The cold unending existence of the dead in the Dry Lands is examined. This is not a natural state but a consequence of magic.

As sad as it was to finally come to the end of the series and say goodbye to all the characters that had left a deep impression, it does give some resolution to the characters and that enigmatic archipelago. Farewell. I envy those who are starting out on their travels round all those shores.