A review by ehmannky
The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

It's truly a crime that Le Guin isn't more widely read because the Hainish cycle rules and does so much with the science fiction genre. I've read that she came to see this book as a sort of preachy (she wrote it as part of her involvement against the Vietnam War, so that's to be expected), but I thought it kind of worked for this. I also think that the character of Davidson was brilliant and kind of encapsulates a sort of white man that resembles Trump and Rambo and it's so angry in its view. It's great overall and a good place to jump into the Hainish cycle if you don't feel like starting with the longer and more complex novels. 

This book is more of a 4.5 read for me (just a bit knocked off for some outdated language and terms, but this book was written about 50 years ago so it's to be expected), but it's so good. 
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