SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

You've likely it elsewhere by now but we can't NOT say goodbye to one of the lights of speculative fiction. She will be missed.

Here's to the first Old Woman, and the best second rate man. https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/10...

She’s the author who got me into SFF, and I own more books by her than any other author. Fortunately I still have many of her books to read for the first time. She will indeed be missed.

The Left Hand of Darkness is still one of my favorite sf novels for its wonderful setting and characters. I still have The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction to get around to someday.

I am reading Dispossessed at the moment. I saw her at Powell's City of Books a couple of times.

There's a new edition of the Earthsea books coming out, with illustrations by Charles Vess. To die for.

Was sad to hear about this. I've always enjoyed her works, she's my most-read female author, and there's a lot of her works I still want to read.

Brenda wrote: "There's a new edition of the Earthsea books coming out, with illustrations by Charles Vess. To die for."

That's in poor taste.

Brenda wrote: "To die for."

Erm....

A great loss to all of us, me thinks.

I just picked up A Wizard of Earthsea after recommendations from so many sci-fiers; and am looking forward to reading her work. Such a great loss of any writer.

Jack Ketchum also passed.

2018 is starting to look like 2016, and I am not liking it one bit. :(

I just reread The Left Hand of Darkness last week. Such groundbreaking work and still relevant. Le Guin rocked the genre to its foundations.

The Earthsea books are still probably my fav fantasy series. After all these years. And The Telling is still in my top 10 sf books. Probably top 5, actually.

Vale, Ms Le Guin.

A great loss indeed, but she also lived a long and productive life and her stories have been important to so many people and will be important for so many more. That is a great legacy.

Le Guin once made public a particularly misguided rejection letter she got for The Left Hand of Darkness. The publisher that sent that letter no longer exists. The novel, on the other hand, I have been told has never been out of print since.

My personal favourite of those Le Guin novels I have read (which is far from all of them) is The Lathe of Heaven. This should be compulsory reading for all idealists who seek to engineer the world according to their particular ideal.

Margaret Atwood wrote an excellent tribute to Ursula that was published recently in the Washington Post. It also talks about the story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. An electronic version of the story can be found here.

I suggest you don't read Atwood's article until you have read the story. Don't worry. It's a short one.

We lost Ursula Le Guin when we needed her most

Thanks for sharing Tom! Powerful little story there, wow.

Dr M wrote: "A great loss indeed, but she also lived a long and productive life and her stories have been important to so many people and will be important for so many more. That is a great legacy.

Le Guin onc..."


Very well said. I've long argued that she's one of the greatest and most important writers of our time.

An author who made an indelible impression on my 17-year-old self, who got me to speculate about gender roles and identity. I can only hope that somewhere in time and space I will get to have a conversation with her and kick around ideas.

No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters is on sale kindle US $2.99 today 4/3. I think this was Ursula K. Le Guin final publication. Non fiction essays.

Monica wrote: "No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters is on sale kindle US $2.99 today 4/3. I think this was Ursula K. Le Guin final publication. Non fiction essays."

Thanks! I just bought it.

There’s a final collection of her poetry that’s just come out by Copper Canyon Press called So Far So Good. She worked on it with them. I can’t wait until I get my copy. I helped Kickstart the project. https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/pag...

I'm planning to read A Wizard of Earthsea in November, well, ummm, that's the plan.

This will be the first work I'll read by Le Guin. I've heard a lot about this one, and now trying to put it all to one side so I can see the book for myself but I gotta say I'm looking forward to it.

Diane, that sounds wonderful!! I hope you'll share your thoughts on it, I know we have a ton of Le Guin fans in this group.

Inkspill, I won't add to the hype, but I am eager to hear how it resonates with you :) I think another in our group (Kaa?) is planning on doing a readthrough of Le Guin's oeuvre next year--maybe we'll have a few chances for buddy reads!

Allison wrote: "Diane, that sounds wonderful!! I hope you'll share your thoughts on it, I know we have a ton of Le Guin fans in this group.

Inkspill, I won't add to the hype, but I am eager to hear how it resonat..."

hey Allison, I'll keep you posted - thanks for not adding to the hype, I will try and read it as it is. good to know about the buddy reads coming up next year, next year which is not that faraway :)

Diane wrote: "There’s a final collection of her poetry that’s just come out by Copper Canyon Press called So Far So Good. She worked on it with them. I can’t wait until I get my copy. I helped Kickstart the proj..."

Say whaaaat!? I need to get a copy of this asap.

Diane wrote: "There’s a final collection of her poetry that’s just come out by Copper Canyon Press called So Far So Good. She worked on it with them. I can’t wait until I get my copy. I helped Kickstart the proj..."

So did I! I just got my box of goodies in the mail a couple of days ago. Great stuff :)

Mareike wrote: "Say whaaaat!? I need to get a copy of this asap."

It's here.

Yes, I am planning to read 52 Le Guin books next year! I'm happy to do buddy reads for any of them.

So Far So Good is definitely on my list!

Kaa wrote: "Yes, I am planning to read 52 Le Guin books next year! I!"

ooh, one a week - go you!

I have been hoarding books by UKL to read for the rest of my own life. When I discovered her 20 odd years ago, i was already concerned that i would be devastated not to have anymore UKL to read after her death. (I shouldn’t have worried so much!) And in fact, I’ve read at least one book by her every year (more this year) and have plenty yet to read. I’m looking forward to joining Kaa et al on a few buddy reads.

Unfortunately, my copy of So Far So Good is on it’s way to my mother who lives in Montana (i live in the UK). I’m not sure if she’s going to send it to me before i go back to visit at Easter. 😬

Michele wrote: "Mareike wrote: "Say whaaaat!? I need to get a copy of this asap."

It's here."

Thank you!
I've already spread the good news to my all my poetry- and/or sf/f-reading friends.

Diane wrote: "There’s a final collection of her poetry that’s just come out by Copper Canyon Press called So Far So Good. She worked on it with them. I can’t wait until I get my copy. I helped Kickstart the proj..."

Brilliant news, I'll keep an eye out for it!

I only discovered her early this year, shortly after her death, only to realize my mother loved her works, but sadly I never got around to talking to her about it.

I'm planning to read A Wizard of Earthsea sooonish, too, got the ebook cheap recently, and I believe there's a buddy read of The Word for World is Forest coming up? I don't have my calendar on me right now.

In any regard, I'm in love with her writing and will be working my way through all of it, so count me in for any buddy readings.

Dawn wrote: "I only discovered her early this year, shortly after her death, only to realize my mother loved her works, but sadly I never got around to talking to her about it.

I'm planning to read [book:A Wiz..."

There is indeed a BR for The Word for World is Forest. It starts on Nov. 5. Very much looking forward to this one.

Oh, The Word for World... is quite short. I may be able to reread it in time to discuss it with you!

Mareike wrote: "...There is indeed a BR for The Word for World is Forest. It starts on Nov. 5. Very much looking forward to this one...."

Ooh! *makes a mental note* Good to know. I believe I have the Hainish Cycle already in my Library, awaiting consuming.

Mareike wrote: "There is indeed a BR for The Word for World is Forest. It starts on Nov. 5. Very much looking forward to this one."

There's an homage to this book (or at least so I interpret it) in Stephen King's The Stand. One of the characters, Tom, has never left his hometown before, and as he and his companion Nick embark on their journey west, they pass a sign saying "You are now entering Woods County." Tom asks Nick, "Is Woods the word for world?"

I can't believe that's a coincidence :)

Michele wrote: "Mareike wrote: "...Tom, has never left his hometown before, and as he and his companion Nick embark on their journey west, they pass a sign saying "You are now entering Woods County." Tom asks Nick, "Is Woods the word for world?..."

Nice catch! I delight in this kind of 'stealth homages' :)

Michele wrote: "Mareike wrote: "There is indeed a BR for The Word for World is Forest. It starts on Nov. 5. Very much looking forward to this one."

There's an homage to this book (or at least so I interpret it) i..."

Nice! I don't think that's a coincidence either.

I've started A Wizard of Earthsea, book and author are new to me, this is a fun read, and it's nice to read something lightish :)

Inkspill wrote: "I've started A Wizard of Earthsea, book and author are new to me, this is a fun read, and it's nice to read something lightish :)"

I envy you coming at it for the first time.

Tom wrote: "Margaret Atwood wrote an excellent tribute to Ursula that was published recently in the Washington Post. It also talks about the story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas...."

I've never read any stories of her although I do have one my physical to be read pile (I think earth sea?). And I just clicked on the link because.. well I was bored and it was a short story.

Now I'm almost crying. And I don't even really know why? But if her writing is the same as this short story I need to prepare myself for some long reading sessions and having all my creature comforts around me.

And I find some regret for not knowing this while she was alive so I could mourn her properly now.

Her writing is absolutely stunning, and her insight can shatter you. A real gift to the world, she was.

Ada wrote: Now I'm almost crying. And I don't even really know why? But if her writing is the same as this short story I need to prepare myself for some long reading sessions and having all my creature comforts around me.

And I find some regret for not knowing this while she was alive so I could mourn her properly now.

That story is a stunner. It's no surprise that it is used in writing classes and philosophy classes around the USA. It's very condensed and packs a punch. Her writing is just like that, sometimes gentle, sometimes devastating, sometimes so beautiful your heart will break open wide, and sometimes stern. Get ready. Her books, stories and poetry will change you.

Also, I'm making my way through her final poetry collection (and final publication that she finished), So Far So Good Final Poems: 2014-2018. It's gorgeous and sad sometimes. It's not speculative though. She said that, for her, poetry was always a way to process the real world.

I'm taking it slowly, like I've been trying to do with her fiction since I was introduced to her work 25 years ago, so that it will last longer.

I’m so so happy whenever someone discovers Ursula Le Guin cos then I’m not alone! I also only found her works earlier this year, when two people unrelated to each other recommended I read The Left Hand of Darkness. When I finally got around to it I was in love and the rest is history. I’ll also be working my way through her works.

So far I've read these books in her Hainish cycle:

Rocannon's World
Planet of Exile
City of Illusions
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Word for World is Forest
The Dispossessed

And these two short stories/novella collections:
The Unreal and the Real: Selected Stories, Volume One: Where on Earth
The Unreal and the Real: Selected Stories, Volume Two: Outer Space, Inner Lands

I've got quite a lot to get through so if anyone is up for buddy reading let me know! :)

Dawn, there's a UKLG BR project planned, I think it was discussed in the BR thread a little while ago.

edit: Here

Michele wrote: "Inkspill wrote: "I've started A Wizard of Earthsea, book and author are new to me, this is a fun read, and it's nice to read something lightish :)"

I envy you coming at it for the fir..."

It was an interesting read, I liked how Le Guin was not scared of making her hero flawed. I'm hopiing to the read the next one soon.

Did you check out the Earthsea discussions?


A Wizard of Earthsea >> First impressions | Final thoughts
The Tombs of Atuan >> First impressions | Final thoughts
The Farthest Shore >> First impressions | Final thoughts
Tehanu >> Buddy Read

Everyone finding this thread for the first time, please check out Kaa's Le Guin reading project. It has links to all the Le Guin book discussions we have, and there'll be many more in 2019!

Anna wrote: "Did you check out the Earthsea discussions?



A Wizard of Earthsea
>> First impressions | Final thoughts

The Tombs of Atuan
>> First impressions | Final thoughts

The Farthest Shore
>> F..."

no, I haven't seen that one but will do when I get a chance, thanks

Anna wrote: "Everyone finding this thread for the first time, please check out Kaa's Le Guin reading project. It has links to all the Le Guin book discussions we have, and there'll be many more in 2019!"

brill - I could not remember where I saw this thread