The Left Hand of Le Guin Podcast 03. The Tombs of Atuan
Apr 20, 2022
Paul Jessup, writer and game designer published in genre magazines, recalls discovering The Tombs of Atuan and why it stayed with him. He discusses the book's dense, ritual-rich atmosphere. They explore anthropological influences, folk-horror vibes, gender and power dynamics, Jungian readings, and the novel’s subversion of rescue tropes.
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Late Discovery Turned Into Lifelong Obsession
- Paul discovered Earthsea in his 20s after a friend praised Le Guin over Tolkien and read Wizard of Earthsea then Tombs.
- He calls Tombs one of his favorite books and says it inspired his recent novel The Silence That Binds.
Uncertainty Powers The Horror Ambience
- Ambiguity about the Nameless Ones fuels the novel's horror tone: characters and readers doubt whether the beings are real.
- Kyle and Paul highlight scenes where magic fails and Ged admits something blocks his power in the tombs.
Poetic Economy Beats Flourish
- Le Guin's prose is poetic, concise, and rhythmic rather than florid; each word is tightly placed.
- Paul suggests her poetry benefits from oral-storytelling influences and reads well aloud.
