I am forced to comment because in actual sheer random coincidence, I too am reading (for the first time, she mutters) Wizard of Earthsea.

The gender!fail is most definitely there even as far as I am. Which is weird, because I thought LeGuin was supposed to be queen of the fantasy feminists. Not that that's an overwhelmingly big category in old school fantasy, but still.

Also - Man, that Firelord wants to invade everyone, doesn't he?