About the Book
The Other Wind is the fifth and final Earthsea novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, originally published in 2001 and released in audio by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2012. It returns to the world of Earthsea with familiar characters, Ged, Tenar, and Tehanu, and centers on a crisis involving the land of the dead. A sorcerer named Alder is haunted by dreams in which the dead press against a wall, calling out to him. His search for answers draws together the surviving central figures of the earlier books and pulls the whole series toward a conclusion.
The book is shorter and quieter than much of the earlier Earthsea work. Where A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan had a more propulsive feel, The Other Wind is contemplative. It deals with questions Le Guin was working through across the later Earthsea books, what the afterlife means, what it costs, and whether inherited systems of belief can or should be dismantled. Dragons play a significant role, and the ending reframes much of what the earlier books established about the nature of death in Earthsea.
This is not a good entry point to the series. It assumes familiarity with at least the first three Earthsea novels, ideally the fourth, Tehanu, as well. Listeners new to Earthsea should start with A Wizard of Earthsea. For those who have already been through the earlier books, The Other Wind functions as a genuine closing chapter rather than a standalone novel.
Narration & Audio Performance
Samuel Roukin narrates, and his performance is a reasonable match for Le Guin's late style. The prose in The Other Wind is measured and spare, it doesn't ask for theatrical delivery, and Roukin doesn't try to impose one. His tone stays calm and deliberate, which suits the book's reflective register. He differentiates characters clearly enough that listeners won't lose track of who is speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
That said, Roukin's reading can feel slightly distant for listeners who prefer narrators that pull them in close. Le Guin's later Earthsea prose already operates at a remove, it has a mythic, slightly formal quality, and Roukin's delivery amplifies that quality rather than softening it. Whether that works for you will depend on your tolerance for a restrained, unhurried audio experience. Listeners who found the earlier Earthsea audiobooks narrated by Rob Inglis more engaging may notice the difference. If you have access to the Audible sample, it's worth checking before committing.
The Audible Verdict
The Other Wind is a well-written conclusion to a major fantasy series, and the audio format suits its linear, dialogue-driven structure. Roukin's narration is competent and tonally appropriate, but not so exceptional that it adds something the print version couldn't. Earthsea fans who have credit to use will find this a solid choice. Listeners new to the series should spend that credit on A Wizard of Earthsea first.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
The Other Wind translates well to audio in terms of structure. Le Guin writes in clear, complete scenes with strong dialogue and minimal dependence on maps, footnotes, or visual elements. There's nothing here that requires you to flip back or cross-reference a chart, it's a straight linear narrative from beginning to end, which is exactly what audio handles best.
The one caveat is tonal. Le Guin's prose in this book is deliberate and literary, and the audiobook moves slowly by genre standards. This is not background listening, it rewards attention. Listeners who tend to drift during quiet, meditative passages may find their attention slipping. It works well for a long commute or a walk, where you can give it consistent focus, but it's a poor choice for multitasking.
Popular Listener Questions
Do I need to read the earlier Earthsea books first?
Yes. The Other Wind draws heavily on characters and events from the first four Earthsea novels, particularly Tehanu. Starting here would mean missing most of the emotional and narrative context the book depends on.
Is this the last Earthsea book?
It's the last full Earthsea novel. Le Guin later published Tales from Earthsea, a short story collection set in the same world, released around the same time as The Other Wind. Neither requires the other, but they were written as companion volumes.
Is the narration consistent with the earlier Earthsea audiobooks?
No, Samuel Roukin is a different narrator from Rob Inglis, who narrated the first three Earthsea audiobooks. Listeners coming from those editions will notice the change in voice and style.
Is this a good audiobook for fantasy newcomers?
No. The Other Wind assumes significant familiarity with Earthsea. Fantasy newcomers would be better served starting with A Wizard of Earthsea, which is available on Audible and is a much stronger entry point to the series and to Le Guin's writing generally.
Similar Audiobooks
The natural starting point for the Earthsea sequence. If you haven't heard this one yet, it comes before The Other Wind and is essential context.
Directly precedes The Other Wind and is the most important of the earlier books for understanding its character dynamics and themes.
The Left Hand of Darkness
Le Guin's other major novel, set in a different universe but written with the same precise, anthropological prose style. A good next listen after finishing Earthsea.
The Last Unicorn
Peter S. Beagle's novel shares Le Guin's mythic register and quiet approach to fantasy, melancholy, philosophical, and focused on endings rather than beginnings.
The third Earthsea novel deals most directly with death and the land of the dead, making it essential preparation for the themes of The Other Wind.
Audiobook Details
| Title | The Other Wind |
|---|---|
| Author | Ursula K. Le Guin |
| Narrator | Samuel Roukin |
| Genre | Epic Fantasy |
| Year | 2012 |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
The Other Wind is available on Audible and is a reasonable use of a free trial credit for anyone already invested in the Earthsea series.
Open on Audible