In The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin, we are presented with a magical tale in the style of mythology in the created world of Earthsea. The Other Wind is perhaps the final novel of the Earthsea Saga as the author uses it to conclude all of the previous conflicts and tensions present throughout her books and provide a resolution.

The main narrative of the book concerns itself with the fate of Alder, a humble village sorcerer with the power to mend things by his magic. Every night, Alder is being drawn in his dreams to the low stone wall that separates the lands of the living from the lands of the dead, and there his recently departed wife Lily is calling to him and reaching for him across the wall.

Distressed, and fearing that he has become cursed or some other great evil is about to be unleashed onto the world through him, Alder travelled previous to the story to Roke island, where the Master Patterner of the Immanent Grove then sent him on to see the Archmage Ged or Lord Sparrowhawk of the previous Earthsea books. Ged helps him think about what he must do. He senses a connection between the recent events that are threatening the west of the Archipelago and that the dragons are back and are threatening war with humanity.

During his voyages, Alder meets many great people (the High King Lebannen, the lady Tenar, the dragon-girl Tehanu, and Orm Irian, the dragon-woman); all of whom hold a piece of the puzzle as to what is happening to him and indeed the rest of the world. As he consults with the High King, Alder is just one of King Lebannen's other problems: that the Karg's have sent him a bride who will not speak to him, and that a group of dragons have attacked Havnor island, the home of his own power. Seeing no choice the High King seeks to go to Roke to understand not only why the dragons are so angry with humanity but also what is happening to Alder. On their journey there the story starts to weave together the different strands of information from each character involved as together, at the Immanent grove the party discover an ancient evil that was performed by the wizards and Alder himself sets to Mending it.

The novel primarily focuses on healing, mending, peace, and pride. The motivations and beliefs of each character is challenged as they must overcome their own pride and the divisions which stop them from really understanding each other (just as King Lebannen and the High Princess of the Kargad lands must learn to communicate). Overall, The Other Wind acts as a mythological tale extolling the virtues of freedom and peace.