Cadden, Mike (2005). Ursula K. Le Guin Beyond Genre: Fiction for Children and Adults (1sted.). New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-99527-2.

Find magic and adventure as you explore the numerous islands of Earthsea in this classic series by legendary fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin. After Kossil discovers that Ged exists, however, Tenar must choose to either kill Ged or escape with him. To buy time, Manan helps her dig a false grave and fake Ged’s death. But things come to a head when Kossil discovers the false grave around the same time that Ged discovers and retrieves the ring of Erreth-Akbe. At this point, Tenar realizes she must choose immediately, and she chooses to leave with Ged. They escape the collapsing tombs and locate Ged’s boat on the coast, charting a course for the Hardic island of Havnor. Le Guin's development of the "Nameless Ones" is what ties A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA and THE TOMBS OF ATUAN together. Until Ged and Tenar begin discussing the history of the "Nameless Ones" in the Tombs and labyrinth, it is difficult to imagine that they even exist. Although Tenar lives to protect and worship them, she doesn't really know what they are or why they are powerful. She believes that they can kill intruders, but she has never seen them do it. Ged explains that "they have nothing to give. They have no power of making. All their power is to darken and destroy. They cannot leave this place; they are this place; and it should be left to them." Once Tenar realizes that the "Nameless Ones" are an oppressive presence and that they can kill her, THE TOMBS OF ATUAN becomes truly scary. But, as usual, Le Guin never reveals more about the "Nameless Ones" than she has to. Scholars have compared The Tombs of Atuan to The Beginning Place, another of Le Guin's fantasy works; both stories have a female protagonist guiding a blundering male through a labyrinth of sorts. [40] Comparisons have been made to a number of Le Guin's works which have a notion of a dream world in which the protagonists undergo a transformation; in The Tombs of Atuan, this is the labyrinth. [40] Ged's journey through the series has been compared to the traditional heroic quest, including a "descent into the underworld" represented by the labyrinth in The Tombs of Atuan. It has drawn comparisons to the character of Alvin in Arthur C. Clarke's novella The City and the Stars. [66] [67] Publication and reception [ edit ]

By the 4th day, Arha finds him collapsed inside the Painted Room. From a spy hole in the floor of the Temple of the Twin Gods, she taunts him with directions to the Great Treasury where "maybe, you'll find water." Again, she fantasizes about toying with him and giving death, death, death instead of water. Kossil finds Arha in the Temple of the Twin Gods and asks if the man is dead yet. Arha replies that his magical light has gone out so he is probably near death. Suspicious, Kossil suggests having her servant Duby bring out the corpse. Arha confronts Kossil, claiming her domain, her Masters, and needing no more lessons in death. Above the tombs is the island of Atuan, located in the Kargad Lands. It is said that people are taken to the tombs, usually prisoners, are sent to be sacrificed to the Nameless Ones for a slow death. It is said that each priestess is a reincarnation of the first, and are therefore taken into the tombs for a lifetime of servitude at a young age. Tenar, or Arha, is the only priestess who is allowed to roam the labyrinth above. Because the tombs are below Kargad Lands, there are no wizards present because of the Kargad belief that wizardry is impermissible. Tenar wakes up to a beautiful golden light and feels a sense of delight in her newfound freedom. Ged still sleeps beside her, and she contemplates his power and their relationship. They discuss their journey, food, and Tenar's future in Havnor. Tenar expresses her desire to stay with Ged, but he doesn't seem convinced. They continue their journey, cross the mountains, and Tenar sees the sea for the first time. They arrive in a small town guarded by armed men, and Tenar questions the need for raiding and slavery. Ged ponders the consequences of the Kargish Empire's defeat.

The Godking ceases sending prisoners to the Tombs, and gradually, Arha's nightmares stop. Determined to know her domain, she explores the Undertomb section of the Labyrinth except the Iron Door tunnel. Thar gives Arha directions to the other rooms in the greater Labyrinth. She also points out spy holes into the Labyrinth from aboveground areas. Thar has never entered the Labyrinth herself. She only recites memorized directions from the previous Arha. In fact, most people don't even know the underground Labyrinth exists. I also appreciate the theme of seeking truth versus believing what you are told, and the value of seeking the wisdom of expertise, a through-line theme of the series. It today’s modern age of “my ignorance is a good as your knowledge” it’s nice to return to a world where education is revered. Like A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan is a bildungsroman that explores Tenar's growth and identity. Tenar's coming-of-age is closely tied to her exploration of faith and her belief in the Nameless Ones. The Tombs of Atuan explores themes of gender and power in the setting of a cult of female priests in service to a patriarchal society, while providing an anthropological view of Kargish culture. Tenar, who became the subject of Le Guin's fourth Earthsea novel, Tehanu, has been described as a more revolutionary protagonist than Ged, or Arren, the protagonist of The Farthest Shore (1972), the third Earthsea volume. Whereas the two men grow into socially approved roles, Tenar rebels and struggles against the confines of her social role. The Tombs of Atuan shares elements of the story of a heroic quest with other Earthsea novels, but subverts some of the tropes common to the genre of fantasy at the time, such as by choosing a female protagonist, and a dark-skinned leading character. [5] Arha spends the day lost in thought at the lowest step of the Empty Throne. She cannot enter the Labyrinth or go among the other priestesses now. She asks herself "Who am I?" and gets no answer. Manan enters and warns about Kossil's revenge. He suggests killing Sparrowhawk to take the lies and turn them into truth. Arha replies that Kossil can't hurt her and at worst Arha would be reborn. Manan counters that Kossil could imprison Arha in the Labyrinth for years and the Nameless Ones would not forgive her sacrilege. Arha dismisses his concerns and tells him to go to sleep affectionately. One he leaves, she enters the Labyrinth one last time. After this incident, she falls ill and experiences nightmares, suggesting that when she underwent the rituals that made her the "eaten one", some of her personality and her regard for life remained. [49] She questions her faith (another theme that runs through the novel), and begins to develop a sense of self apart from it, helped in this process by Ged. [49] She wrestles with her contradictory thoughts for a long time; keeping Ged alive would be contrary to all her teachings and the powers she serves, but sacrificing him would be contrary to her developing respect for life. [43] An important moment in this process is when Ged calls her by her true name, and clarifies for her the choice between remaining in the Tombs as Arha and embracing Tenar and stepping into the larger world of Earthsea. [50] Afterwards she has a nightmare about suffocating, a motif Cummins describes as being common to female coming-of-age stories. [50]The Earthsea Cycle is narrated by several esteemed voice actors, including actor Rob Inglis (who also lends his voice to the Lord of the Rings audiobooks), critically acclaimed British actress Jenny Sterlin, and English television and film star Samuel Roukin.