The Word for World is Forest
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4.4 • 131 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The award-winning masterpiece by one of today's most honored writers, Ursula K. Le Guin!
The Word for World is Forest
When the inhabitants of a peaceful world are conquered by the bloodthirsty yumens, their existence is irrevocably altered. Forced into servitude, the Athsheans find themselves at the mercy of their brutal masters.
Desperation causes the Athsheans, led by Selver, to retaliate against their captors, abandoning their strictures against violence. But in defending their lives, they have endangered the very foundations of their society. For every blow against the invaders is a blow to the humanity of the Athsheans. And once the killing starts, there is no turning back.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Customer Reviews
Beautiful
Le Guin balances the three narrative points of view masterfully; the reader swings from despairing to disgusted to heartbroken at the turn of a page. A brilliant read that offers commentary on nationalism, consumerism, and ecological irresponsibility. Le Guin isn't heavy-handed in her handling of these issues - just bleakly honest.
(For those of you keeping score, Le Guin's story is indeed cast in the mold of Orson Scott Card's Speaker For The Dead. I would submit that the other has a stronger plot and more complex characters, but that this has much clearer narrative voice. Please do yourself the favor of reading both.)
Recommendable
Pro: intense. Con: misandry.
Out of print but wonderful
This is one of the Hainish Cycle that includes "Left Hand of Darkness". It propounds a human question and reveals Selver who redeems his species.