I too am in the midst of the Earthsea cycle (I have just started the fourth, “Tehanu”) and each time I finish one I think “That was really phenomenal, but I am not quite sure why…” I am also frustrated (and sometimes impressed) by the huge narrative gaps, and I am very glad that the books are getting considerably less slight in size and detail as the cycle progresses.

Yes, Le Guin definitely leaves out a lot in the earlier books, which in some ways shows off her excellent world-building. You’re right that it’s frustrating too, though—it’s been a while since I read the first book, and I kept wondering how much about Geb and his world I’d forgotten, and how much of it was new stuff she was introducing. You couldn’t tell from the narrative. And all those missing years where we don’t see Geb threw me off a bit.

If anyone else is thinking of reading the series, I’d make sure to get all of them at once and read them straight through.