I didn't love the Orsinian stories, but I can't tell you why.
Simon: You are my beautiful sister. River: I threw up on your bed. Simon: Yep. Definitely my sister.
'War Stories'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Betsy HP - Jun 02, 2004 7:43:55 am PDT #3000 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Katerina Bee - Jun 02, 2004 8:00:43 am PDT #3001 of 10002
Herding cats for fun
I have a big love for "Deerskin." I can hardly bear to read that bad section, but I always do. I sort of feel responsible to be with Lissar and witness her story throughout. This may be partly because of the cover art - the woman's face would be a dead ringer for my friend Alice (who passed away recently), were her hair and eyes black instead of white.
Micole - Jun 03, 2004 7:03:22 am PDT #3002 of 10002
I've been working on a song about the difference between analogy and metaphor.
Nutty, I'm atypical in that I much prefer Le Guin's later short fiction to her earlier, and I also hate "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas." But I would recommend "Solitude," or one of the novellas in Four Ways to Forgiveness, for your purposes. Or maybe "The Matter of Seggri."
A lot of her recent work has been novella length, though, which maybe too long for your purposes?
Nutty - Jun 03, 2004 7:09:51 am PDT #3003 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
Right. Although the short story cycle and the novella are big issues in this editor's world -- he was like "So many people have never heard of the short story cycle!!" and I said, not a problem with my people! -- we just don't have the space. Or rather, we could have the space, except Melville's got a novella, and between Melville and Le Guin, in an American fiction anthology, I know who wins.
The Seggri story and Solitude are indeed two I pointed out to him, and the others Amy recommended.
Typo Boy - Jun 03, 2004 7:16:19 am PDT #3004 of 10002
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
Hmm - curious as to what you disliked about "Omelas".
Dani - Jun 03, 2004 7:26:15 am PDT #3005 of 10002
I believe vampires are the world's greatest golfers
Not Micole, but my take on "Omelas" is that it's too shallow and obvious.
It raises some fascinating ethical questions, and I think that's why it's often taught in high school; it makes a great base for fascinating discussion/argument. But it's not really a *story* - it's an anvil, or a philosophy teaching anecdote.
And just so you know where I'm coming from - I am a huge LeGuin fangirl. I even love Always Coming Home (which many people hate) past all reason.
Consuela - Jun 03, 2004 7:28:17 am PDT #3006 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
I really liked "Omelas", but I have to agree with Dani that it's not really a story, as such. A fable, okay. But not a story.
Hmm. Nutty, what about "The Day Before the Revolution"? I forget what anthology it's in... Or is it too much tied to The Dispossessed to be accessible?
Katie M - Jun 03, 2004 7:31:04 am PDT #3007 of 10002
I was charmed (albeit somewhat perplexed) by the fannish sensibility of many of the music choices -- it's like the director was trying to vid Canada. --loligo on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies
I even love Always Coming Home (which many people hate)
I like Always Coming Home too, Dani. t /solidarity
Dani - Jun 03, 2004 7:33:46 am PDT #3008 of 10002
I believe vampires are the world's greatest golfers
t big grin at Katie
"Fable"! Thank you, Consuela, that's the word I wanted and was blanking on. Durr.
Nutty - Jun 03, 2004 7:33:53 am PDT #3009 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
I tend to find Omelas similar -- it doesn't have a lot of subtlety. For an ethics discussion, good, but for a literature discussion, less so.
I've been coming across this question, "Why is this story good, and does being good mean a right fit?" a lot recently. Partly because, I read a lot of historical stuff that is interesting for historical reasons, but even I can admit that being historical is not always a good reason for modern people to read a thing. You know, sociology != literary analysis, or not in all cases.