These captivating stories commence in an airport. Given the title, one might initially assume that the tales will revolve around the literal act of changing planes, such as during flights. However, we soon discover that these are not ordinary planes but rather planes of existence. Amid the monotony of waiting in airports, a way has been unearthed to change planes of existence and be transported to other worlds. It's as if astral projection has collided with Gulliver's Travels.

Each story delves into a distinct plane, exploring its unique inhabitants, socioeconomic structures, and more. It was both interesting and intelligent, much like a great deal of Le Guin's writing tends to be.

Regrettably, the stories were so brief that I didn't feel as though I was fully immersing myself in them. This is a common issue I have with short stories in general, but in a format like this, which is intended to feel more like a travelogue than traditional fiction, I would have adored for these worlds to have been more thoroughly developed. Perhaps more in the vein of Herland.

Certainly not Le Guin's finest work, but it is still worthy of being read by anyone who appreciates her remarkable and brilliant mind. And for those who simply desire a quick read on a rather uneventful Memorial Day Sunday.

I truly relished the process of reading this collection. Just like all of Le Guin's stories, it was intelligent and exquisitely written.

My favorite story emerged relatively early on. I would highly recommend anyone to read it, even if they don't peruse the entire collection. It is titled "The Seasons of the Anserac" and it is about a migratory bird-like people and their world.

Regrettably, this collection concluded with a story that was deliberately crafted to mirror a fever dream. It left an unfortunate final impression. Maybe that was the author's intention, but given the abundance of beauty in her writing, I think I would have preferred any other story in this collection to serve as the final impression.

Overall, despite the somewhat disappointing ending, the majority of the stories in this collection were a delight to read and showcased Le Guin's remarkable talent as a writer.

Parallel Planes is a collection of stories with a somewhat tenuous connection among them, but it turns out to be interesting.

As in any collection, there are better and worse ones. And for me, without a doubt, the ones I have liked the most are those related to language. Perhaps my predisposition towards the humanities makes me find this type of story more interesting than those related to hard science fiction, which may have other authors.

These are stories with an almost anthropological flavor; rather than telling stories, different cultures are described, as if it were an anthropological diary. I know that this turns some people off, but for me it is much more suggestive and even seductive. I am fascinated by the author's imagination to create cultures completely different from ours.

Particularly, "The Silence of the Asonu", "The Social Dream of the Frin" or "The Language of Nna Mnoy" have captivated me. However, "Sad Tales of Mahigul" has been soporific for me.

In conclusion, Parallel Planes offers a diverse range of stories that can appeal to different tastes. While some may prefer the more science fiction-oriented tales, others, like me, will be drawn to those that explore the rich tapestry of language and culture.

It is extremely enjoyable! I have a profound love for the prose, and I simply can't wait to read more works by Le Guin. Her writing style is truly captivating, drawing me in with its beauty and charm. Each word seems to be carefully chosen, creating a vivid and engaging world within the pages. The prose flows smoothly, like a gentle river, carrying me along on a journey of imagination and discovery. I am constantly amazed by her ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in such a simple and yet powerful way. With every sentence, I find myself more and more immersed in her literary universe, eager to explore every nook and cranny. I can't wait to see what other wonderful stories and insights she has in store for us.

My favorite Le Guin book to date is truly a remarkable one! It is such an easy read that I breezed through it in less than 24 hours. I simply could not put this book down.

I thoroughly enjoyed the short stories of the various worlds and planes that Sita visited. Among them, my favorite world is Ansarac. The beings on this planet have a unique way of life. They travel north and south and migrate based on their sun. Their one year is equivalent to 24 of our years, and their migration is both fascinating and intriguing.

I also found the short story about Wake Island quite interesting. The people there never sleep and are considered to have some sort of autism as they have difficulty or choose not to communicate with others verbally.

However, my least favorite world or plane had to be either Great Joy. I loathed the Great Joy Corporation as it reminded me of Corporate America. It comes as no surprise that big corporations would take advantage of an island for their own greed and purposes. This aspect really made me think about the negative impacts of corporate greed.

Overall, this book by Le Guin is a captivating read that takes the reader on a journey through different worlds and planes, each with its own unique characteristics and stories.

I'm always truly amazed at the boundless imagination of Ursula Le Guin. She has the remarkable ability to come up with so many diverse and random stories that are filled with fascinating characters and mind-blowing descriptions.

In some respects, this book gives the impression of being a grown-up rendition of The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. Here, all the various lands seem to be spinning around, and only a select few of us can reach them through accidental travel.

The stories set in different planes serve to pay homage to the destructive nature of humans, the judgment we pass on those who are so different from ourselves, and the perception of reality and normality. All of these elements are cleverly packaged within a travelogue of planetary proportions.

It's truly fantastic writing by the undisputed queen of sci-fi! And let's not forget the illustrations by Eric Beddows, which are simply stellar and add an extra layer of magic to the already captivating stories.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves science fiction and wants to be taken on a journey through a world of imagination and wonder.

A 3.5 rating would be more just, but unfortunately, no half points are permitted.

The book is similar to an acid trip in a good(?) sense. Each chapter delves into a distinct world—its people, its governance (if any), its social norms, and so on, and the implications of all these in comparison to life in the U.S. Some chapters were truly fascinating and thought-provoking. They presented unique perspectives and made the reader reflect on various aspects of different cultures and societies. However, other chapters were rather lackluster. They seemed to lack depth or failed to engage the reader as effectively.

Perhaps upon revisiting some of the chapters in a couple of months, I will view them more favorably. Maybe with a fresh perspective and a different state of mind, I will be able to appreciate the nuances and subtleties that I missed the first time around. It's always interesting to see how our perception of a book can change over time.

If another author had penned this collection, perhaps my rating would have been higher. However, when compared to 'The Wind's Twelve Quarters', which is also a work by Le Guin, this particular collection left me a bit underwhelmed. There simply weren't any stories that had the same profound impact on my soul as those in 'The Wind's Twelve Quarters'. It felt more like delving into a sociology textbook, albeit one that was significantly more engaging.

I truly wish there had been a few additional stories that zeroed in on a central character or a more contained narrative, rather than the continuous exploration of entire civilizations and ways of life. That being said, there were some truly remarkable and creative world-building details present throughout all of these stories. I found great joy in observing the manner in which Le Guin constructed language systems and examined how history reverberates through biology to influence the present. Additionally, the whole play on "planes" was brilliant - a sharp and entertaining satire of the experience of being trapped in an airport.

Overall, while this collection had its strengths in world-building and certain satirical elements, it didn't quite reach the heights of 'The Wind's Twelve Quarters' for me.

Changing Planes is a captivating collection of stories that emerges from a highly amusing premise. Just like countless travelers who have found themselves bored and frustrated while being stuck at an airport, in this fictional world, one can actually "change planes" and journey to other realms. I can't help but imagine that Ursula Le Guin might have started writing this after experiencing a similar airport delay, much like I did last year and as my best friend did when we last met. And suddenly, voila!

Changing Planes functions as a sort of travelogue or perhaps a series of excerpts straight from an anthropologist's notebook. However, these stories don't seem to converge towards a larger overarching theme or a continuous story. Instead, each one is more of a detailed and masterful description of a particular world. It delves into various aspects such as the nature of having visitors from other worlds who impose their own values and goals, the great difficulty of truly understanding a completely different race, or simply considering the profound implications that one's biology, history, and geography have on behavior and cultural developments.

This unique characteristic makes Changing Planes an especially interesting "travelogue." Nevertheless, it's not my absolute favorite work by Le Guin. In her other works, I generally find myself becoming more deeply invested in her well-developed characters and engaging narratives. That's not quite the case here.

More like 2.5 stars. She is, without a doubt, an extremely talented author. The chapters in this book truly showcase a brilliant and creative mind. However, as was the intention with this particular book, each chapter functions almost as a stand-alone piece. There is no overarching plot or real connectivity to the book as a whole. Instead, each chapter serves as an anthropological exploration of a nonexistent world. These explorations touch on various issues that we encounter here on earth, such as colonization, monarchies, prejudice, and global warming, among others. Overall, it is a very interesting read, but it simply doesn't align with my personal style. I appreciate the creativity and the attempt to address important topics in a unique way, but I found myself longing for a more cohesive narrative.

I absolutely adored this one.

It continuously yo-yoed me between having an intense love for humans and feeling a sense of disgust towards them throughout the entire experience.

I firmly believe that my favorite story was "The Nna Mmoy Language". The underlying sentiment of the oversimplification of life, which ultimately leads to the collapse of society, yet in which humanity and its inherent desire for natural complication manage to endure and give rise to something truly beautiful and unique, makes me feel a little more sanguine about the inevitable collapse that we, too, are steering the planet towards.

Moreover, reading "Great Joy" feels precisely the same as listening to a wealthy American relaying their holiday excursions.

It's as if I can vividly picture the scenes they describe, complete with all the extravagance and luxury that comes with it.

The combination of these two stories creates a complex and thought-provoking tapestry that lingers in my mind long after I've finished reading.

Le Guin is truly one of my all-time favorite authors. However, I have this rather bad habit of purchasing her books, only to place them on my shelf and promptly forget which ones I've actually read. Finally, I made up my mind to do things properly and read every single one of them, in chronological order based on their publication dates (except for the ones that... well, I just don't feel like reading at the moment).

I initiated this project by immediately breaking my own rules and picking up this 2004 collection of short stories that a dear friend of mine had highly recommended. Since I was about to embark on a long 12-hour flight to Bali, it seemed like the perfect choice.

Anyway, I absolutely adored these stories. Each one was like a tiny science fiction fable, and in that regard, they reminded me of some of Stanislaw Lem's short works. They were light yet thoughtful, but with an added touch of heart. Her dry and restrained writing style worked extremely well in this context, and the framing story was恰到好处, not overly excessive. It was also fascinating to observe her once again exploring and playing around with some of the science fiction themes that she had delved into so deeply in her earlier works, such as humanoid migration.

Overall, this collection was a wonderful read and has only further solidified my love for Ursula K. Le Guin's writing.