Reviews

In the hands of a lesser writer, this book would be an absolute mess. As it stands, it's still an untidy narrative, with long sections of journeying and childhood biography that amount to very little. As a baby, Gav is captured and sold as a slave in the city state of Etar. Here, he is educated and trained to be a teacher. Having known nothing else, he at first finds his slavery acceptable, and only extreme events make him question the status quo. Here begins his long journey, begun in grief and trauma, as he wanders from place to place, trying to find somewhere he can be appreciated for who he is: a scholar, a visionary, a gentle and intelligent man. The plot reminds me a little of one of those books for young children, where a small creatures goes from one home to another asking for its parent, and is always sent away. This description, of course, belies the maturity of Le Guin's themes: the experience and aftermath of slavery, the abuse of women, the meaning of gender roles. But overall this book had a lost quality for me, as though it was trying to become a narrative and could not quite get there. Le Guin's prose holds it together, and at times the plot is compelling and moving. As a final part to this trilogy, however, it does not satisfy.

imigueldiaz's review against another edition

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4.0

Es realmente bueno aunque en algunos pasajes se me ha hecho un poco largo. Es menos 'fantasioso' que los anteriores y se centra mas e describir una sociedad y unos valores.

iniyan's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

4.25

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