Rocannon's World and Planet of Exile

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Together in one volume, two gripping novels of war, love, and the battle for survival on words lying years away— on planets without names where winter lasts a lifetime. ROCANNON'S WORLD is Ursula Le Guin's first novel, as inspired as anything she has ever written. PLANET OF EXILE is its brilliant successor.

'Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power. She invites, as Tolkien does, a total belief' Observer

'Few contemporary writers can equal her' New Scientist

'She is a writer of extraordianary gifts and Science Fiction needs her' Birminghan Post

Genres: Science Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Ursula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.

She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.

Reviews

[J.j. Metsavana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ursula K. Le Guini "Rocannoni maailm" on ilus teaduslik-fantastiline muinasjutt ühel kolkaplaneedil töötavast etnograafist kes peab olude sunnil võtma ette pika retke. Sellesosas olen mitmete baasiarvustajatega nõus, et retk muutus aegapikku monotoonseks. Samas maailm mulle istus. Mulle meeldib kui muinasulme on seotud teadusliku fantasikaga ja siin oli autor viitsinud leiutada ka terve hulga põnevaid rasse. Ei olnud seda tavapärast liigitust, et haldjad, päkapikud rüütlid jne. Geomeetriliselt ülitäpseid linnu ehitavad ingel-vampiirid oli samuti hüva idee.

Teine lugu...oli ka hea. Aga mitte enam nii fantaasia- ja ulmerikas kui esimene. Seepärast ei viitsi tollest niipikalt kirjutada.

[Joje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rocannon's World was fine and better as it went along, but Planet of Exile finally caught me. As for Scalzi or Azimov, it takes a while to move into the new relationships, and flying felines sorta led me astray at first into fantasy clichés, which are not my favorite. I need to think of this aversion a bit more. It's not that I like the Mad Max tin beasties especially, but I accepted them then so why not a fleshy version if it is consistent with the fictional world? Hm.
The connections to the first book were handled elegantly enough and helped a lot. Especially since I find some intriguing since already interests for years now: cross cultural/racial communications, the humane way the League set down rules for colonizing, the parts with the doctor treating both species/races and how he explained it to the heroine. Le Guin has once again done her homework.
On a side note, the northers coming south sound familiar to you GofT fans?
Now back to City of Illusions and others.

[Luke Dylan Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rocannon’s World: B/B+

https://youtu.be/KZrWNtOgIO8 - my video review of Rocannon’s World

Rocannon’s World review:

I enjoyed this book a good amount. It features a nice mix of science fiction and fantasy and has that je ne sais quoi that Le Guin always includes: the book reads like it is somehow greater than the sum of its parts.

The prelude is dream-like and enjoyable. Part one, full of rising action and worldbuilding, is quite readable. Part two ends the book in a fitting and well earned manner. The epilogue ties the book together and explains the title of the book.

This book did remind me of The Left Hand of Darkness (my introduction to Le Guin beyond her short story “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”). The reason for that comparison is the fact that both feature journeys through a hellish wintry landscape that lead to a climactic finale. Some descriptions in Rocannon’s World also seemed similar to some parts in Left Hand, particularly the description of the Winged Ones’ city and the descriptions of urban life in Left Hand.

It is notable (and astounding) that this book was Le Guin’s full-length debut and only initially featured in an Ace Double rather than on its own.

[Tõnu Laanemäe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Väga head lood mõlemad, sarnaste joontega ning kõigele vaatamata üsna maalähedased... ja õiglus võidutseb.

[Astra Schults · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suured ideed, ülevoolavad tunded, õilsad eesmärgid ja küsimusteta võitlemine. Ei ole päris minu maitse.

[Larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this was my first encounter with Le Guin and it was a struggle to finish! The writing style was clumsy in parts and the characters just not that interesting. Just not a lot happened really! This one will be going on Bookmooch. I have City of Illusions and Left Hand of Darkness on my shelf too-just hope things improve with those two.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars