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Five Complete Novels

ursula k. le guin

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Omnibus of five novels, each originally published separately: Rocannon's World, Planet of Exile, City of Illusions, The Left Hand of Darkness (winner 1969 Nebula Award, 1970 Hugo Award, 1995 James Tiptree, Jr. Award, Retroactive. Nominated, 1970 Ditmar Award. 1975 Locus Poll Award, All-Time Best Novel (Place: 3). 1987 Locus Poll Award, All-Time Best SF Novel (Place: 2). 1998 Locus Poll Award, All-Time Best SF Novel before 1990 (Place: 3).); and The Word for World is Forest (winner, 1973 Hugo Award; nominated, 1972 Nebula Award; 1973 Locus Poll Award, Best Novella (Place: 2)). These are the first five novels in the Hainish Universe series, followed by The Dispossessed and The Telling.

579 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4,1985

This edition

Format
579 pages, Hardcover
Published
September 4, 1985 by Random House Value Publishing
ISBN
9780517480106
ASIN
0517480107
Language
English

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About the author

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ursula k. le guin

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Ursula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.

She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 15 votes)
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15 reviews All reviews
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FireEmblemIke24
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Le Guin is truly a master when it comes to capturing the psyche of her characters and infusing it into the words of her prose.

Her writing has a unique ability to delve deep into the inner thoughts, emotions, and desires of the individuals she creates. Through her carefully chosen words and phrases, she is able to bring to life the complex and often hidden aspects of their personalities.

Whether it is the fear, longing, or confusion that her characters experience, Le Guin manages to convey it with such authenticity and precision that the reader feels as if they are truly inside the character's mind.

This skill not only makes her stories engaging and captivating but also allows for a deeper exploration of the human condition. By understanding the psyche of her characters, the reader is able to gain insights into their own emotions and experiences, making Le Guin's work both thought-provoking and relatable.
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123321tb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Le Guin's five novels are all loosely tied together within her rich, interstellar setting.

It is truly astonishing to see how she weaves these stories in such a captivating way.

Holy shit. This was such an incredible read!

Each world she creates puts a unique scifi spin on some aspect of humanity.

It's as if she is exploring the deepest recesses of our nature through the lens of science fiction.

The characters are complex and well-developed, and the plots are full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Le Guin's writing is both beautiful and thought-provoking, and her ability to create such vivid and immersive worlds is truly remarkable.

If you're a fan of science fiction, then you simply must read these novels.

They will take you on a journey through the stars and into the heart of what it means to be human.
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secretanimefan97
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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These novels are all integral parts of Ursula Le Guin's Hainish cycle and are among her earliest works.

Rocannon's World, her very first novel, bore a resemblance to Tolkien's Middle Earth, overlaid with elements of space opera. While it was done in a clever manner, it still seemed rather derivative.

The second novel, Planet of Exile, was relatively conventional. However, the planet's cosmology played a more significant role in driving the plot. This is a planet where a year is sixty times longer than that of Earth, and it is about to enter a winter that will last for 15 Earth years.

City of Illusions is a direct sequel to Planet of Exile and is more memorable. It has more twists and turns and offers a great adventure across a post-apocalyptic far-future America. In this book, Le Guin's philosophy is more prominent. She translated the Tao Te Ching, and Taoism is said to influence both Earthsea and The Dispossessed. A passage from the Tao is crucial in this story, and we even encounter a "Thurro-dowist" (a follower of Thoreau of Walden Pond and Taoism). This is the first novel among these that I would consider a standout.

The Left Hand of Darkness is perhaps Le Guin's most famous and influential novel. It描绘了 one of the most fascinating and unique alien worlds. Myths and legends are interspersed throughout the narrative, adding texture to the cultures central to the tale. This is one of the great science-fiction novels of all time, exploring many issues related to gender, prejudice, and identity. It is specifically regarded as one of the great feminist science fiction novels, but I don't think it is heavy-handed at all. Above all, it is an involving and moving story set in an intriguing world.

I wish I could say the same about the last novel included. I didn't like the preachy The Word for World is Forest at all. Maybe, just maybe, if Captain Don Davidson, from whose perspective we begin, wasn't such a caricature, if he wasn't such a repulsive, mustache-twirling villain from the very first pages, I could have persevered until the good parts of the book took hold. As it was, I felt that if I wanted to experience a tale about how cutting down trees is evil and the noble, peaceful indigenous people fight back against the rapacious Yumens, I might as well watch Avatar again - at least it's visually appealing. Although the novel won a Hugo for Best Novella and is considered one of Le Guin's best works, it's not a bad choice to complete the collection.
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Aru_Keehl
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The Left Hand of Darkness is an outstanding asexual science fiction story.

It takes readers on a captivating journey through a unique and alien world. The narrative explores themes such as gender, identity, and the nature of relationships in a way that challenges traditional观念.

The characters in the story are complex and well-developed, each with their own motives and desires. The author's vivid descriptions bring the world and its inhabitants to life, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story.

What makes this story truly great is its ability to make readers think and question their own assumptions about gender and sexuality. It shows that love and connection can exist in many different forms, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

The Left Hand of Darkness is a must-read for anyone interested in science fiction, gender studies, or just a good story. It is a thought-provoking and engaging work that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
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EmEmOhs
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This anthology presents the initial five extended narratives of LeGuin's Hainish Cycle.

I had a strong desire to reread the cycle in the sequence of its publication. Fortunately, I had this convenient volume that encompassed all but the final two books. (I regard WforWisF as preceding Dispossessed, even though the more extensive version of WforWisF was released subsequent to Dispossessed.)

The novels within this collection are truly wonderful, with LHofD being especially outstanding. However, the typesetting is abysmal. It is充斥着typographical errors, making it evident that no one proofread the galleys properly. I possess another anthology, printed a year earlier, by the same publisher. Although its layout was somewhat cheesy, at least it didn't have as many blatant typos.

Nevertheless, LeGuin's work remains remarkable. Her storytelling ability and the depth of her worlds are captivating, even despite the flaws in the typesetting of this particular anthology.

It is a testament to the power of her writing that one can still appreciate and be engrossed in her novels, regardless of the technical issues with the printing.

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nguyenduyhoangb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Finished the first of the five today - Rocannon's World. It's more a novella. I really liked the mix of scifi and fantasy.


I found it to be a unique and engaging read. The story took me on a journey through a strange and wonderful world, filled with interesting characters and concepts.


After that, I went on to finish them all. Everyone in the universe should at least read Left Hand of Darkness. I think some of the images will stick with me forever. It was definitely my favorite.


The Word for World is Forest should not be read by angry environmentalists - it will put you over the edge into a either despair or murderous rage. It's just too accurate, in its own way.


Overall, these were very good works. They each had their own strengths and weaknesses, but they all managed to capture my imagination and keep me entertained from start to finish. I would highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys science fiction or fantasy.

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ryuujiryu
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The Left Hand of Darkness is perhaps the finest among the five. Notably, there are three award-winning books within this collection. In some of her works, sex and rape are indeed discussed, yet there is nothing overly lurid or sensationalized about it.

Nevertheless, I would not recommend this book for a young teen to read. Her writings are intricately connected, and to be honest, I find the ideas presented in them truly interesting. It's hard to believe that I didn't come across these earlier.

The exploration of various themes and concepts in her works offers a unique perspective that engages the reader on a deeper level. Each book seems to build upon the others, creating a rich and complex tapestry of ideas.

Despite the mature themes, the way in which they are presented and integrated into the storylines makes for a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating read. It's a collection that I would highly recommend to adult readers who are interested in exploring new and challenging ideas through literature.
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GUTS_OF_BERSERK
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Be extremely cautious when it comes to this edition. There is an abundance of typos in the text. I have just completed reading Left Hand of Darkness, and initially, I thought the writing style was rather confusing. However, it was actually the not-so-obvious typos that led to this perception.


I obtained a first edition hardback copy and read it once more. Le Guin is truly a remarkable and superior writer. This time around, I did not experience any of the confusion that I had previously blamed on her. It just goes to show how important it is to have a clean and error-free text to fully appreciate the author's intended message and the beauty of their writing.

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