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sophiebernhard's review
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jbrunell's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
nebulous_tide's review against another edition
5.0
So much packed into just over 100 pages. Sexism, racism, slavery, what it means to label people in the 'other' group as sub-human. It also highlights the impact of power, which can be taken and wielded by so few for such a great effect.
I can see why this novella is a studied text in some courses. There is so much to consider!
I can see why this novella is a studied text in some courses. There is so much to consider!
pipode1234's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
whisperfox's review against another edition
2.0
It has taken me a while to write this review, because quite honestly this was the book I least liked out of all the LeGuin I read. It took a long time for this book to become available for me to read, and having finished it, I think I understand why -- at no point did I look forward to picking this book up.
There were aspects of it that were compelling and interesting. Linguistically, there was a lot going on, especially from the angle of how language and culture and worldview are all inextricably intertwined. The spiritual system was also very unusual, and I liked the way it was woven through the native everyday, and dictated a lot of their engagement with the world around them, and with opposition.
That being said, it was difficult to connect to this one. A lot of the characters I would consider protagonists were good people, but weak, or detached from the main plot. Or they were members of the native species, which while very well written, were just alien enough to be challenging to relate to. And the majority of the story is told from the worst character in the entire story.
Even recognizing that the unpleasantness of the narrator was likely a very intentional choice on LeGuin's part, meant to emphasize certain aspects of the story being told, and bring home the motivations at play here, reading the events of this story through that lens was so incredibly repulsive for me that it sullied the entire experience. I mean, he was a terrible person. I simply didn't feel that the pain of being inside those thoughts was worth it, in the end.
I think if this story was told as a flashback, where there was a bigger plot occurring (probably years, or even decades) after these events, I wouldn't have minded it as much. But as a stand-alone, where we see very limited outcomes, it was just a very unpleasant story to read. Difficult and harrowing stories are sometimes worth telling, of course, but this felt very out of place for me among the other Hainish entries, because there was so little hope to latch onto. All in all, this one just wasn't for me.
There were aspects of it that were compelling and interesting. Linguistically, there was a lot going on, especially from the angle of how language and culture and worldview are all inextricably intertwined. The spiritual system was also very unusual, and I liked the way it was woven through the native everyday, and dictated a lot of their engagement with the world around them, and with opposition.
That being said, it was difficult to connect to this one. A lot of the characters I would consider protagonists were good people, but weak, or detached from the main plot. Or they were members of the native species, which while very well written, were just alien enough to be challenging to relate to. And the majority of the story is told from the worst character in the entire story.
Even recognizing that the unpleasantness of the narrator was likely a very intentional choice on LeGuin's part, meant to emphasize certain aspects of the story being told, and bring home the motivations at play here, reading the events of this story through that lens was so incredibly repulsive for me that it sullied the entire experience. I mean, he was a terrible person. I simply didn't feel that the pain of being inside those thoughts was worth it, in the end.
I think if this story was told as a flashback, where there was a bigger plot occurring (probably years, or even decades) after these events, I wouldn't have minded it as much. But as a stand-alone, where we see very limited outcomes, it was just a very unpleasant story to read. Difficult and harrowing stories are sometimes worth telling, of course, but this felt very out of place for me among the other Hainish entries, because there was so little hope to latch onto. All in all, this one just wasn't for me.
emzet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pinxsol's review against another edition
5.0
This was a hard, frustrating read.
Ursula K. Le Guin wrote that Davidson was, as I understand, something of a caricature of An Evil Man (and there are a LOT of nods to that in the book, literally every second sentence of his is hideous), but it's scary how real the caricature is. It was physically painful to read Davidson's POV. I am, in fact, still in pain.
(Also, I don't usually go for books about colonization, slavery, racism, sexism, war, and bureaucracy surrounding all of the above since it's too heavy to read too much of, but I did greatly enjoy reading this, and imo the themes were dealt with very well)
Ursula K. Le Guin wrote that Davidson was, as I understand, something of a caricature of An Evil Man (and there are a LOT of nods to that in the book, literally every second sentence of his is hideous), but it's scary how real the caricature is. It was physically painful to read Davidson's POV. I am, in fact, still in pain.
(Also, I don't usually go for books about colonization, slavery, racism, sexism, war, and bureaucracy surrounding all of the above since it's too heavy to read too much of, but I did greatly enjoy reading this, and imo the themes were dealt with very well)
northwesternrain's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
justabookworm's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
coffeeandbooked's review against another edition
3.0
I did like this book, it was a very important book to read in my opinion. It has a very important lesson and touches on topics that are as important now and they have been in the past. One of the topics that this story discusses is slavery, rape, murder and invading of other peoples land. I think it is done extremely well - the main character Captain Dan Davidson is an awful man and thinks that the natives of the other planets are beneath him and should do as he wants them to.
A lot does happen in this book and I did get a little lost and confused whilst reading it but I did manage to get back into it fairly quickly.
I think this is a book you could re-read and get something else from it each time.
A lot does happen in this book and I did get a little lost and confused whilst reading it but I did manage to get back into it fairly quickly.
I think this is a book you could re-read and get something else from it each time.