Okay, but also Ursula K. Le Guin fucking rocks. I didn’t even read Earthsea (that’s the 3rd one in the image) until I was older, and it’s amazing. But so many of her other books were influential on me when I was younger. The Dispossessed is brilliant, and Left Hand of Darkness is well-deserving of its reputation as one of her best. Both won the double-whammy of Nebula and Hugo “Best Novel” awards, making her the only author who’s not an asshole to win that twice, fuck Orson Scott Card. Also she was woke as fuck basically her entire life and was not afraid to say it.
Lmao I just started reading some of Card’s series, notably Wakers and Ender’s Game. And there’s a lot of misogyny and Conservative ideas rattling in his ramblings.
I’ve heard good things about Earthsea so I’ll look into her other works
I’ll admit that I actually do really like Card’s writing, and I don’t deny that Ender’s Game (and Ender’s Shadow and Speaker for the Dead!) are great books. I read them a lot when I was younger and don’t specifically recall any hidden conservatism, especially because he seemed to have multiple viewpoints in the books. But the man himself is a piece of bigoted trash, so I would only buy used books from him now.
I thought that the book in the series about that “darkness priestess” girl who spent time in those caves of hers was kind of depressing and meh. The Tombs of Atuán, maybe?
searches
“Atuan”.
I did like the other books in the Wizard of Earthsea series, though.
It has been a long while since reading them so I confess that I don’t recall them clearly, but the Tombs is my favorite of the series because the feeling and atmosphere she evoked while reading it. Something about how she shaped the story of the tombs darkness stuck hard for me. The inky blackness and their maze of mysteries are ingrained in my memories; so much so that Atuan is what springs to mind if a film includes such material. LeGuin’s storytelling was masterful.
I really like The Tombs of Atuan, but I do think it’s a tone shift from the first book. The religious themes reminded me a lot of Dune in some ways, where even those at the top of religion question it, plus it’s also kind of coming-of-age for Tenar (the priestess girl) and for Paul. Bringing Tenar back in Tehanu (4th book in the series) was brilliant, though, and really gives her character more development. That one might be my favorite of the series.
Okay, but also Ursula K. Le Guin fucking rocks. I didn’t even read Earthsea (that’s the 3rd one in the image) until I was older, and it’s amazing. But so many of her other books were influential on me when I was younger. The Dispossessed is brilliant, and Left Hand of Darkness is well-deserving of its reputation as one of her best. Both won the double-whammy of Nebula and Hugo “Best Novel” awards, making her the only author who’s not an asshole to win that twice, fuck Orson Scott Card. Also she was woke as fuck basically her entire life and was not afraid to say it.
Lmao I just started reading some of Card’s series, notably Wakers and Ender’s Game. And there’s a lot of misogyny and Conservative ideas rattling in his ramblings.
I’ve heard good things about Earthsea so I’ll look into her other works
I loved enders game as a kid. I see it as a sign of growth that I now realize how cringe that was.
I’ll admit that I actually do really like Card’s writing, and I don’t deny that Ender’s Game (and Ender’s Shadow and Speaker for the Dead!) are great books. I read them a lot when I was younger and don’t specifically recall any hidden conservatism, especially because he seemed to have multiple viewpoints in the books. But the man himself is a piece of bigoted trash, so I would only buy used books from him now.
I truly feel bad not liking her books. I’ve tried! Can’t even name a single objection, just have never been drawn in.
Sometimes an author doesn’t click even when she should otherwise, no worries! Good on you for at least trying!
I thought that the book in the series about that “darkness priestess” girl who spent time in those caves of hers was kind of depressing and meh. The Tombs of Atuán, maybe?
searches
“Atuan”.
I did like the other books in the Wizard of Earthsea series, though.
It has been a long while since reading them so I confess that I don’t recall them clearly, but the Tombs is my favorite of the series because the feeling and atmosphere she evoked while reading it. Something about how she shaped the story of the tombs darkness stuck hard for me. The inky blackness and their maze of mysteries are ingrained in my memories; so much so that Atuan is what springs to mind if a film includes such material. LeGuin’s storytelling was masterful.
I really like The Tombs of Atuan, but I do think it’s a tone shift from the first book. The religious themes reminded me a lot of Dune in some ways, where even those at the top of religion question it, plus it’s also kind of coming-of-age for Tenar (the priestess girl) and for Paul. Bringing Tenar back in Tehanu (4th book in the series) was brilliant, though, and really gives her character more development. That one might be my favorite of the series.