Powers

I read this book in one sitting and finished it at 3:34AM. It is an extraordinary book, one of LeGuin's best, IMO, and I've read many (if not all) of her books. Her strengths of vision, language, compassion, and thought-provoking storytelling shine in this book. The different societies LeGuin portrays are fascinating, and I was glad to see her return to the anthropological emphasis of some of her earlier books. I was also aware of LeGuin's maturity as a writer compared to some of her earlier works: the characters are sharply drawn and compelling, the main character grows plausibly with his experiences, and the story moves well to an exciting conclusion. I loved most of the characters that LeGuin has brought to life, and I was troubled by the others. In particular I liked the portrait of a family and society based on the injustice of slavery. After reading this book, I didn't hate these people (I didn't admire them either), but I felt I understood better how they saw and lived in their world. Now that's something to get out of a book. My only qualm is: is this really a book for children or most teenagers? It is so far removed from most other children's and YA literature. It is not a simple book, and it is not entertaining like movies or television. I can't imagine a typical child being interested in this book. But a teenager who loves to read, who shows curiosity about the world, and who likes a challenge might enjoy this book.

Le Guin is the Grand Dame of American literature and this is evident in her latest book "Powers". Her moral compass never fails, and she is a trusted guide into the quite horrific events that happen to Gavir, the main character, and the people around him. On the surface what this book is about is Gavir's escape from slavery and maturation into freedom - a difficult process for anyone. However beneath the surface, the book is about books, about memory and visions. Gavir is in crucial passages of the novel a kind of book. Gavir has the power of a near perfect memory of what he has read, the flip side of his "gift" is to "remember things that has not happened yet". Gavir tells the stories and poems he remembers and leaves it up to his audiences to digest what they've heard. But if Gavir is the perfect repository of traditional learning the flip side of his gift seems to suggest that tradition always already points towards the new. So too is Gavir on his way to meet the new in the guise of Orrec Caspro, who in a particular sense keeps being a main character (even if at times completely absent) throughout the now three novels of the "Annals of the Western Shore". Perhaps Caspro - whose "gift" is being an author - is a meta-character the implications of which are gently suggested at the end of the novel to the effect that there is more to tell about the Western Shore and the various people who come into contact with Caspro. This reader is waiting with great expectation for the next installment of this wonderful and wonderfully complex series.

Powers is the third book in the recent young-adult fantasy series by Ursula K. Le Guin. Like its predecessors (Gifts (Annals of the Western Shore) and Voices (Annals of the Western Shore)) it features the story of a young person coming to discover that they have a magical talent and the way that discovery changes them and the world around them. What I loved about this book was that it showed Le Guin's mastery of her craft. As a "young adult" novel, its surface story is a quick read and is composed with a spareness that makes it seem simple. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each sentence is constructed for purpose and reading this novel is like eating a gourmet meal. The portions are not huge, but each element is in perfect balance and selected to complement the others. The result is a book with intricate layers of meaning and theme. She touches on, as you might imagine, power but also explores themes of loyalty, slavery, education, politics and more. Each time I go back to a Le Guin novel, I find something new and this book will be no different. This book entertains you but also gives you something to think about and discuss with friends. With the third book in this series, it seems that the setting is beginning to speak to Le Guin more. This book is longer than the others and also covers more ground, both thematically and geographically. More of the Western Shore setting is being revealed to us and becoming an interesting character in the series as well.

I kept glancing back at the cover when I started reading Ursula K. Le Guin's POWERS. It sounded so different from the EARTHSEA series that it didn't even seem like the same author. It was much longer and more personal than anything I had ever read from her before. But, as I read on, a lot of what I loved from older books, like the descriptions and the colorful characters, gradually surfaced here. Set in a world much like Ancient Rome or Greece, this five-hundred page epic follows Gavir, a bright young boy who was stolen as a baby and sold into slavery. Unlike most slaves, Gav is comfortable and happy. He lives with a wealthy family along with his older sister, Sallo. Despite hearing rebellious talk from other slaves and seeing hints of cruelty from freemen, Gav is fiercely loyal to his house and city. His impeccable memory makes him the perfect candidate to be a future teacher for his house. He also has another remarkable ability, the power to see snippets of the future and the past. Unfortunately, his gift does not warn him of the tragedy that is to come. His trust in his masters is betrayed and, mad with grief, he flees home. As always, Ursula K. Le Guin tackles hard subjects such as slavery, culture clashes, and the definition of freedom in this coming-of-age novel. Though it starts slowly initially, once it picks up POWERS will have readers engrossed. Magic takes a backseat in this fantasy. Here the adversaries are not magical, rarely evil, and purely human. One of the strongest points in this novel is that all characters big and small are well thought through and carefully drawn. The kind and brave aristocratic son Yaven, the hermit Cuga, and the charismatic rebel slave Barna are just a few. Ursula K. Le Guin has delivered yet another thought-provoking and engaging novel. While not packed with duels and dragons, the latest edition to the ANNALS OF THE WESTERN SHORE series (following Gifts (Annals of the Western Shore) and Voices (Annals of the Western Shore)) has its own share of adventure and heartache. Reviewed by: Natalie Tsang

I read Le Guin's young adult classic, "The Wizard of Earthsea" long ago as a teen. A generation later, she is still writing young adult fiction that refuses to condescend. Like Tolkien, she is able to create a world that is unique, yet mirrors our own. I hope that a new generation will discover her ability to take them on a journey of self discovery and growth. At age 51, I had to keep reading this book until I finished at 1:00 a.m. The slavery/freedom theme of this third book is timeless and compelling. Best to read the entire trilogy in order: "Annals of the Western Shore". Start with "Gifts". This is demanding stuff- not for 10 year olds, and not for lazy readers.