Thanks for reminding me about the depth of The Left Hand of Darkness. I have a genderless sibkid who might appreciate this recommendation from their aunty 💛
Le Guin is an author that I haven't given enough attention and consideration to. I read the Left Hand of Darkness, and while I appreciate the questions it raises around ideas of gender and otherness on an individual and societal level, the book didn't speak to me.
And yet, after reading this, I'm ashamed to admit that missed what it had to say about loneliness and solitude. It seems so obvious. Perhaps, I'll have to give it a reread.
Regardless, I'll be making it a point to dive into more of her work.
The connection between the power of names in Earthsea intersects with her father’s work as an anthropologist who worked with an individual who had no name as he was the last living person from his culture in which only another individual of that society could name you. I don’t know if this directly influenced her work but the connection has always fascinated me
Excellent writing LeGuin...thanks... As I have fat fingers and phone key pads are microscopic, I use a bluetoothed regular sized keyboard - (ebayuk, approx gbp 30) ; activate blue tooth, pair the two and away we go...very comfy...but then I graduated to a laptop. Two are nice in tandem as well. 🙏Happy thinking, happy writing 🧘🌌
Loved this exploration. This bit was especially poignant: "the pursuit of knowledge and truth can be a solitary and isolating endeavour." Yup. Yet also so rewarding it's impossible not to pursue.
This is very timely, as I've never read anything by Ursula Le Guin, but the Left Hand of Darkness is on my list of all time sci-fi and fantasy. I will have to bring it up higher on the list and get to it in the next two or three that I pick up. Thank you for bringing out these themes, I will be on the lookout for them when I read.
“No darkness lasts forever. And even there, there are stars.”
Thanks for reminding me about the depth of The Left Hand of Darkness. I have a genderless sibkid who might appreciate this recommendation from their aunty 💛
This is wonderful. I love these images you’ve chosen too!
This is such a great theme for examining her work!
Great perspective but unfortunately not all get to see the dawn.
I’ve never read any of her work, but I’m going hunting for some of these titles now. Thank you for this!
thanks for sharing shes a fantatsic writer i need to dive more into and you certianly have encouraged that
This is really insightful.
Le Guin is an author that I haven't given enough attention and consideration to. I read the Left Hand of Darkness, and while I appreciate the questions it raises around ideas of gender and otherness on an individual and societal level, the book didn't speak to me.
And yet, after reading this, I'm ashamed to admit that missed what it had to say about loneliness and solitude. It seems so obvious. Perhaps, I'll have to give it a reread.
Regardless, I'll be making it a point to dive into more of her work.
Thanks for this!
The connection between the power of names in Earthsea intersects with her father’s work as an anthropologist who worked with an individual who had no name as he was the last living person from his culture in which only another individual of that society could name you. I don’t know if this directly influenced her work but the connection has always fascinated me
Excellent writing LeGuin...thanks... As I have fat fingers and phone key pads are microscopic, I use a bluetoothed regular sized keyboard - (ebayuk, approx gbp 30) ; activate blue tooth, pair the two and away we go...very comfy...but then I graduated to a laptop. Two are nice in tandem as well. 🙏Happy thinking, happy writing 🧘🌌
Wonderful write up about a wonderful author. I haven't read all of her work, but those that I have are so incredibly good and deep and philosophical.
Loved this exploration. This bit was especially poignant: "the pursuit of knowledge and truth can be a solitary and isolating endeavour." Yup. Yet also so rewarding it's impossible not to pursue.
This is very timely, as I've never read anything by Ursula Le Guin, but the Left Hand of Darkness is on my list of all time sci-fi and fantasy. I will have to bring it up higher on the list and get to it in the next two or three that I pick up. Thank you for bringing out these themes, I will be on the lookout for them when I read.
The Lathe of Heaven. One of my very favorites. Effective dreaming is possible.
thanks for this, LRT 🙏🏼
i too write about loneliness... and the human condition
i look forward to reading more...
--
if you’re curious 👇🏼
https://opentochange.substack.com