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A review by theanitaalvarez
Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin
5.0
This is the last book of the Annals of the Western Shore trilogy. And I’ll say a few things about the trilogy as a whole before getting into Powers in particular. I’m amazed by Le Guin’s ability to create a whole world. She created a lot of different worlds and cultures, and they all well developed and interesting. I’d love to visit the Western Shore. It’s a shame that other YA series get so much love, despite being everything but original, and this series doesn’t get much love. It shows young adults being empowered by knowledge and also that you don’t need a romantic relationship as part of the main plot to have a great story.
The main character in this book is Gav, a young slave in the city of Etra (which resembles Ancient Rome/Greece in many senses, as the family organization and the role of the slaves within a family). He’s pretty happy as a slave when the novel begins, as he belongs to a wealthy family which takes decent care of their slaves. Gavir has food, education (he’s also being trained to become a tutor to the future children of the family) and friends. Despite being a slave, he thinks he has a happy childhood, running around with the children of the house (both owners and slaves), and having his sister, Sallo, around.
As in the other books of this trilogy, in Powers one of the main themes is how knowledge can empower people. Gavir is at the very bottom of his society’s pyramid, but his learning allows him to realise all the things that go wrong in his city. It’s especially poignant after Sallo’s rape and death, when he’s finally able to see that he’s in a terrible position. So he runs away, trying to find a place in which he can be happy and safe.
While in the previous book, Orrec Caspro (from Gifts) appears directly to help Mem in her own fight, in this book his presence is somewhat more subtle. Gavir constantly refers to him as one of the greatest modern poets, and Orrec’s poem “Liberty” has a great impact upon young Gav.In the end, after hiding and running away for years, Gavir finds his freedom and the place where he belongs in Orrec’s own house. I loved that, because it brings him to a full circle. Caspro’s words were the first that showed him he could be free, and living at his house, Gav will learn even more, besides being actually free.
Le Guin creates powerful and compassionate characters, that actually evolve as the plot goes on. Especially Gavir. He’s not part of a prophecy of some sort, nor is he born to become a hero. He’s just a regular boy who realises the deep flaws in the system he’s born into, and tries to figure out the best way to escape them. I like to think that when he grows older, he’ll be a fighter for the cause of freedom, and a pacifist. I really loved him as a character and think he’ll do great things. The fact that they go unspoken (he ends his narrative shortly after he arrives to Orrec’s house, but in the beginning he mentions a wife) show how Le Guin’s gives importance to his development, more than to his future achievements. In a way, I think it’s showing that how we get to be great is as important (or more) than the great things we do. The same as with Mem and Orrec, who’ll be great, but that’s not the focus of their books.
An amazing book, that gives an incredible series a great closure.
The main character in this book is Gav, a young slave in the city of Etra (which resembles Ancient Rome/Greece in many senses, as the family organization and the role of the slaves within a family). He’s pretty happy as a slave when the novel begins, as he belongs to a wealthy family which takes decent care of their slaves. Gavir has food, education (he’s also being trained to become a tutor to the future children of the family) and friends. Despite being a slave, he thinks he has a happy childhood, running around with the children of the house (both owners and slaves), and having his sister, Sallo, around.
As in the other books of this trilogy, in Powers one of the main themes is how knowledge can empower people. Gavir is at the very bottom of his society’s pyramid, but his learning allows him to realise all the things that go wrong in his city. It’s especially poignant after Sallo’s rape and death, when he’s finally able to see that he’s in a terrible position. So he runs away, trying to find a place in which he can be happy and safe.
While in the previous book, Orrec Caspro (from Gifts) appears directly to help Mem in her own fight, in this book his presence is somewhat more subtle. Gavir constantly refers to him as one of the greatest modern poets, and Orrec’s poem “Liberty” has a great impact upon young Gav.
Le Guin creates powerful and compassionate characters, that actually evolve as the plot goes on. Especially Gavir. He’s not part of a prophecy of some sort, nor is he born to become a hero. He’s just a regular boy who realises the deep flaws in the system he’s born into, and tries to figure out the best way to escape them. I like to think that when he grows older, he’ll be a fighter for the cause of freedom, and a pacifist. I really loved him as a character and think he’ll do great things. The fact that they go unspoken (he ends his narrative shortly after he arrives to Orrec’s house, but in the beginning he mentions a wife) show how Le Guin’s gives importance to his development, more than to his future achievements. In a way, I think it’s showing that how we get to be great is as important (or more) than the great things we do. The same as with Mem and Orrec, who’ll be great, but that’s not the focus of their books.
An amazing book, that gives an incredible series a great closure.