Customer Reviews

The Wind's Twelve Quarters

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This collection of short stories showcases Ursula Le Guin's absolute mastery of her craft. Of course, in any collection of stories, one will have favorites. The nice thing about this collection is the lesser stories are generally so, not because they are poor, but because they seem a bit incomplete; one wants more, to read more, to explore more, to roll the ideas and the settings around in one's mind.

My favorite story is the first. 'Semley's Necklace' is a touching tale of a sweet young woman, a bit naive, whose misunderstanding alters lives permanently.

Another favorite, though one very unsettling- 'The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas'. Omelas is a wonderful town, where everyone is happy, content, the weather is pleasant. But there is a price to all good things. A terrible price, and one that not all are willing to pay.

OK, a third good one: 'The Rule of Names' is set in Earthsea, a trilogy (later expanded) where wizards exist, and go to school to hone their craft (sound like Harry Potter? Only 20 years earlier!)

Highly recommended. Enjoy!

An excellent book

This is one of my most often-read and beloved books, the book I am most likely to pick up when I look at my bookshelf for something to read.
The Wind's Twelve Quarters is a retrospective, a collection of short stories that represents the author's career to date. The stories range from "April in Paris" (her first published story) to her `modern' works from the 1970's. They are a mix of fantasy and science fiction, many reflecting Le Guin's affinity for blending the two genres until they are indistinguishable.
Some of the stories visit worlds that LeGuin later developed into novels. "The Word of Unbinding" and "The Rule of Names" are set in Earthsea. "Sempley's Necklace" was later extended into the novel "Roccanon's World." "Winters King" takes place on the planet Winter, the setting of "The Left Hand of Darkness." Many other stories are set in original worlds.
Le Guin's writing style changes gradually over the years, giving the stories a sort of flow. The earlier tales are more plot-centered and simpler, while the later ones are more introspective and, frankly, more confusing.
It is because of the "confusing" part that I hesitate to recommend this book wholeheartedly. I, myself, love and cherish these stories. I have read each several times. There were a few which didn't make sense at first, but even those became clear after several rereads. This is the reason why this book has such a 're-readable value' for me. Each story leaves me with a somewhat different impression each time I read it, a slightly different understanding..
But that isn't for everyone.
Recently, I lent out this book to a friend who is an avid fantasy reader. She returned it a few weeks later saying: "I tried a few of the stories, but I couldn't get into it. I didn't get them."
If you are familiar with Ursula K. Le Guin's writing, then The Wind's Twelve Quarters is a must-have addition to your bookcase. If, however, you are new to her works, then I suggest reading some of her novels first.

I bought this book for the first story "Semley's Necklace" however; all of them will surpass your expectations. Ursula has a unique way with words that rival her tales.
The Winds Twelve Quarters Ursula K. Le Guin (Harper & Row, 1975, hc)
Foreword
Semley's Necklace ["The Dowry of Angyar"] - ss Amazing Sep '64
April in Paris - ss Fantastic Sep '62
The Masters - ss Fantastic Feb '63
Darkness Box - ss Fantastic Nov '63
The Word of Unbinding - ss Fantastic Jan '64
The Rule of Names - ss Fantastic Apr '64
Winter's King - nv Orbit 5, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1969
The Good Trip - ss Fantastic Aug '70
Nine Lives - nv Playboy Nov '69
Things ["The End"] - ss Orbit 6, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1970
A Trip to the Head - ss Quark #1, ed. Samuel R. Delany & Marilyn Hacker, Paperback Library, 1970
Vaster Than Empires and More Slow - nv New Dimensions I, ed. Robert Silverberg, Doubleday, 1971
The Stars Below - ss Orbit 14, ed. Damon Knight, Harper & Row, 1974
The Field of Vision - ss Galaxy Oct '73
Direction of the Road - ss Orbit 12, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1973
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - ss New Dimensions 3, ed. Robert Silverberg, Nelson Doubleday, 1973
The Day Before the Revolution - ss Galaxy Aug '74
A little about Ursula:
Legal Name: Le Guin, Ursula Kroeber
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, USA
Birthdate: 21 October 1929

Received Nebula Awards for the novels "The Left Hand of Darkness," "The Dispossessed," and "Tehanu"; for the novella "Solitude"; and for the short story "The Day Before the Revolution."

The Lathe Of Heaven: A Novel

I bought this book for the first story "Semley's Necklace" however; all of them will surpass your expectations. Ursula has a unique way with words that rival her tales.
The Winds Twelve Quarters Ursula K. Le Guin (Harper & Row, 1975, hc)
Foreword
Semley's Necklace ["The Dowry of Angyar"] - ss Amazing Sep '64
April in Paris - ss Fantastic Sep '62
The Masters - ss Fantastic Feb '63
Darkness Box - ss Fantastic Nov '63
The Word of Unbinding - ss Fantastic Jan '64
The Rule of Names - ss Fantastic Apr '64
Winter's King - nv Orbit 5, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1969
The Good Trip - ss Fantastic Aug '70
Nine Lives - nv Playboy Nov '69
Things ["The End"] - ss Orbit 6, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1970
A Trip to the Head - ss Quark #1, ed. Samuel R. Delany & Marilyn Hacker, Paperback Library, 1970
Vaster Than Empires and More Slow - nv New Dimensions I, ed. Robert Silverberg, Doubleday, 1971
The Stars Below - ss Orbit 14, ed. Damon Knight, Harper & Row, 1974
The Field of Vision - ss Galaxy Oct '73
Direction of the Road - ss Orbit 12, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1973
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - ss New Dimensions 3, ed. Robert Silverberg, Nelson Doubleday, 1973
The Day Before the Revolution - ss Galaxy Aug '74
A little about Ursula:
Legal Name: Le Guin, Ursula Kroeber
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, USA
Birthdate: 21 October 1929

Received Nebula Awards for the novels "The Left Hand of Darkness," "The Dispossessed," and "Tehanu"; for the novella "Solitude"; and for the short story "The Day Before the Revolution."

I bought this book for the first story "Semley's Necklace" however; all of them will surpass your expectations. Ursula has a unique way with words that rival her tales.
The Winds Twelve Quarters Ursula K. Le Guin (Harper & Row, 1975, hc)
Foreword
Semley's Necklace ["The Dowry of Angyar"] - ss Amazing Sep '64
April in Paris - ss Fantastic Sep '62
The Masters - ss Fantastic Feb '63
Darkness Box - ss Fantastic Nov '63
The Word of Unbinding - ss Fantastic Jan '64
The Rule of Names - ss Fantastic Apr '64
Winter's King - nv Orbit 5, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1969
The Good Trip - ss Fantastic Aug '70
Nine Lives - nv Playboy Nov '69
Things ["The End"] - ss Orbit 6, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1970
A Trip to the Head - ss Quark #1, ed. Samuel R. Delany & Marilyn Hacker, Paperback Library, 1970
Vaster Than Empires and More Slow - nv New Dimensions I, ed. Robert Silverberg, Doubleday, 1971
The Stars Below - ss Orbit 14, ed. Damon Knight, Harper & Row, 1974
The Field of Vision - ss Galaxy Oct '73
Direction of the Road - ss Orbit 12, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam's, 1973
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - ss New Dimensions 3, ed. Robert Silverberg, Nelson Doubleday, 1973
The Day Before the Revolution - ss Galaxy Aug '74
A little about Ursula:
Legal Name: Le Guin, Ursula Kroeber
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, USA
Birthdate: 21 October 1929

Received Nebula Awards for the novels "The Left Hand of Darkness," "The Dispossessed," and "Tehanu"; for the novella "Solitude"; and for the short story "The Day Before the Revolution."

The Lathe Of Heaven: A Novel

An excellent collection of short stories from this master (mistress?) of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature.

Ursula is a cut above the rest in terms of intellectual involvement, poses moral and spiritual questions, always tells a ripping good yarn.

Fans of The Dispossessed will be entranced by the story of Odo - founder of the Odonian movement which led to settling of the moon Anarres by the anarchists.