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dinosaursatwork 's review for:
Planet of Exile
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula Le Guin's writing always manages to capture me, even when I am not always enthusiastic about some of the plot points (this one is very insta-lovey; Why have the natives not advanced technologically? Was it just due to an avoidance of the strangers? But they seemed to trade and should have been exposed to things like ... wheels.). Of course, next to the writing, there were also several plot elements that I enjoyed a lot:
- a story of a group of people who are left on a strange planet that may be killing them by their technologically highly advanced ancestors and who are losing their technological advancements.
- exploring how people can live with natives according to the rules of the League of Nations
- despite the insta-love (insta-attraction?), I enjoyed the commitment of the two characters to each other afterward. It is acknowledged that they don't really know each other and that they have difficulties understanding the gestures of the other person.
- a POV by an old person who shows signs of dementia/forgetfulness and struggles with his loss of status
- the people from another world are left on the planet and
- the pact is broken but still, the people from another world trying to fulfill their duty as descendants of the League of Worlds
Currently, I'm in love with insightful afterwords/introductions by authors who manage to give perspectives on their writing choices and how they personally interpret the roles of characters and their decisions. Here, I also found Le Guin's points well-made and valuable.
- a story of a group of people who are left on a strange planet that may be killing them by their technologically highly advanced ancestors and who are losing their technological advancements.
Spoiler
The change at the end of the book: "This was his fort, his city, his world; these were his people. He was no exile here.- exploring how people can live with natives according to the rules of the League of Nations
- despite the insta-love (insta-attraction?), I enjoyed the commitment of the two characters to each other afterward. It is acknowledged that they don't really know each other and that they have difficulties understanding the gestures of the other person.
Spoiler
While the attraction came out of nowhere to me, I can understand the speed of the relationship given the circumstances: He is one of the only people in her age range, she is doubtful she can have children anyway, and they may soon die because of 15 years of winter and/or raids from their enemies. If you don't live your life in such circumstances, when will you?- a POV by an old person who shows signs of dementia/forgetfulness and struggles with his loss of status
- the people from another world are left on the planet and
Spoiler
remain left on the planet; nobody comes to save them- the pact is broken but still, the people from another world trying to fulfill their duty as descendants of the League of Worlds
Currently, I'm in love with insightful afterwords/introductions by authors who manage to give perspectives on their writing choices and how they personally interpret the roles of characters and their decisions. Here, I also found Le Guin's points well-made and valuable.