Reviews

Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin

emgici's review against another edition

adventurous informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

futurejake's review

adventurous reflective slow-paced

4.0

pineapplesurvivor's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

angus_mckeogh's review against another edition

3.0

My first LeGuin book. Sort of a mishmash of serious science fiction and fantasy. Overall it was pretty good but ultimately maybe not my kind of thing. I’ll certainly try a different book by LeGuin at a later date.

clarabooksit's review

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

ebeth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

ugh ouch

reminds me of a poppy war mass murder ending tbh

johnbyers1500's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Meridian walgreens

jghood's review against another edition

adventurous relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Interesting sci -fi fantasy blend. Very appealing prose, nice to read. Thematic, and an integrating perspective on alien worlds. A bit poignant, which I don't always expect from sci-fi/fantasy

niakantorka's review against another edition

challenging inspiring sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

It was palpable that this was Ursula K. LeGuin’s first book. It showed her typical style of storytelling and of portraying characters but - to me - it lacked something. I would be exaggerating to say it lacked heart because I definitely felt Rocannon’s motivation and I could emphasise with him. I think, it was depth I was missing in the connections between the characters. For example Rocannon and Kyo’s relationship was super interesting and yet it sometimes seemed too shallow for how well they were connected. Same with Rocannon and Mogien or Rocannon and Yahan. 

This book, for that it was science fiction, had a lot of fantasy and fairytale elements. That added to its unique story but also made it harder to connect with its characters. Revenge was the main motivator in the novel and I can see how in the later books of the Hainish cycle the characters have more elaborate goals and are more fleshed out. And yet, I was mesmerised from the world building with the windsteeds, the different races (goodness, those Winged Ones werv such creepy guys), and the way some races could connect with each other (or more rarely between species) via telepathy. 

Honestly , like all books by Ursula K. LeGuin this story will stay with me for a while. Also, I can say that I’m looking forward to reading the next one, Planet of Exile. 

oksi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

3.75