The Wild Girls (Outspoken Authors)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Paperback, 2011

Status

Available

Genres

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

PM Press (2011), Edition: First Edition, 128 pages

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. Newly revised and presented here in book form for the first time, this Nebula Award-winning story tells of two captive "dirt children" in a society of sword and silk, whose determination to find a glimpse of justice leads to a violent and loving end. Also included is the nonfiction essay "Staying Awake While We Read" which demolishes the pretensions of corporate publishing and the basic assumptions of capitalism, and "Outspoken Author Interview," which reveals the hidden dimensions of America's best-known sci-fi author.

User reviews

LibraryThing member MarcusH

This is a neat little book that contains Le Guin's short story The Wild Girls, two essays and an interview. The short story is very much like other Le Guin short stories (at least that I've read). Wild Girls deals with a civilization that is based on a hierarchy. There are those who have, those who

have not, and those forced to live within that society's constraints. The female characters are strong, the male characters are selfish. By the end of the it, you may want to ponder the moral landscape a bit.

The book contains an essay entitled Staying Awake While Reading that is honestly one of the better criticisms of the current publishing landscape that I have read. If you don't want to pick up this book, at least go find this essay. It inspires one to think about what they read and why.

Show Less

5 more

LibraryThing member reading_fox

A short story, a few poems and a couple of essay/ interviews with le Guin on the occasion of her 80th birthday.

The story is average, the poems thought provoking, and the essay controversial although nothing particularly special. Primarily of interest for the poems although there are only a couple.

Worth seeking out some of her other poetry.

Show Less

LibraryThing member JackieCraven

A novella followed by several essays. As always, I enjoyed LeGuin's vision of another world... which somehow seems uncomfortably familiar.

LibraryThing member Jim53

An interesting combination of a novella, an article, a few poems, and an interview. The novella is well thought out, effectively described, and a bit disturbing. She uses the need to educate a captured slave to tell us about the rigid social structure. Is the story about the necessary failure of

such rigidity? The need to adapt to changing circumstances? The power of our beliefs to affect our lives? Hard to say, but it's definitely thought-provoking. The essay and poems are unexceptional. The interview is fun but contains no radically new ideas.

Show Less

LibraryThing member AltheaAnn

Short, but excellent book.
Includes one (lovely, thoughtful and spooky) short story, an essay on reading and the publishing industry, which I only partly agree with (but the parts I disagree with give me things to consider), a small selection of poems, an essay on the concept of modesty, and an

interview with the author.
The list price is high for the page count ($12/102), but it's more than worth reading.
8/11/14 - on sale at amazon for .99 !!! today only!

Show Less

LibraryThing member jennybeast

A strange book, repackaged, reimagined with a hilarious interview at the end an essay about modesty -- honestly, each of the parts was great and was vintage LeGuin, but the sum is confusing -- felt like a grab bag that didn't hold together.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

Fewer