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saadaltaf's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
akallabeth's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
deservedly a classic, what else is there to say? the fact that this is so compelling and engaging while being at least 70% political treatise and philosophical debate is a marvel. while not quite as emotionally intense as the left hand of darkness (a book that made me cry), the characters still feel and act like real people, something you should not take for granted when it comes to classic scifi. and for all the meaty sociopolitical debate, i actually don't think the language in this book is overly dense or impenetrable. ms le guin your brain was unimaginably massive. thanks for the books.
A thin, small, middle-aged man beside Trepil began speaking, at first so softly, in a voice hoarsened by the dust-cough, that few of them heard him. He was a visiting delegate from the Southwest miners' syndicate, not expected to speak on this matter. "... what men deserve," he was saying. "For we each of us deserve everything, every luxury that was ever piled high in the tombs of the dead Kings, and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger. Have we not eaten while another starved? Will you punish us for that? Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate? No man earns punishment, no man earns reward. Free your mind of the idea of deserving, the idea of earning, and you will begin to be able to think."
georgw's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love the worlds Le Guin has created here, such a dark and yet hopeful reflection and satire of our world. It’s exactly what I want from this kind of Sci-Fi and in general one of her strengths. There are so many quotable little comments and observations and the framework of going through the main character’s life in two different time periods, slowly realising how things came to be works great and it has a satisfying ending.
lunaliz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
undeadgoblin's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-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
4.75
mikeg_yall's review against another edition
Barely had gotten started and a book I have been waiting for at my local library became available. Will definitely come back to this one!
miketwalker's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jredmore's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to read a sci-fi novel, but instead was fed a series of philosophical, political and sociological essays via the mouths of the book's characters. In my opinion, good sci-fi, with its vast potential for utterly unique world-building, can deliver both a compelling plot, as well as reflections on the real world.. this novel did not deliver on the former.
inasd's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0