[Robert]

A while ago I started a "Lefthand of Darkness" thread, and since then I have read a number of other Hainish universe novels (the original triology - "Roccannon's World", "Planet of Exile" & City of Illusion", the short stories of "The Winds Twelve Doors" and "The Dispossessed").

First question obviously, is there anymore Hainish books. A friend told me there is some very recent new Hainish works Ursula Le Guin has done, but I have yet to run across any (damn my local Barnes & Noble) ;) Can anybody name them? If so, did that mean she took a twenty odd year break from the Hainish series, or am I overlooking a couple of early Hainish works?

Another question, what the heck happened after "City of Illusions"??? (If there is book, don't tell me - just tell me the book I obviously have not read), but if there is only theories and no written source, then go ahead.

I remember there was a small bit in "The Dispossessed" with the Terran ambassador, but it trying to join the two together makes me feel that there was some event that I have missed out on reading. Have the Shing ever been explained?

Also, a parabole I would like to discuss. Asimov once discribed his "Foundation" saga as an analogy of the Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire. In a way, I can see the Hainish series as an even better analogy. Does anybody else see this?

btw... I loved the books... my only complaint is she seems to use a few to many deux ex machinas to resolve situations, but I still love em!

[KatG]

If memory serves, she did take a very long break at writing about that universe until she started doing some novellas in the nineties, which were then collected into a book. Then she recently did a new novel in that series.

I have not read all the books in this series, but from the ones I have read, I would not say that she's doing the Roman Empire, but certainly imperialism is a theme that interests her.

[emohawk]

I think the only other earlier Hainish/Ekumen novel is The World for World is Forest, but I could be mistaken about that as I haven't read it. It's also currently out of print as far as I'm aware. More recently Le Guin wrote The Telling, which is probably the weakest of the Hainish novels I've read. You may also want to check out The Birthday of the World and Other Stories which is her latest short story collection and is excellent. Most of the stories in it are set in the Hainish/Ekumen universe. If you enjoyed The Wind's Twelve Quarters you should enjoy it.

[Robert]

thank you emohawk!

I did enjoy "The Wind's Twelve Quarters" (not doors! Silly Robert!) :D :p Oddly I tend to not care for short-stories, but LeGuin's where bloody excellent and I loved them, so I will definately have to track a copy down! Of all those books! ;)