I didn't realise when I picked it up that this is the sixth book in a series. Fortunately it can be read alone with no discernible difficulties. I love it. I don't usually read sci-fi, but having enjoyed Left Hand of Darkness I felt I owed it to myself to try more of Le Guin's books.

This one centres around two planets, or rather a planet and a peopled satellite (or moon). Many moons ago (see what I did there), the people of Anarres found it difficult to kill the revolutionary spirit of the Odonians. Instead they sent them to the moon which became an anarchist colony. Some of the residents of the moon, Urras, feel the spirit of individualism has been sacrificed to the needs of the masses. A brilliant physicist, Shevek, is one of them and travels with his theory of The Principle of Simultaneity to a fascist state on Anarres. He clearly sees the differences even though the State try to hide them from him and him from the general populous. The story unfolds along two timelines and on the two planets and shows the problems and benefits of both, something a less talented writer might struggle to describe, but Le Guin handles it all beautifully and the story is immensely satisfying.

I´m not exactly sure what to make of this book. Le Guin is an amazing author, her world-building is fantastic, her writing is simply stunning and she definitely deserves the praise of being one of the great science fiction authors of all time.

But here´s the thing that irks me about her books: Le Guin has an idea and she explores this idea in an almost relentless manner over the course of a novel. And in the case of this book, being bombarded with philosophical musings and talk about societies and their cultural differences became quite exhausting at some point. As fascinating as all of this was, this book didn´t bring me joy while reading it.

So yes, I feel a bit conflicted about this book.

Phew, everyone in this book is miserable. These characters surely need some chocolate in their lives.

I finally made up my mind what book to read and I definitely made the right choice. Le Guin´s writing is stunning and the way she tells her stories and the ideas she discusses in her books are magnificient. I´m really loving this so far.

(Book published in May 1974)

This one strained my brain quite a bit. It's a very involved book where social, political, economical structures, customs, morals, ethics, sex and peer pressure are concerned. Yeah, it runs the gamut, and befits a character that is what we'd call an activist.

I liked how the story is built, with the the past sections filling the motivations and giving context by contrast, and the overarching and interconnecting themes of time and journeys. And walls. Following a path, going forward with an idea, beginnings and ends, coming back home, cycles. Ever-happening change.

That end was so quiet, yet lovely.