Reviews

'Worlds of Exile and Illusion' is a bind-up of Ursula K. Le Guin's first three novellas (or novels, as they were probably treated when first published in the 1960s). They go together to make a coherent historical cycle in her 'Hainish' universe, albeit one spread over several thousand years of history. In fact, one of the most remarkable things about the way she writes here, is that she manages to give each short book a sense of epic scale and historical depth with a few precise and beautiful strokes of her metaphorical pen. Put together in a single volume, they felt for me like an enormous historical epic, although the total page count of the collection is only 370pp.

Enduring concerns of Le Guin's are evident here. These are structurally feminist works, challenging prevailing assumptions of heroism, and of 'good' violence as a tool for solving problems, and in their worldbuilding they offer the reader a multitude of opportunities to consider the social construction of gender, of race, of hierarchy, of history, of epistemology, and a whole lot else besides. She was always a very compassionate writer, which makes every one of her stories moving, these included. However outlandish the future or fantasy she imagines, she always paints an involving picture of what it might be like to live in it.

In many ways these books could have been written today. For me, one aspect that seems slightly dated is the emphasis placed on telepathy as a future dimension of human development. In the 1960s, an era of profound psychic experiment and exploration, this probably looked plausible, and it is a theme that is present in many, many SF stories of the era. Today, to me at least, it looks less plausible, and the weakest point in these stories I felt was the denouement of 'City of Illusions', which leans heavily in to mental power as the defining technology of humanity's future.

Every time I read a Le Guin story, it's a powerful experience. Either you won't buy these stories at all, or you're going to be thoroughly engaged in her worlds. A surprising observation for me was the evidence of her love for J.R.R. Tolkien, both in terms of her use of language, and in some of the elements in her worldbuilding—particularly in 'Rocannon's World'. I think there is a profound kinship between the way Le Guin builds all her worlds, and the way Tolkien built Middle-earth. Few other writers have immersed me so completely in their imaginaries, or made me feel so much while I've been there.

thetenaciousbookworm's review against another edition

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2.0

Not really sure if science fiction is my cup of tea, or if I just didn’t like this particular book. There were moments that grabbed my attention, but I mostly struggled to focus and found my mind wandering while I read.

jv42's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Le Guin (and the Hainish Cycle) gets better with more time, but as the foundational novels of the cycle, these books are really wonderful. The world-building, as always, is stunning. The final book, City of Illusions, dragged a bit but picks up in the end. Rocannon’s World was fabulous, and Planet of Exile was great.

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