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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
It was so fascinating to read Ursula’s first novel and pick up on all the themes that would be expanded on in her later works: Shadow self, the power of a name (or lack thereof), what happens when a man becomes a god. Single anthropologist explores a new world, the basis of like four of her books thus far. You could tell that this is an early work—a lot of Lawrence of Arabia vibes, while her later stuff has more moral ambiguity. Like many of her stories it started slow, but by the end I was really into it—just the last couple chapter moved this rating up by a full point probably. I wish there were a bit more to the story, but I’m excited to see how it’s expanded on throughout the rest of the Hainish cycle.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just not for me. Felt like a waste of time to me. The characters were flat. At least it was short.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A little unpolished compared to her later works, but I enjoyed the similarities to The Left Hand of Darkness and A Wizard of Earthsea.
adventurous
reflective
adventurous
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