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A review by loonyboi
Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 2: The Word for World Is Forest / Five Ways to Forgiveness / The Telling / Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin
5.0
As I did with [b:Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 1: Rocannon’s World / Planet of Exile / City of Illusions / The Left Hand of Darkness / The Dispossessed / Stories|33533490|Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol. 1 Rocannon’s World / Planet of Exile / City of Illusions / The Left Hand of Darkness / The Dispossessed / Stories|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498885691s/33533490.jpg|54298767], I'm logging and reviewing the contents of this volume individually. This review then applies only to the uncategorized "Stories" portion, along with the supplemental materials.
So, first the stories. These are amazing. Some of the very best of the Hainish tales, in fact. The churten tales (beginning with "The Shobies' Story") are up there with [b:The Left Hand of Darkness|18423|The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle #6)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488213612s/18423.jpg|817527] for sheer Le Guinian brilliance. That they have never been collected completely in this way before is shocking, and yet another testament to the quality of Library of America's job in compiling this set.
The introduction is very good, and after the novels, there's an essay, "On Not Reading Science Fiction," as well as an extra introduction to [b:The Word for World is Forest|276767|The Word for World is Forest|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1283091038s/276767.jpg|3256815]. All worth reading.
Anyway. I'm already a devotee of this set. These novels and stories are easily among the best sci-fi ever written, and this is the best they've ever been presented. As far as I'm concerned, everyone should own these books.
So, first the stories. These are amazing. Some of the very best of the Hainish tales, in fact. The churten tales (beginning with "The Shobies' Story") are up there with [b:The Left Hand of Darkness|18423|The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle #6)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488213612s/18423.jpg|817527] for sheer Le Guinian brilliance. That they have never been collected completely in this way before is shocking, and yet another testament to the quality of Library of America's job in compiling this set.
The introduction is very good, and after the novels, there's an essay, "On Not Reading Science Fiction," as well as an extra introduction to [b:The Word for World is Forest|276767|The Word for World is Forest|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1283091038s/276767.jpg|3256815]. All worth reading.
Anyway. I'm already a devotee of this set. These novels and stories are easily among the best sci-fi ever written, and this is the best they've ever been presented. As far as I'm concerned, everyone should own these books.