Ursula K le Guin RIP

[Jennifer P]

I did find the first Alvin Maker tolerable. I haven't read the short story collections because I was put off him by his later work. But yeah, needs to be a different thread.

 

[Nechtan]

RIP Ursula. You will be missed.

Such sad news. Earthsea is one of my favourites and during my teens was one of my favourite fantasy worlds alongside Middle Earth, Pern, the Many Coloured Land, Urth and the Land.

Le Guin was one of those rare authors whose writing contained an undefinable element to it that seemed to bring the stories to life. For me personally, I've only encountered a handful of authors like this; Tolkien, Gaiman and Wolfe. Maybe Vandermeer. I like to call it magic.

 

[Jim Johanson]

Is there a book of hers that you'd recommend starting with? I am somewhat abashed to say that I've never read any of her work.

 

[Av Demeisen]

Is there a book of hers that you'd recommend starting with? I am somewhat abashed to say that I've never read any of her work.

I would get Library of America's Complete Hainish Novels and Stories box set. It's just $48.56 for two superbly produced hardcover volumes. Contains both The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed.

https://www.amazon.com/Ursula-K-Gui...812152&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=complete+hainish

 

[Hobbit]

Is there a book of hers that you'd recommend starting with? I am somewhat abashed to say that I've never read any of her work.

Fantasy or SF, Jim?

For Fantasy, try The Earthsea Trilogy. Though regarded as Young Adult these days, they're a classic. Literate and deceptively complex.

In SF, the usual suggestions would be The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed and possibly The World for World is Forest. Much more complex.

I'm sure others will suggest others too.

Hope that helps!

 

[Av Demeisen]

In SF, the usual suggestions would be The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed and possibly The Word for World is Forest. Much more complex.

All three in the Library of America box set.

 

[Hobbit]

All three in the Library of America box set.

Thanks Av; I take the point, but it's a big ol' expensive set for someone unsure of the writer's work. I was thinking trying (cheaper) individual ones first, and then if you like...

 

[Av Demeisen]

Thanks Av; I take the point, but it's a big ol' expensive set for someone unsure of the writer's work. I was thinking trying (cheaper) individual ones first, and then if you like...

US paperbacks for those three titles would already cost $30 at Amazon.