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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Enjoyable, though I liked both Rocannon's World and City of Lies better. I have to admit that certain details in City of Lies would have made more sense, had I read this one first, but those details are really only hinted at here.
This is the first of the Hainish Cycle books I've read to not have a huge trek across a wilderness in it, at least by any of the MCs. Not complaining, just mildly surprised. Still, the Gaal made a rather huge trek; they just weren't POV characters.
As for the narration, it was ... okay. Nothing particularly special, but no egregious problems, either. I am pretty much neutral to the two narrators at this point.
This is the first of the Hainish Cycle books I've read to not have a huge trek across a wilderness in it, at least by any of the MCs. Not complaining, just mildly surprised. Still, the Gaal made a rather huge trek; they just weren't POV characters.
As for the narration, it was ... okay. Nothing particularly special, but no egregious problems, either. I am pretty much neutral to the two narrators at this point.
It’s not you, it’s me. Specifically, it’s me being annoyed at getting an interesting story about two civilizations with extreme differences in technology and mores coexisting which… is embedded in a love story. Because this was the early days and every sci fi book needed a romance to sell or something. And not just any kind of romance, but a wonderful combination of the love at first sight and the “born sexy yesterday” (or near enough that I really felt like barfing throughout). Our charming middle-aged hero from the advanced civilization falls hopelessly in love with the 20-year-old girl whose people are stuck in the Stone Age in a highly hierarchical and patriarchal polygamous society. But there is an insurmountable obstacle: they can’t reproduce because of genetic differences! Goodness, what will they do now?
So yes, instead of spending more time analyzing the core issue of a small remnant of an advanced colony and the dilemma of how they would deal with their twilight years in a hostile world, I get to read about this swell dude, leader of his people, risking everyone’s lives for a quickie. Boy what a hero!
It’s still a Le Guin though. She manages to craft an unforgettable planet with extremely long seasonal cycles and not one but two highly detailed civilizations. They’re rendered so well that I still haven’t gotten over how much I fucking hate everything about the girl’s civilization. And reading about the maudlin last years of the once great space farers was extremely moving. I empathized a lot.
But still. Love at first sight and all. If you’re wondering whether to skip it or not, I wouldn’t. It’s wonderfully redeemed in the next story, which is a sequel of sorts and offers fascinating glimpses into the aftermath of that quickie. Also: this is the world where GoT takes place, obviously, given that the seasons run just about the same length. In fact “winter is coming” might be an apt subtitle for this story.
So yes, instead of spending more time analyzing the core issue of a small remnant of an advanced colony and the dilemma of how they would deal with their twilight years in a hostile world, I get to read about this swell dude, leader of his people, risking everyone’s lives for a quickie. Boy what a hero!
It’s still a Le Guin though. She manages to craft an unforgettable planet with extremely long seasonal cycles and not one but two highly detailed civilizations. They’re rendered so well that I still haven’t gotten over how much I fucking hate everything about the girl’s civilization. And reading about the maudlin last years of the once great space farers was extremely moving. I empathized a lot.
But still. Love at first sight and all. If you’re wondering whether to skip it or not, I wouldn’t. It’s wonderfully redeemed in the next story, which is a sequel of sorts and offers fascinating glimpses into the aftermath of that quickie. Also: this is the world where GoT takes place, obviously, given that the seasons run just about the same length. In fact “winter is coming” might be an apt subtitle for this story.
This was a vast improvement on Rocannon's World. The looming threat of the Gaal. The looming threat of five thousand days of winter. Betrayal. Love. Siege. Death. Snow. Survival. The quiet, reflecting pauses, and moments of sudden violence and panic. Ursula K Le Guin spins one hell of a yarn.
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3,5
A pesar de mi horrible edición con espantosa traducción he logrado disfrutar de este libro gracias a la grandeza de Ursula K Le Guin.
No se convertirá en una de mis historias preferidas de esta autora, pero como siempre, merece muchísimo la pena.
Se trata más bien de una novela corta (200 páginas) en las que asistimos a la unión obligada de dos especies abocadas a la destrucción por culpa de una gran amenaza. 'Planeta de exilio' trata sobre el beneficio del mestizaje, de la unión de culturas, que puede ser la verdadera clave para la supervivencia.
Una vez más me maravilla la cantidad de temas interesantes y complejos que trata la autora en medio de una trama aparentemente sencilla y superficial.
¿Tendremos alguna vez una (re)edición de TODOS los libros y relatos que componen el ciclo Ekumen en español? Porque vamos, LO NECESITAMOS.
****Como todas las historias que componen este ciclo es una historia autoconclusiva
A pesar de mi horrible edición con espantosa traducción he logrado disfrutar de este libro gracias a la grandeza de Ursula K Le Guin.
No se convertirá en una de mis historias preferidas de esta autora, pero como siempre, merece muchísimo la pena.
Se trata más bien de una novela corta (200 páginas) en las que asistimos a la unión obligada de dos especies abocadas a la destrucción por culpa de una gran amenaza. 'Planeta de exilio' trata sobre el beneficio del mestizaje, de la unión de culturas, que puede ser la verdadera clave para la supervivencia.
Una vez más me maravilla la cantidad de temas interesantes y complejos que trata la autora en medio de una trama aparentemente sencilla y superficial.
¿Tendremos alguna vez una (re)edición de TODOS los libros y relatos que componen el ciclo Ekumen en español? Porque vamos, LO NECESITAMOS.
****Como todas las historias que componen este ciclo es una historia autoconclusiva
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
medium-paced
This novel was not my cup of tea but it was short and quite well written, that's why I was able to finish it. :)
As I don't normally read Sci-fi (used to a bit more years ago) and Fantasy, I quite can't find the line between these two genres...Planet of Exile is labeled as Science Fiction but to me it seems more like Fantasy, which I've never been too keen on (exept for His Dark Materials).
Anyway, I'll maybe try other of LeGuin's books in the future.
As I don't normally read Sci-fi (used to a bit more years ago) and Fantasy, I quite can't find the line between these two genres...Planet of Exile is labeled as Science Fiction but to me it seems more like Fantasy, which I've never been too keen on (exept for His Dark Materials).
Anyway, I'll maybe try other of LeGuin's books in the future.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
No
Well...I don't get what the attraction is. Perhaps I need to start with the first book in the series -- Rocannon's World.