The Birthday of the World and Other Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Birthday of the World and Other Stories

Hainish Cycle

Ursula K. Le Guin

362 pages first pub 2002 (editions)

fiction science fiction short stories reflective medium-paced

Description

Six of the eight stories in this collection are set in Le Guin's Hainish cycle. The title story, 'The Birthday of the World', stands alone and the final piece, 'Paradises Lost', is a new short novel original to the collection.

Community Reviews Summary of 487 reviews

Moods

reflective 80%
adventurous 65%
challenging 52%
emotional 47%
hopeful 21%
inspiring 21%
mysterious 17%
dark 15%
relaxing 13%
funny 4%
informative 4%
sad 4%
tense 4%
lighthearted 2%

Pace

medium 68%
slow 18%
fast 12%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 65% | Character: 20% | Plot: 13%

Strong character development?

Yes: 66% | It's complicated: 25% | No: 8%

Loveable characters?

Yes: 54% | It's complicated: 42% | N/A: 2%

Diverse cast of characters?

Yes: 97% | N/A: 2%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

It's complicated: 42% | Yes: 39% | No: 18%

Average rating

4.34

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Content Warnings

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