Sebastian > Recent Status Updates

Coming to Part III I finally thought to translate the Latin phrases that are the names of the three sections in both books. Very clever choices!

It's really interesting reading this at the same time as Left Hand of Darkness. It has made the political maneuvering take on so much more importance than previously - I mostly saw it as background to the mysteries of the fantasy world(s), but as climactic action comes to a head the politics are suddenly desperately and terribly important.

With Ai in Orgoreyn it's so clear how this book reflects the political maneuvering of the Cold War (which is when it was written). You get a dance of political posturing, nibbling at borders, control of information, violence by Secret Police but not overt war. So far the difference in sexual morphology and culture is almost just an interesting aside

I'm so excited to finally get answers about all the things raised in the first book. I am keeping them both on my Kindle side by side for reference, since my recent re-read of Will of the Many was honestly a skim. There's so much going on, and especially without knowing what is actually going to come up again in the same book, that it helps a lot to have both.

Happy I'm starting this as part of my end of year re-read. Both because I apparently didn't review this book the first time around but also because I'm happily marinating in beautiful prose and intriguing philosophical quandary.

I forgot how luscious the prose of this book is, how clever in character leaving plot to play a much more minor role (which I like). Very happy to be re-reading

Good to start, bored now

Having a hard time with all the terms introduced that are central to understanding the culture of the planet Winter but aren't explained or defined, just left to context. Unless there's a glossary I'm missing?