Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

This book is a must for anyone interested in the mechanics of Speculative Fiction. Ms. LeGuin's essays are insightful, critical and intelligent (as well as witty...but that's a given :). Excellent for anyone who believes that Speculative Fiction is more than just sorcery and robots; a good source for theses.

There's some substantial literary criticism here, and some scathing social commentary. I've taught the essay "Why Are Americans Afraid of Dragons" to undergraduates, and been surprised by its relevance and power, even after twenty years.

And amid the critical prose there are single gems of life-changing, poignant brilliance.

Worth searching out and seeking for.

I was unaware this book was out of print. A new, revised edition was released in 1989, which included extensive footnotes by Le Guin, including an interesting redux of her essay, "Is Gender Necessary?" regarding the feminist content of her most famous novel, "The Left Hand of Darkness."

In whatever version, "The Language of the Night" is, quite simply, essential reading for any devotee of science fiction and fantasy literature. Among the standout pieces are "The Child and the Shadow" and "Myth and Archetype in Science Fiction," both of which use Jungian psychological ideas to get at the root of fantasy's imaginative power. Also compelling are "Science Fiction and Mrs. Brown," in which (by way of Virginia Woolf's essay "Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown") Le Guin examines whether science fiction literature can really do justice to human character, and the hilarious "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie," a delightful critique of tone-deaf fantasy authors.

All in all, an excellent read.

I first read this book when it came out in the late '70s--and a number of times since then. My copy is underlined and annotated to a great extent. I ordered this edition from Amazon because I wanted to share what Le Guin had to say with my son, who also has an interest in Science Fiction and writing. The copy I received from Amazon to send to him was in perfect condition. I couldn't tell if had ever been opened, let alone read. As for the contents: Anyone with an interest in Science Fiction, Fantasy, writing, and gender identity should not miss reading Le Guin. The essays, transcriptions of speeches and talks, and introductions to her works collected in this volume are both enlightening and inspiring for any reader in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, indeed in any literary field.Chronicles of the Black Company

I love all of le Guin's work, and this collection of essays is particularly illuminating. In them you find a staunch defence of the imagination and its products, a fascinating exploration of how fiction can provide access to the subconscious world and many other insights, all told with wit and wisdom. Splendid. Why is it out of print!