Hmm...I really like the Earthsea books, though I think the 4th one, Tehanu, is the best. Josh likes them a lot, too.
But really, those are not Science Fiction.
Some of her books that I like and that qualify more as s/f are The Dispossesed and The Left Hand of Darkness. The thing about her, really, is that she's a writer of speculative fiction, more than of fantasy or science fiction. While her books are often set in the future or in alternate realities, the richness of her work is in her studies of human nature. She takes people and places them in circumstances just enough removed from our own that we can use some objectivity when thinking about their situations and choices but still recognize ourselves in them. A lot of fantasy and s/f writers set out to do that, but what sets Ursula LeGuin apart is her ability to create detailed, believable civilizations, on scales ranging from governments to families.
I also like her short stories. I recommend the collection Unlocking the Air. While the stories are not expressly fantasy or s/f, I think that (besides being very well written) they examine human beings and what we're capable of in ways I hadn't thought of before. In that sense, they are very true to the tradition of speculative fiction.
ya, they're definately not the most enthralling and vivid worlds, but i read asimov more for social and philosphical implications of what the story than for rich language or sympathetic characterization
But really, those are not Science Fiction.
Some of her books that I like and that qualify more as s/f are The Dispossesed and The Left Hand of Darkness. The thing about her, really, is that she's a writer of speculative fiction, more than of fantasy or science fiction. While her books are often set in the future or in alternate realities, the richness of her work is in her studies of human nature. She takes people and places them in circumstances just enough removed from our own that we can use some objectivity when thinking about their situations and choices but still recognize ourselves in them. A lot of fantasy and s/f writers set out to do that, but what sets Ursula LeGuin apart is her ability to create detailed, believable civilizations, on scales ranging from governments to families.
I also like her short stories. I recommend the collection Unlocking the Air. While the stories are not expressly fantasy or s/f, I think that (besides being very well written) they examine human beings and what we're capable of in ways I hadn't thought of before. In that sense, they are very true to the tradition of speculative fiction.
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basically i just thought the second book, tombs of atuan was too slow and boring and didn't really do much
i'm currently trying to finish the original foundation trilogy by asimov, and i'll see what i do after that
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I agree that Tombs of Atuan is not the best book ever. Tenar is a main character in Tehanu, though, and she's way cooler.
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