There are some excellent stories here. Truly rich and one can see how much Ursula knows how to write or how much she knows how to observe people and the cities where they live.

Another book not related to her most famous cycles is definitely worth reading.

Ursula's writing in this collection展现了她卓越的才华. Her ability to create vivid characters and detailed settings is remarkable. The stories take the reader on a journey through different lives and experiences, making them both engaging and thought-provoking.

Whether you are a fan of her previous works or new to her writing, this book is sure to please. It offers a unique perspective on the human condition and the world around us.

So, don't hesitate to pick up this book and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Ursula's stories.

The Leguinian marathon continues, and it does not disappoint. "Changing Planes" is full of humor, wisdom, and anthropology: cultures that one would want to be a part of, and disturbing vignettes. From the humans with bird beaks who lead a full life in constant migration, to the insomniacs (asomnics) produced by genetic engineering who wander like automatons, lacking consciousness because they have been deprived of the need to sleep, and therefore of dreams.

"The asomnics lack these states of being. Their brains do not do this. They are like reptiles, who chill down into inertia but do not sleep.

A Hy Brisalian philosopher, To Had, elaborates on these paradoxes: to be a self, one must also be nothing. To know oneself, one must be able to know nothing. The asomnics know their world continuously and immediately, with no empty time, no room for selfhood. Having no dreams, they tell no stories and so have no use for language. Without language, they have no lies. Thus they have no future. They live here, now, perfectly in touch. They live in pure fact. But they can't live in truth, because the way to truth, says the philosopher, is through lies and dreams."

This exploration of the asomnics and their unique existence challenges our understanding of what it means to be human. It makes us question the importance of sleep, dreams, and language in shaping our sense of self and our relationship with the world around us. Are we truly defined by our ability to lie and dream, or are there other aspects of our being that are equally or more significant? These are the kinds of questions that Ursula K. Le Guin's work invites us to consider, and they continue to resonate long after we have finished reading.

Le Guin is an incredibly creative writer.

This book is a compilation of stories set in worlds populated by a variety of human-like beings. It offers numerous fascinating thought experiments.

In one of my all-time favorite stories, one out of every thousand "people" grows wings during adolescence. However, these wings come with several drawbacks. Firstly, the growth process is excruciatingly painful and lasts for a long time. Secondly, many fliers die due to inexplicable wing failure. Finally, the large wings physically hinder normal life and are often regarded as a handicap. As a result, some "people" with wings decide to bind them and forgo flying altogether, while others prioritize flying above all else.

I enjoy reflecting on what I would do if I were in a similar situation, having to choose between these two extreme options. To this day, I still haven't reached a conclusion.

The story truly makes one think about the trade-offs and sacrifices that come with having extraordinary abilities.

I am absolutely distraught to discover that the Library from 'Woeful Tales From Mahigul' is fictional. It is truly one of the most beautiful ideas and concepts that I have ever come across in my reading. The very thought of such a place makes me feel as if I would never want to leave.

It makes me wonder, can't we do something similar here on Earth? Why haven't we already created such a magnificent and enchanting library? It seems to me that as a society, we have clearly failed in this regard. We have the resources and the creativity, yet we have not pursued this wonderful idea.

Imagine a library that is not just a collection of books, but a place that inspires and transports you to different worlds and times. A place where you can lose yourself in the beauty of words and ideas. It would be a haven for book lovers and a source of inspiration for all.

I truly hope that one day, we can make this fictional library a reality and create a place that is as magical and wonderful as the one described in 'Woeful Tales From Mahigul'.

Compilation of short stories woven through the interplanetary travels that the protagonist undertakes and describes during the long waits at the airports using what is known as "the Sita Dulip method" described in the first chapter. It's a kind of Ursulian "What if...?" perhaps the result of recycling ideas for potential novels set in her wonderful and imaginative worlds.

In general, it's a relaxed and enjoyable read that, while not the best of Ursula, still maintains that sparkle that characterizes her. The stories include:

1. Gachas in Islac: a world resulting from the accelerated and brutal development of applied genetic engineering that went awry with impossible genetic mixtures.

2. The Silence of the Asonu: a world characterized by silence where the natives stop communicating verbally as they grow.

3. Like in the House of the Hennebet: a friendly and peaceful world with a metaphysical concept of life as a whole, "unnua", and a kind of reincarnation where the natives "coexist" with other people within themselves.

4. The Wrath of the Veksi: as a counterpart to the previous story, a world where the natives are violent by nature and live in a society based on personal vendettas.

5. The Stations of the Ansarac: one of my favorites. A migratory society whose individuals live 3 years (each year is like 24 years on Earth and the seasons last about 6 Earth years) and alternately inhabit 2 continents, one in the south and the other in the north, connected by a mountainous land bridge that they cross twice in their migratory lives.

6. The Social Dream of the Frin: a world where dreams are not private property but are shared and mixed among nearby sleepers. For the Frin, dreaming is communion with all sentient creatures in the world and there are those called powerful minds, who have an enhanced ability to project and receive dreams.

7. The Royalty of Hegn: a very curious story in which almost all the inhabitants of the planet Hegn belong to the royalty and are extremely interested in the lives of the few commoners they have, idolizing them like "celebrities".

8. Sad Tales of Mahigul: a story based on the reading of stories collected in the library of Mahigul of selected moments from its bloody history.

9. Great Happiness: a completely tourist-restricted plane full of thematic islands and others whose information about their nature and activities is hidden by the corporation that manages them.

10. The Awakening Island: a plane where scientific experiments of sleep deprivation are carried out on people from birth with the aim of creating supergeniuses based on the idea that sleep prevents the human race from reaching its maximum potential.

11. The Language of Nna Mmoy: another of my favorite stories about the language that develops in a world whose language is untranslatable due to its complexity, as the words have no specific meaning but a range of possible meanings determined by the previous, subsequent or nearby syllables, making this language non-linear but radial, with texts that grow in all directions from the first word.

12. The Building: on the planet Qoq, the daqos and the aqs have established a coexistence without interactions after an ecocatastrophe that wiped out most of the population and their only approach occurs when the daqo mariners take the aqs to the quarries of Riqim to obtain materials for "The Building", an enormous work on which the aqs, natural builders but who never inhabit or use any of their constructions, have been working for centuries.

13. The Flyers of Gy: another of my favorite stories. A planet of human-birds who generally have no wings and do not fly, except for those who grow wings as if it were a disease (winged) and if they decide to use them to fly (flyers) are treated by society as pariahs.

14. The Island of the Immortals: an island on the yedian plane that our protagonist becomes interested in when she learns that immortal people live there. What she finds there, however, is very different from her conception of immortality.

15. The Confusions of Uñi: a plane of a dreamlike nature where anything is possible.

My favorite stories are: The Stations of the Ansarac, The Language of the Nna Mmoy and The Flyers of Gy.

It is always a pleasure to read Ursula K. Le Guin. Her boundless imagination is truly captivating, but it is also that fascinating gaze that delves deep into each society and culture she creates. In this anthology, we have a plethora of stories set in different universes and parallel realities. And, as is often the case, there are stories that I have liked more and those that I have liked less. I always enjoy Le Guin more in longer works, and in fact, I believe that if she had developed some of these stories further, they would have become my all-time favorites. However, generally speaking, I am more of a novel person than a short story person.

Nevertheless, what she manages to convey in so few pages is always worthwhile, just like everything else I have read by her. Her ability to create complex and thought-provoking worlds in a concise manner is truly remarkable. Each story in this anthology offers a unique perspective and invites the reader to explore different themes and ideas. Whether it is about the nature of society, the human condition, or the possibilities of alternate realities, Le Guin's writing always leaves a lasting impression.

Overall, this was truly a good collection, and I would recommend it. However, I can only give it a maximum of three stars.

The frame narrative isn't really that crucial, at least not the part about being bored at airports. But I did like the concept of interplanetary tourism and exploring other, alien cultures.

There are numerous fascinating societies described here. Unfortunately, only a few of these stories are told from the perspective of a (very anonymous) main character visiting them. The rest are more like non-fiction descriptions or summaries of a world's or people's history or way of life. Some were a bit dull, especially those that were just an account of a series of wars. (These were basically a lot of world-building with no characters.)

The stories where we got to know individuals were better, and the ones where a new world is seen through the eyes of an interplanetary tourist/traveler were the best. And as is typical with short story collections, there was a sense of disappointment when, after reading a few really great stories, there were several in a row that were not as engaging.

Ursula K. Le Guin is a remarkable author whose works deserve an imperative reading. In "Changing Planes", the writer makes use of pure worldbuilding to give a taste to everyone who expects less from a book not as well-known as any of the "Hainish Cycle" or "Earthsea". Personally, "The Building" is already one of my favorite stories that I have ever read.

Personally, I also believe that it is necessary, before reading any other of her works, to read her short essay "The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction", even if one does not intend to read anything else of hers. This essay provides valuable insights into her creative process and her views on the nature of fiction. It offers a unique perspective that can enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of her other works.

Le Guin's writing is rich, thought-provoking, and充满想象力. Her works explore complex themes such as gender, race, power, and the human condition. By reading her works, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Whether you are a fan of science fiction, fantasy, or literary fiction, Le Guin's works are sure to delight and inspire you.

I abandoned the reading a little more than halfway through. It just didn't manage to interest me, except for the initial chapter that links the rest of the stories. It is excessively descriptive. As far as I have read, it simply limits itself to describing the different societies and cultures of the planes it visits.

Perhaps the author intended to provide a detailed and immersive view of these various worlds, but for me, it felt a bit overwhelming and lacking in a more engaging narrative thread. The descriptions, while perhaps accurate and detailed, didn't draw me in or make me eager to continue reading.

Maybe if there had been more of a focus on character development or a central plot that wove through the different descriptions, I would have been more interested. As it stands, it seems more like a dry catalog of different cultures and societies rather than a captivating story.

Enthralling.

This word perfectly describes the experience of engaging with something truly captivating. It has the power to draw you in, hold your attention, and transport you to another world.

Whimsical, yet not in a cutesy way. It's that unique blend of the imaginative and the unexpected that doesn't rely on cuteness or over-the-top charm. Instead, it offers a sense of wonder and a touch of the extraordinary.

When something is both enthralling and whimsical, it creates a truly magical experience. It can be a work of art, a story, a place, or even a person. It has the ability to inspire, delight, and leave a lasting impression.

Whether it's through the use of vivid colors, unusual concepts, or unexpected twists and turns, the enthralling and whimsical has the power to break free from the ordinary and take us on a journey of the imagination. It's a world where anything is possible and where the boundaries of reality are pushed and explored.

So, the next time you encounter something that is enthralling and whimsical, take a moment to soak it in and let it work its magic on you. You never know where it might take you.

**"An In-depth Exploration of the Pianos in the Novel"**

The author takes the concept of "traveling with the mind" and makes it real, constructing an actual network of travels among countless Pianos of existence. Despite being in the form of a collection of stories, this novel is much more like travel notes, either experienced firsthand by the protagonist or learned from other visitors of the Pianos and reported.

  
    “È una storia triste e violenta, ma in un luogo così dolce e tranquillizzante come i Giardini di Lettura sembra non solo possibile, ma anche saggio aprire il proprio cuore alla follia, al dolore e al rimpianto.”
  

Le Guin has the remarkable ability to create worlds, even completely different from ours, yet believable to the right extent. Each story in the novel offers a unique perspective on a different Piano.

For example, in "IL SEMOLINO DI ISLAC", we see a world in decline due to the excessive abuse of applied genetics, where every living being is no longer fully human but has percentages of vegetal and animal characteristics, and politicians live for centuries. "IL SILENZIO DEGLI ASONU" is the most ironic story, where a silent population triggers the most disparate theories among foreigners about the "why" of their silence, and whenever a word escapes, everyone tries to interpret the hidden meaning and circumstances.

  “Ma anche se si sono sparsi come i grani di sabbia di una clessidra rotta, i legami che li univano non si sono spezzati, sono soltanto cambiati.”

"LE STAGIONI DEGLI ANSAR" has an incredible imaginative and suggestive impact. The author manages to transport the reader into the described world, creating a journey within the journey. It tells of a population with only three fundamental phases of life, each marked by a long and exhausting pilgrimage.

Overall, the novel is a relaxing read that allows the reader to escape and at the same time provides continuous stimuli and ideas. It is for all those dreamers for whom one Piano is not enough. However, the lack of almost any action is a drawback. The entire narration is like a long, glazed dream, where the various Pianos are described, but very little actually happens. It would have been nice to have at least a minimum of surprises or some event that could have illustrated how a particular population reacts to a problem and the eventual differences with us.

I read all the stories,

except The fliers of Gy.

For some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

By this time, I was thoroughly bored.

I do appreciate Guin's creativity, imagination, and writing skills.

There is no doubt that she is a talented author.

However, I have come to the conclusion that this particular genre isn't for me.

Maybe it's the subject matter, or perhaps it's the way the story is told.

Whatever the reason, I find myself unable to engage with The fliers of Gy.

Despite this, I will continue to explore other works by Guin,

hoping to find something that will capture my interest and imagination.

After all, her talent is undeniable,

and I believe there is still much to discover in her writing.