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whisperfox's review
4.0
I had to work very hard to get my hands on this book (huge thank you to the national network of libraries that eventually got it to me!), and it was worth the effort. I derived a lot of value from the heavy themes these short stories dealt with, through the eyes of multiples sets of characters navigating interpersonal relationship in the wake of cultural wounds.
Each story in this collection was unique enough to stay fresh and engaging, without losing the themes and through-lines. And the narrative voices were all very compelling -- I enjoyed very much reading LeGuin speaking primarily through female narrators for the first time in this series. Even though their tales were harrowing, and made more so by their perspective in the culture in which these stories are set, their voices were strong and empathetic and resilient and smart.
Though this was a collection with a common thread of grief and trauma and violent cultural evolution, it was easy to return to. Because, there are also vibrant threads of hope, of healing, and of finding common ground through mutual and intentional effort.
LeGuin's ability to tell a deep and thorough tale in the short form these stories take is wildly impressive to me. She pulls so much into each world and character even though we spend so little relative time with them. Short story collections are not usually my vibe when I'm choosing what to read, but these were a very valuable entry in my experience of the Hainish Cycle.
Each story in this collection was unique enough to stay fresh and engaging, without losing the themes and through-lines. And the narrative voices were all very compelling -- I enjoyed very much reading LeGuin speaking primarily through female narrators for the first time in this series. Even though their tales were harrowing, and made more so by their perspective in the culture in which these stories are set, their voices were strong and empathetic and resilient and smart.
Though this was a collection with a common thread of grief and trauma and violent cultural evolution, it was easy to return to. Because, there are also vibrant threads of hope, of healing, and of finding common ground through mutual and intentional effort.
LeGuin's ability to tell a deep and thorough tale in the short form these stories take is wildly impressive to me. She pulls so much into each world and character even though we spend so little relative time with them. Short story collections are not usually my vibe when I'm choosing what to read, but these were a very valuable entry in my experience of the Hainish Cycle.
books_and_keys's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
listen2theshort1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
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
4.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
5.0
Four interconnected stories from/about Werel and Yeowe, the struggle for freedom in many ways and what it might mean to be a human. Ursula Le Guin weaves the magic in the stories and in the telling into beautiful spaces for the reader to think. Glad to revisit this today, although it's not all that lighthearted. [2015]
This has got to be one of the most hideous covers for a book ever, and especially one of this sort. Why would you ever choose to pick this up based on the cover? Anyway, asides from that. The human struggle for freedom is real (especially perhaps after it has been provided "for all men"?) I like how 'A Man of the People' and 'A Woman's Liberation' intertwine. Stories are so multifaceted that I enjoy seeing new angles on them. I was really struck by the quiet marsh life in 'Betrayals' and think that is a good introduction to this part of the story of Werel and Yeowe. [2023]
This has got to be one of the most hideous covers for a book ever, and especially one of this sort. Why would you ever choose to pick this up based on the cover? Anyway, asides from that. The human struggle for freedom is real (especially perhaps after it has been provided "for all men"?) I like how 'A Man of the People' and 'A Woman's Liberation' intertwine. Stories are so multifaceted that I enjoy seeing new angles on them. I was really struck by the quiet marsh life in 'Betrayals' and think that is a good introduction to this part of the story of Werel and Yeowe. [2023]
caracabe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
meghan111's review against another edition
5.0
I love her anthropological science fiction, and this is one of my favorite books, period. Four sci-fi novellas about an alien world, dealing with colonialism, slavery, women's rights, and power in society in general. I think the first story sets the tone for the rest in the theme of forgiveness, about two people near the end of their lives, living alone, and how they come together.
loonyboi's review against another edition
5.0
An outstanding collection of connected short stories. I'm continually amazed at how good the loosely connected Hainish books all are. This is up there with [b:The Left Hand of Darkness|18423|The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle #6)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488213612s/18423.jpg|817527] and [b:The Dispossessed|13651|The Dispossessed|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353467455s/13651.jpg|2684122] as some of the best in there.
Note about this Library of America edition: it contains [b:Four Ways to Forgiveness|92605|Four Ways to Forgiveness|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410140299s/92605.jpg|822755], plus one story published afterwards which continues the story. It's the weakest of the lot (if the others are all five stars, I'd put that one at a three), but I greatly appreciate its inclusion for completeness' sake. In the introduction to [b:Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 2: The Word for World Is Forest / Stories / Five Ways to Forgiveness / The Telling|33533491|Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 2 The Word for World Is Forest / Stories / Five Ways to Forgiveness / The Telling|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1483421580s/33533491.jpg|54298768], Le Guin writes that she had an idea for a sixth story, but at the time of publication, hadn't been able to fully form it yet. Alas, we'll never know where that one would have gone. But what's here is so good it's hard to be too sad about that.
Note about this Library of America edition: it contains [b:Four Ways to Forgiveness|92605|Four Ways to Forgiveness|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410140299s/92605.jpg|822755], plus one story published afterwards which continues the story. It's the weakest of the lot (if the others are all five stars, I'd put that one at a three), but I greatly appreciate its inclusion for completeness' sake. In the introduction to [b:Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 2: The Word for World Is Forest / Stories / Five Ways to Forgiveness / The Telling|33533491|Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 2 The Word for World Is Forest / Stories / Five Ways to Forgiveness / The Telling|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1483421580s/33533491.jpg|54298768], Le Guin writes that she had an idea for a sixth story, but at the time of publication, hadn't been able to fully form it yet. Alas, we'll never know where that one would have gone. But what's here is so good it's hard to be too sad about that.