Ursula K. Le Guin

Post by **Waddley** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:43 pm

Which of her books should I start with? I get very confused when I look at her section in the book store.

------
Waddley, the easily confounded

Post by **Warmark** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:05 pm

I started with 'The Wizard f Earthsea'.

There is a full list in this thread i think.

kevinswatch.ihugny.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8642

Post by **Waddley** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:39 pm

Thank Warmark! I DID do a search because I didn't want to post a topic that had already been discussed but I guess I missed it. Ahh well.

------
Waddley D. Le Hasselhoff

Post by **lucimay** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:00 pm

www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/ursula-k-le-guin/

Wadds,

i highly recommend

The Left Hand of Darkness - a brilliant piece of writing and my favorite
The Disposessed
The Telling
(i love all the Hainish Cycle books)

the best book of the Earthsea books is Tehanu, hands down, without a doubt, one of the most intriguing and complete female characters in literature. yes...in literature. altho this is the fourth book in the series, it was the first one i read. the first 3 were written many years before this one, and you can tell. the writing is much more mature. i suggest you read it first and then go back and read the original trilogy if you like the concept. Tehar is an AWESOME character.

for essays...i suggest you look into Dancing at the Edge of the World.
(one of these essays is going in the much talked about final paper that i'm writing right now!!!)
Leguin's essays and address' are WAY readable and of MUCH value to women readers as well as writers.

ok. phew. got anymore questions about Urusla?

she's a really wonderful woman, great reader, and brilliant writer.
i've met her twice at readings. she's a sweetie!!!

Post by **CovenantJr** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:46 pm

Lucimay wrote:the best book of the Earthsea books is Tehanu

Oh god, not Tehanu. Though I loathe it less with each re-read, it's still my least favourite of the Earthsea novels. I think that's primarily because it isn't an Earthsea novel, except in geography. My favourite of them is Tombs.

The only non-Earthsea novel of Le Guin's I've read is The Lathe of Heaven. It's very good, though not as good as Earthsea.

Post by **lucimay** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:55 pm

CovenantJr wrote:
Lucimay wrote:the best book of the Earthsea books is Tehanu
Oh god, not Tehanu. Though I loathe it less with each re-read, it's still my least favourite of the Earthsea novels. I think that's primarily because it isn't an Earthsea novel, except in geography. My favourite of them is Tombs.

The only non-Earthsea novel of Le Guin's I've read is The Lathe of Heaven. It's very good, though not as good as Earthsea.

yes...that makes sense to me that Tehanu is YOUR least favorite, since you are obviously a man...but Waddley is, most decidedly NOT a man and may have a different perspective.

and it is TOO an Earthsea novel, it just doesn't center on your man the ever-tortured Sparrowhawk.

Post by **Benito Alvarez** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:56 pm

So whats the base for the Earthsea thing? I remember seeing comercials for a TV series a long time ago. But Ive never heard anything for the books.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:15 pm

The Earthsea novels have been around since the 70s (at least, the first three have) and seem pretty influential. One of the reasons I scorn Harry Potter is because Hogwarts seems like a poor photocopy of Roke.

Le Guin was reportedly quite dissatisfied with the recent TV adaptation, and I'm not surprised. I haven't seen it, but by all accounts it was changed almost beyond recognition. And why - WHY, FOR PITY'S SAKE?! - switch Sparrowhawk and Ged. Makes no sense at all.

Anyway, the first Earthsea books are primarily about Ged / Sparrowhawk, and follow the major chapters of his life, from childhood dreams of wizardry to his actual accomplishments - and various other things along the way.

Lucimay wrote:yes...that makes sense to me that Tehanu is YOUR least favorite, since you are obviously a man...but Waddley is, most decidedly NOT a man

...I thought she was dAN

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:32 pm

I did not enjoy Tehanu much when I read it, but that was a long time ago. I would say The Farthest Shore was the one I had the most difficulty with, though.

And like CovJr, I thought The Tombs of Atuan was the best one.

Post by **balon!** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:37 pm

So where would I start?

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:49 pm

A Wizard of Earthsea, the first book in the series. Though the PoV in Tombs makes it work independant of Wizard.

The 'quartet' has been published in a single volume, if you're interested in getting it:
A Wizard of Earthsea
The Tombs of Atuan
The Farthest Shore
Tehanu

There is also another novel, The Other Wind, and a collection Tales From Earthsea; neither or which I have read.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:56 pm

I read an Earthsea short story in a fantasy anthology of some sort. Pretty enjoyable, but nothing earth(sea)-shattering.

Post by **lucimay** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:32 am

Murrin wrote:There is also another novel, The Other Wind, and a collection Tales From Earthsea; neither or which I have read.

they are both good. you haven't finished the series or the story if you haven't read them.

Post by **lucimay** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:31 am

CovenantJr wrote:
Lucimay wrote:yes...that makes sense to me that Tehanu is YOUR least favorite, since you are obviously a man...but Waddley is, most decidedly NOT a man
...I thought she was dAN

yeah that's why you're all hot over that pillow fight idden it?

Post by **Avatar** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:18 am

Take Murrin's advice and start at the beginning. I really enjoyed the way that the series as a whole matured and progressed, becoming darker and darker.

And btw, although Tombs was great, Tehanu was my favourite as well. But I think it will lose something if you start with it. Follow the natural progression instead. And if you read them one after the other, (mine are all in one volume), the changes are even more pronounced.

--A

Post by **danlo** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:32 pm

Cjr wrote:that's primarily because it isn't an Earthsea novel, except in geography

that's crazy--have you read the final 2 books??? Tehanu is great and the Farthest Shore rocked (especially at the end!!!)!

Post by **dANdeLION** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:26 pm

CovenantJr wrote:
Lucimay wrote:yes...that makes sense to me that Tehanu is YOUR least favorite, since you are obviously a man...but Waddley is, most decidedly NOT a man
...I thought she was dAN

*Does the Geico Caveman eye roll thing*
youtube.com/watch?v=kVVSmnnqfvc&mode=related&search=

Post by **CovenantJr** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:40 pm

danlo wrote:
Cjr wrote:that's primarily because it isn't an Earthsea novel, except in geography
that's crazy--have you read the final 2 books??? Tehanu is great and the Farthest Shore rocked (especially at the end!!!)!

Liked The Farthest Shore, just didn't get on with Tehanu.

Post by **danlo** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:02 pm

Tehanu is essential to the last two books! Have you read them (The Other Wind is amazing!)?

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:25 pm

ve read A Wizard and Atuan and currently on The Farthest Shore. It's the one that the new Studio Ghibli film will be based on, I think, which I'm very much looking forward to.

I like Le Guin's style: very simple and clean, possessing a Taoist calm. I think Fist once said it retains tranquility even when less-than-tranquil events are happening. Her mode of writing is certainly suited to sailing and islands and all that contemplative stuff of the seashore.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin