“A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula K. Le Guin

If you love fantasy, this is the one that helped shape the genre.

Ged is a gifted young goatherd on a remote island, and his talent for magic is so great that he is sent to the island of Roke, home to the greatest school of wizardry in the world. But Ged is proud, and a moment of anger and arrogance sets loose a dark power that begins to hunt him across the sea. To survive, he’ll have to face what he’s done.

Le Guin published it in 1968, and it still feels fresh. A school of wizards, a world of islands, and a hero who makes real mistakes were new then, and they have influenced writers ever since. It’s short, beautifully written, and the first of the Earthsea books. This edition includes a new afterword from the author.

This paperback is in good condition, and you can find it at Dead Tree Dreams. Set sail with Ged.