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emglange's review against another edition
5.0
I have often remarked that I found Le Guin’s strength to be in worldbuilding first and foremost. While her characters and plots are often interesting, I find myself sinking into her worlds more readily. She approaches her fictions like an anthropologist, and even an anthropologist aware of Eurocentric/Western preconceptions. Changing Planes celebrates her worldbuilding strengths.
The collection of short stories is based around the idea that a woman from Cincinnati discovers a method of visiting other planes of existence, but only when you’re in an airport. The individual stories are accounts of some of these planes and the ways of life that have formed and continue to grow there.
It’s difficult to pick a favorite story from amongst the collection; despite being so different, Le Guin’s voice ties them together into a sense of wholeness. I can say that I was particularly intrigued by The Nna Mmoy Language, where translation falls apart and this fictional language takes into account all the could be said before or after something spoken in order to craft its meaning. The fact that I’m still thinking about what that sort of language might be like is a clue to how this collection has stuck with my thoughts.
The collection of short stories is based around the idea that a woman from Cincinnati discovers a method of visiting other planes of existence, but only when you’re in an airport. The individual stories are accounts of some of these planes and the ways of life that have formed and continue to grow there.
It’s difficult to pick a favorite story from amongst the collection; despite being so different, Le Guin’s voice ties them together into a sense of wholeness. I can say that I was particularly intrigued by The Nna Mmoy Language, where translation falls apart and this fictional language takes into account all the could be said before or after something spoken in order to craft its meaning. The fact that I’m still thinking about what that sort of language might be like is a clue to how this collection has stuck with my thoughts.
chelseareads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Violence, War, and Sexual violence
sunimret's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
I love and miss Ursula LeGuin. This is a playful book, written around the premise that it might be possible to “travel” to other worlds instead of staying staked in place in airport waiting lounges between airplanes. That’s why the title of this book is a pun. Every chapter is essentially a summary of a possible other world, and they are all interesting enough that I wish LeGuin had lived long enough to develop a book around each. As usual, this book shows how ahead of her time LeGuin was in sensitivity to gender fluidity, environmental destruction, and similar modern themes, and as usual, it is beautifully written. It is more satirical and laugh out loud funny at times than more serious entries in her oeuvre, but that’s part of its charm. This is a great book to take along for those. . . . endless airport waits when “changing planes.”
madamepurpura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
houlette's review against another edition
4.0
Similar to but more successful than Christopher Priest's Islanders. Also reminiscent of Borges or Calvino at times. The writing is solid but not Le Guin's best - admittedly a high bar - and overall it's a fun read.
digiacomoa's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
A quick and enjoyable read. Le Guin uses the idea of traveling between alternative dimensions as to craft a collection of short stories exploring unique people and cultures, many of which provide commentary on our own society. While not her strongest piece of writing (if the short stories were any longer, I may have struggled to finish the book), yet her creativity astounded me like always.
Would also be a great resource for your next Dnd campaign 👌
Would also be a great resource for your next Dnd campaign 👌
tyrshand's review against another edition
5.0
The writing and the reader made this immensely satisfying. I'm really bummed that the book ended and I'll know longer have this wry, charming, intelligent woman telling me fascinating stories of her travels through the planes.
smallwonders's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
catterwaul's review against another edition
3.0
Weird. Enjoyable, but not my favorite Le Guin so far, and very, very weird.