Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
maybe my least favorite so far of Le Guin’s books but still something beautiful and haunting about it that I really liked.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This critique is hard to write because while I thoroughly enjoyed Rocannon’s World, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it unless you were already a fan of UKLG.
This is the closest her novels come to a “traditional” fantasy or SF story. Elves, dwarves, a warrior Prince, a hidden rebel base; these are familiar tropes to science fiction and fantasy as a whole but something of a rarity when considered against UKLG other work. While the way UKLG combines these elements is unique, I don’t think that this story is very representative of her later work. I can imagine somebody new to her work being put off by how light (comparatively) the story is.
That being said, I, a fan of UKLG, thought this was a good read. It’s got a fun story and fun setting, and it’s cool to see where the Hainish novels started and compare that to where they went.
This is the closest her novels come to a “traditional” fantasy or SF story. Elves, dwarves, a warrior Prince, a hidden rebel base; these are familiar tropes to science fiction and fantasy as a whole but something of a rarity when considered against UKLG other work. While the way UKLG combines these elements is unique, I don’t think that this story is very representative of her later work. I can imagine somebody new to her work being put off by how light (comparatively) the story is.
That being said, I, a fan of UKLG, thought this was a good read. It’s got a fun story and fun setting, and it’s cool to see where the Hainish novels started and compare that to where they went.
Rocannon's World is my fourth read of Le Guin's Hainish Cyle series of books. For some reason I'm reading them in random order, which isn't that big of a deal as they all stand alone on their own. I listened to this one now because it is currently free on Audible. I was pleased to hear the familiar pleasing and distinctive voice of Stefan Rudnicki. He has narrated a number of science fiction books I've listened to and his performance always adds to the experience.
Rocannon's World is the first of book in the Hainish Cycle, and probably my least favorite so far. The action centers around a scientist named Gaverel Rocannon who goes to study life on a planet called Fomalhaut II which he later is able to have placed off-limits to others in order to protect the native primitive intelligent life on it. Unfortunately there is already a secret base of nefarious interstellar scoundrels on the planet and Rocannon's ship is destroyed along with his fellow scientists, leaving him stranded on the planet having to survive amongst the flora and fauna without technology.
Like the other first few books of the Hainish Cycle, this one is relatively short and while I thought overall it was interesting and engaging, the plot seemed to get a little muddy and drag at times. Le Guin is great at world building and this one was no exception. She also writes some great loss and redemption stories and this one falls in to that category as well.
Next up for me is book four, The Left Hand of Darkness.
Rocannon's World is the first of book in the Hainish Cycle, and probably my least favorite so far. The action centers around a scientist named Gaverel Rocannon who goes to study life on a planet called Fomalhaut II which he later is able to have placed off-limits to others in order to protect the native primitive intelligent life on it. Unfortunately there is already a secret base of nefarious interstellar scoundrels on the planet and Rocannon's ship is destroyed along with his fellow scientists, leaving him stranded on the planet having to survive amongst the flora and fauna without technology.
Like the other first few books of the Hainish Cycle, this one is relatively short and while I thought overall it was interesting and engaging, the plot seemed to get a little muddy and drag at times. Le Guin is great at world building and this one was no exception. She also writes some great loss and redemption stories and this one falls in to that category as well.
Next up for me is book four, The Left Hand of Darkness.
Semley is the princess of her people, impoverished but dreaming of the legendary necklace of her ancestors. She goes on a quest to retrieve it from the mysterious travellers who have come to her world from beyond the stars, but will pay a terrible price for her longing. Decades later, the starfarer she met will be stranded on her planet and go on a quest of his own with Semley's grandson, desperate to save her world.
I adore books that meld science fiction and fantasy like this, and can never get enough. This is an early work of Le Guin's, the first in her legendary Hainish Cycle, and I really enjoyed it. The cultures are definitely a lot like Tolkien's, but not exactly the same, and the constant tension of Rocannon's greater knowledge and context gave the story a satisfying weight.
Looking forward to continuing the series!
I adore books that meld science fiction and fantasy like this, and can never get enough. This is an early work of Le Guin's, the first in her legendary Hainish Cycle, and I really enjoyed it. The cultures are definitely a lot like Tolkien's, but not exactly the same, and the constant tension of Rocannon's greater knowledge and context gave the story a satisfying weight.
Looking forward to continuing the series!