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echosk's review against another edition
5.0
Finally, after about 2.5 years I finished The Tales of Earthsea collection, Hainish Novels & Stories Vol. 1, and now Vol. 2. It took me longer than expected but alongside Dune these books were the first I've read with vigor in years.
Ursula Le Guin's books, made me feel like high school me reading books again. It didn't matter if it was a short 10 paged story or a full novel, I somehow ended up fully invested in the characters, the world, and the story she created. I'm not much of a critic and don't know much about writing to really provide an objective review but I can at least say that Ursula Le Guin's words including the ones in Vol. 2 always left me longing for the next time I would sit down and read.
Ursula Le Guin's books, made me feel like high school me reading books again. It didn't matter if it was a short 10 paged story or a full novel, I somehow ended up fully invested in the characters, the world, and the story she created. I'm not much of a critic and don't know much about writing to really provide an objective review but I can at least say that Ursula Le Guin's words including the ones in Vol. 2 always left me longing for the next time I would sit down and read.
erikars's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Although not as strong as volume 1, this second volume of Le Guin's complete Hainish novels and stories was still a worthwhile read. The works in the second volume were just as strong as in the first on world building and exploring alternate ways of living and being. However, I tend to like a good dose of character development and plot even when I read more speculative fiction, and those aspects were not as strong as in the works of the first volume. That said, both collections have some works that are excellent, others which are merely good, and all of which benefit from being read in the full context of the other Hainish novels and stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Colonisation
jeffsauer's review against another edition
5.0
Did not know about any of this stuff. Crazy that this is the same universe as star wars
robertwhelan's review against another edition
2.0
Too much sexual identity re-imaginings and associated polices for my taste. Some of it was okay, but the last book, The Telling, was particularly boring and tedious to read.
arthurbdd's review against another edition
5.0
Aside from the incendiary The Word For World Is Forest and a few of the short stories in here, the bulk of the material in this collection hails from Le Guin's revisiting of the Hainish setting in the 1990s as part of her more general reassessment of her early works (she'd go back to Earthsea at around the same time too).
In consequence it is, perhaps, not as groundbreaking as the material collected in the first volume of this collection, but equally this is a gorgeous presentation of the material, brings together the five parts of the Werel/Yeowe story-cycle at last, and in finds Le Guin continuing to find new things to do in the Hainish setting.
The cycle concludes with Five Ways To Forgiveness, one of the most emotionally visceral works Le Guin has ever devised, and The Telling, one of her most calm and detached, showing the impressive range of tones and atmospheres she could muster at this stage of her career. After this she would be done with the setting, but between this and the first volume, what more could we possibly ask for?
In consequence it is, perhaps, not as groundbreaking as the material collected in the first volume of this collection, but equally this is a gorgeous presentation of the material, brings together the five parts of the Werel/Yeowe story-cycle at last, and in finds Le Guin continuing to find new things to do in the Hainish setting.
The cycle concludes with Five Ways To Forgiveness, one of the most emotionally visceral works Le Guin has ever devised, and The Telling, one of her most calm and detached, showing the impressive range of tones and atmospheres she could muster at this stage of her career. After this she would be done with the setting, but between this and the first volume, what more could we possibly ask for?
telescopewizard's review against another edition
3.75
okay disclaimer i didn't actually finish, i'm stopping midway through five ways to forgiveness bc my brain needs a break. so i'll come back to this another time. but for now:
- all the churtening stories were so beautiful and complicated and cool <3<3
- the first story of five ways to forgiveness really struck a chord with me too, especially in how the story blended w the environmental descriptions
- the rest were entertaining enough if not riveting
flaweddimension's review against another edition
Five Ways to Forgiveness had a bit much rape, and The Telling didn't grab me. The short stories, however, were delightful. And I read The Word for World is Forest in a separate volume - great story, upsetting. I only mean to read it once.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Child abuse
badger1984's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5