Selected for Harlan Ellison’s famous New Wave anthology Again, Dangerous Visions (1972), Le Guin’s novella tells the harrowing tale of the native inhabitants of planet Athshe (“New Tahiti”), derisively called “creechie” by their human occupiers. Highly recommended for any fan of 70s SF–especially of the anti-war bent. Le Guin brilliantly channels this general anti-war anger, transposed to an alien local with colonizing humans as villains, in The Word for World is Forest (1972). While written (most likely) before news of the massacre appeared in the press, Ursula K. and babies,” the chilling lines from NBC’s interview with massacre participant Paul Meadlo–was transformed into the “most successful poster” opposing the Vietnam War by the Art Workers Coalition. Haeberle’s iconic (and horrifying) photograph of massacred children and adults–superimposed with, “Q. In November 1969, word of the My Lai Massacre (March 16, 1968), where American soldiers killed (and raped and mutilated) between 347-504 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians, reached American newspapers. Nominated for the 1973 Nebula for Best Novella. of chases or violence 15% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 25% Descript.(Richard Powers’ cover for the 1976 edition) LeGuin presents a parable of colonial imperialism, with muted echoes of Vietnam and My Lai, and a tribute to the great forests of her beloved Pacific Northwest, in this proto-feminist eco-novella that includes plenty of action.Ĭlick on a plot link to find similar books! Plot & Themes Composition of Book Descript.
A rebellion by the Athsheans, who possess the ability to dream while awake and sing in contest and triumph, and whose towns are run by the women, leads the two species to the brink of all-out war. Macho Captain Don Davidson runs roughshod over the slave labor employed to build settlements and help with harvesting the dense forests that cover the small amounts of land surrounded by oceans on the planet, which the small green furry creatures native to the planet know as Athshea. Small military and logging colonies have been established by humans on what they call "New Tahiti" in order to send wood back to Earth, 27 light-years distant.
By the time LeGuin wrote this novella, first published in _Again, Dangerous Visions_ in 1972 and awarded the Hugo the following year, she was firmly in control of her themes.
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