renbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This book was pretty "meh" to me, but you have to remember it was written in the 1960s. The plot wasn't anything special for sci-fi today and honestly a couple weeks out nothing really sticks out to me about the plot. I mainly read this for completion's sake so I can read a few of the more notable books in this series.
lukeestrada10's review against another edition
4.0
Pre-Star Wars sci-fi has a nobler feeling than more contemporary stuff even if it drags a little more. Nobody in this book is trying to be a version of Han Solo and that's a good thing. Le Guin rules
literarylycan's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was my second Ursula K Le Guin book, but my first read of this year. I don’t care for the five star system and wish we had a ten scale because really I’d give this book a 6 out of 10. I have aphantasia and this book in particular was difficult for me to follow because of it. It wasn’t quite what I had expected, but it did get me excited to continue this journey through Ursula K Le Guin’s backlist.
manateemilitia's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle
I read the introductory story, Semley's Necklace, years and years ago in The Wind's Twelve Quarters, but I had still never read Le Guin's first published novel -- Chris's #LoveHain event was the perfect opportunity to pick it up. Setting aside the absurdity of the premise, in which a remote planet has evolved a Tolkienesque feudal society, with elf-like, dwarf-like, and human-like life forms, I did quite enjoy it. Rocannon is an explorer and researcher, an anthropologist stand-in who studies planets rather than human societies. He's stranded on the titular world (it's so unimportant it has no other name) when his compatriots are killed by a devious enemy force that wants to use the planet as its base for a rebellion against the League Rocannon serves. He sets out with a few companions, who view this in their medieval manner as a great and noble quest, with a few high-tech tools, but mostly having to come down to human courage, tenacity, and sacrifice. A mysterious encounter at the end gives him the edge he needs over his enemy, but he must pay a terrible price.
The running theme is that one man's life doesn't matter -- but if it doesn't, what does? UKL always presents a beautiful and thoughtful meditation on such themes. Although marred by some silliness (flying cats, and too many forlorn damsels in castles), it still drew me into a richly imagined world.
In this book, Hain is: a planet with humanoid inhabitants, a different species from Earthlings, but in league with Earth, part of an alliance (the League of All Worlds) that is preparing for an expected war with extra-galactic enemies. Thus the visits to technologically backward planets to try to advance them and enlist them as allies--one of whom has rebelled and sought to conquer in its own right. The ansible is in use for instant communication. An unmanned, fater than light death-machine can also strike instantly.
"But Rocannon the hilfer, whose job was learning, not teaching, and who had lived on quite a few backward worlds, doubted the wisdom of staking everything on weapons and the use of machines...What if the weapons of the Enemy were things of the mind? Would it not be well to learn a little of the different shapes minds come in, and their powers?"
I read the introductory story, Semley's Necklace, years and years ago in The Wind's Twelve Quarters, but I had still never read Le Guin's first published novel -- Chris's #LoveHain event was the perfect opportunity to pick it up. Setting aside the absurdity of the premise, in which a remote planet has evolved a Tolkienesque feudal society, with elf-like, dwarf-like, and human-like life forms, I did quite enjoy it. Rocannon is an explorer and researcher, an anthropologist stand-in who studies planets rather than human societies. He's stranded on the titular world (it's so unimportant it has no other name) when his compatriots are killed by a devious enemy force that wants to use the planet as its base for a rebellion against the League Rocannon serves. He sets out with a few companions, who view this in their medieval manner as a great and noble quest, with a few high-tech tools, but mostly having to come down to human courage, tenacity, and sacrifice. A mysterious encounter at the end gives him the edge he needs over his enemy, but he must pay a terrible price.
The running theme is that one man's life doesn't matter -- but if it doesn't, what does? UKL always presents a beautiful and thoughtful meditation on such themes. Although marred by some silliness (flying cats, and too many forlorn damsels in castles), it still drew me into a richly imagined world.
In this book, Hain is: a planet with humanoid inhabitants, a different species from Earthlings, but in league with Earth, part of an alliance (the League of All Worlds) that is preparing for an expected war with extra-galactic enemies. Thus the visits to technologically backward planets to try to advance them and enlist them as allies--one of whom has rebelled and sought to conquer in its own right. The ansible is in use for instant communication. An unmanned, fater than light death-machine can also strike instantly.
"But Rocannon the hilfer, whose job was learning, not teaching, and who had lived on quite a few backward worlds, doubted the wisdom of staking everything on weapons and the use of machines...What if the weapons of the Enemy were things of the mind? Would it not be well to learn a little of the different shapes minds come in, and their powers?"
megapolisomancy's review against another edition
2.0
Light, breezy, and, in the end, kind of lacking in any kind of impact. Plus it reminded me of "Tracking Song" only (of course) it wasn't as good as "Tracking Song."
damencer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
scoutb16a4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-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? No
3.75
mitchell's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved the way scifi and fantasy came together in this book to play with scale, and contrast the super advanced intergalactic waring societies of the universe with the medieval setting of the people who populate the “unknown” planet, all while focusing on the comparably small world of those who know nothing of the intergalactic community. Le Güin takes in the vastness of the universe and still insists on the importance of the smallest among us.
“It did not matter after all. He was only one man. One man’s fate is not important. … If it is not, what is?”
“It did not matter after all. He was only one man. One man’s fate is not important. … If it is not, what is?”
breebok's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I read Left Hand of Darkness before this one, and unfortunately this one is much less interesting.