The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction [Hardcover]

Ursula K. Le Guin (Author), Susan Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

A Nebula and Hugo Award-winning writer of science fiction presents a collection of essays that explores the various issues, concepts, challenges, and paradoxes that confront the science fiction writer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For Le Guin, writing science fiction or fantasy is an intuitive, self-exploratory act, an inner-space voyage in which she unearths dreams and archetypes that connect her with the outer world. In these conversational, feisty essays, an energizing mind trip for SF fans, she dissects her own fiction, discusses technique and explores the potential of SF and fantasy, which she considers different branches of the same form of writing. Most SF has been regressive and unimaginative, she argues, by portraying authoritarian dystopias instead of democratic socialist societies. She also berates the genre for its marginalization of women, both as fictional characters and as writers. This is essentially a reissue of a 1979 compilation that went out of print in 1982.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Originally published in 1979 ( LJ 5/1/79), revised in 1989 for British publication, and finally republished here in the revised edition, this work by one of fantasy and sf's greats is a welcome treat for anyone who loves words and stories. Le Guin ( Searoad: The Chronicles of Klatsand , HarperCollins, 1991) is as expert in creating mellifluous and enchanting essays as she is in creating the luscious and complex worlds of her fiction. Stylistically, she manages a balance between quasi-academic seriousness and conversational humor (a balance that original editor Susan Wood does not attain in her introductions). Despite being three to 13 years out of date, depending on the extent of revision, her comments on the state of the genre, the process of writing, and the influence of gender on literature are as fresh as ever. The book is dated only in its ratio of female to male writers of fantasy and sf, which is now closer than it was when Le Guin first wrote. Highly recommended for all literature and women's studies collections.
- Keith R.A. DeCan dido, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; Revised edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060168358
• ISBN-13: 978-0060168353
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,274,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will entertain - and make you think, May 20, 2000

By 

Sarah E. Morin - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction (Hardcover)

I'll level with you - I actually prefer what LeGuin has to say ABOUT sci-fi and fantasy over her actual books - and there's several of her books I really enjoyed. Any serious reader or writer of these genres should read this collection of her essays. Not only will you find specific notes on her books, but precepts that form the very fabric of what we call sci-fi and fantasy today. LeGuin broke the barrier in several ways - this book will demonstrate how. I especially enjoyed "Why are Americans Afraid of Dragons?" The chapter on Mrs. Brown is highly valuable to consider when studying or writing character. Can you remember the names of the main characters a month after you finish a book? - A year? - Ten years? LeGuin tries to answer what makes character memorable - the reasons may perhaps surprise you. And fans of Tolkien will enjoy LeGuin's insight on the character of Frodo. LeGuin is intelligent but casual, often hilarious and always thought-provoking. An excellent collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best comments on fantasy since Tolkien's, August 9, 2000

By 

Pauline J. Alama "Fantasy author" (Rutherford, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction (Hardcover)

Ursula Leguin's The Language of the Night is a must-read for anyone interested in writing fantasy. Her insights in "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie" on the importance of style in bringing a fantasy world to life provide a rare and perceptive analysis of what makes Tolkien and other greats stand out above the latest have-sword-will-travel.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not what I expected, July 28, 2002

By 

"coraythan" (Dexter, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction (Paperback)

I've read about five books by Ursula K. Le Guin, and thought they were outstanding. Although perhaps not the most exciting books I've ever read, they were still . . . encaptivating. Anyway, I got this book expecting it to be essays by Le Guin on the methods, styles, and quirks of writing fantasy (and Sci Fi.) That's not what it is. This book is a collection of speeches made by Le Guin to Sci Fi conventions and other similar groups. Although a great book to explore the many literary ramifications of the "fantastic" fiction groups, this isn't a book for the aspiring writer, it's for the dedicated reader. So if you fall into that category, I recommend it.