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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another fascinating world from Le Guin with social issues systemic and personal at the center.
I’m really loving these more focused and less expansive Le Guin novels. Excited to read what’s next.
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book feels a bit less morally or socially oriented than Leguin's other Hain novels, but it expands the lore of her universe in interesting ways. The central romance isn't particularly compelling, but overall the story is well paced and full of creative ideas.
Short, but enjoyable: evocative in its presentation of emotional states and interesting in how she played with several tropes.
Very personal experience of a Colony in regression.
This second novel in the Hainish Cycle, published right after [b:Rocannon's World|92610|Rocannon's World|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1300039756l/92610._SY75_.jpg|1357368], is just as good! A group of Earth humans have been stuck on a planet for 10 years, "temporarily" dropped off to build an alliance with the local humanoid inhabitants and never picked up. Considering that one year on this planet, known as Werel, last 60 earth years, that's kind of been an issue. Each season lasts 15 earth years and...
Most Terrans (people from Earth) and Tevarans (the mostly nomadic natives who are building their "winter city" next door) only live through one winter, so there's not much of a concept of a "normal winter," but this one proves to be very different. The Gaal (barbarians from the North) are coming in force, sacking every settlement in their way. The Terrans see the Teverans as backwards. The Teverans think the Terrans are witches with their technology and ability to mindread. Can they put aside their differences and work together to save both their communities?
The ending of this one was a little less satisfying than the previous one, but apparently it's a direct backstory to [b:City of Illusions|201889|City of Illusions|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382955526l/201889._SY75_.jpg|89334], so hopefully I'll get more resolution there.
Most Terrans (people from Earth) and Tevarans (the mostly nomadic natives who are building their "winter city" next door) only live through one winter, so there's not much of a concept of a "normal winter," but this one proves to be very different. The Gaal (barbarians from the North) are coming in force, sacking every settlement in their way. The Terrans see the Teverans as backwards. The Teverans think the Terrans are witches with their technology and ability to mindread. Can they put aside their differences and work together to save both their communities?
The ending of this one was a little less satisfying than the previous one, but apparently it's a direct backstory to [b:City of Illusions|201889|City of Illusions|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382955526l/201889._SY75_.jpg|89334], so hopefully I'll get more resolution there.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't know which other editions come with the introduction, but if you can get a hold of what she has to say about the ways in which her approach to writing have and haven't changed as people ask her why she "always" writes about men, it's worth having that context I think. LeGuin points out that Rolery more than anyone else embodies the Taoist attitude of "action through stillness" - contrasted with the wasteful excesses of violence. Although at the same time, she acknowledges that she wrote this before seeing the societal inherent biases that Third Wave feminism exposed.
At any rate, I wouldn't call it her absolute best, but as with 'The Word for World is Forest', there's something refreshing about the story progression, and the potential allegory of alien contact and contrast for our own globalist-nationalist conflict is as relevant as ever.
At any rate, I wouldn't call it her absolute best, but as with 'The Word for World is Forest', there's something refreshing about the story progression, and the potential allegory of alien contact and contrast for our own globalist-nationalist conflict is as relevant as ever.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No