Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - Das Wort für Welt ist Wald

I adore this book when the focus is on the natives and absolutely hate it when it’s told from the yumens’ (humans’) perspective. I understand why Le Guin felt like she needed to include their way of thinking but it’s awful to read through and legitimately triggering at times.

I really do wish there was another part two of sorts where we just follow the Athsheans around and explore their way of thinking - the dreaming and their relationships to one another. They’re such fascinating ideas, especially their idea of afterlife with their loved ones.

I recommend reading the introduction to the story where she explains her process behind writing it, specifically this feeling of urgency on anti-war and anti-imperialism activism. Unfortunately it’s all still relevant today.

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sheyri's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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morganlefay's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Definitely one of LeGuin's harsher novellas.
A scathing condemnation of colonization and how it corrupts humanity.

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ari5scythe's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

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mrh29992's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.75

I mean, it's Ursula K. LeGuin. How could it not be 5 stars?

This short but powerful novella feels all the more prescient reading it now, with the backdrop of colonial genocides and an increasing number of climate change-related disasters wreaking havoc. In 1972 Le Guin let her pacifist and anti-colonial philosophy really shine in this story of the planet Athshe, its inhabitants and the human colonizers.

LeGuin's interest in language and linguistics also really comes to the forefront as she explores what it means to understand a culture and a specific language, even if you can technically understand each other. I was particularly moved by the paragraph on translation.

The chapters alternate between colonizers- chapters heavy with technical and military terminology that feels impenetrable and dense with jargon. - It is only Lyubov, the 'yumen' with the most gentle curiosity and genuine care for the Athsheans, who gets to truly acknowledge and understand their fascinating culture.

Not just the linguistic interest, but also the idea of the dream time, and the importance of dreams in Athshean culture, that add to the complex and brilliant world Le Guin was able to conjure and flesh out.

This is a short, fascinating read by a master of her craft, and one that feels deeply relevant today.

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gracethebibliofeline's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

You should absolutely read this! It was a beautiful novel, with such evocative imagery and a poignant story. The introduction of violence to a peaceful culture through colonialism is an unfortunately pertinent topic. A truly heartbreaking story.

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carolinebl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

“Maybe after I die people will be as they were before I was born, and before you came. But I do not think they will.”

This was a brilliant introduction to Ursula K Le Guin and I’m excited to read more of her work. This science fiction collection in general includes beautiful concise works. I didn’t expect to like the dual perspective as much as I did, but I think it was crucial to the novel’s efficacy. I had some unanswered questions which were not really relevant, which is how this novel remained concise; it told the important story.

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imsaneipromise's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective sad

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

le guin's world building is unmatched. to so vividly conjure an entire world in so few pages, with history, context, enough description to be able to visualise scenery while still moving the plot forward, and without leaving the reader confused or with questions takes a lot of skill and artistry.

this book is a harrowing tale exposing how resistance against oppression can fundamentally change who you are, for better, for worse, or a complex combination of both.

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