The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

This is the case for the forest- dwellers on a planet which humans are in the process of exploiting for timber with great cruelty to the slave- workers and destruction to the planet, named Forest by its inhabitants. The Hainish, a race and our cousins from a far-distant Galaxy, were the progenitors not only of ourselves on Earth, but of other races throughout the Universe.

Her father was an anthropologist and ethnologist, and it is this influence which makes her writing so credible and compelling. This novel is about what we do how we are an aggressive race which murders and destroys: living beings and environments.This is what puts Le Guin’s writing at the forefront of science fiction writing, in the company of Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. I plan to read this book again with my children once they are older as I think there are some poignant themes and lessons to learn here. If anyone is looking for reading material about colonialism, despite being sci-fi, this would be a good recommendation. There is a lot to think about and apply from this book. The audiobook version I listened to had annoying music at the beginning and end which added nothing to the performance. I would happily read a book just detailing their species and culture. The short length meant that some of the interesting aspects of Athshean culture were not explored more fully.

Of the three characters whose points of view the reader is shown, Selver the Athshean was flat and not built up to the height told in the narrative, Lyubov was insightful but his sections were brief and Davidson was an epitome of a hateable nemesis. What could have been better?: - The characters felt a little shallow. There is not a redeeming feature for this character and his role in the narrative needed him to be just so. He is egotistical, racist, sexist, manipulative, narcissistic. Davidson was the most hateable character I've read in a long time.

I would have loved to explore it further. The Athsheans culture was unique and different to any I've read before. For much of this book you could switch out the Athsheans and Terrains with indigenous people and European invaders. I really felt for the Athsheans and their plight and I absolutely hated Davidson! The good: - Intense and reflective plot which encourages parallels with our own history and the atrocities committed. Le Guin crafts the narrative with amazing skill. 4/5 This short but profound story gives raw and visceral insight into the harms of colonialism and the effects on both native and coloniser.

The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin