4.01
Ursula K. Le Guin's "Always Coming Home" is a unique and captivating work of speculative fiction that explores the culture, history, and daily life of the Kesh, a fictional Native American tribe living in a post-apocalyptic future. The novel is structured as an anthropological study, featuring stories, poems, essays, recipes, and even music from the Kesh perspective. Le Guin's vivid world-building and immersive prose transport readers to the Napa Valley of the future, where the Kesh have created a sustainable and harmonious society based on cooperation, respect for the earth, and a deep connection to their ancestors. The novel explores themes of identity, community, and the power of storytelling, as the Kesh share their history and traditions through oral narratives and communal rituals. One of the most striking aspects of "Always Coming Home" is Le Guin's use of language. She creates a unique dialect for the Kesh, which is both familiar and foreign, lending an air of authenticity to the narrative. The use of multiple forms of storytelling, from prose to poetry to song, also adds depth and richness to the world of the Kesh. While the novel is often described as a work of science fiction, it transcends genre boundaries and offers a thoughtful meditation on the human condition. Le Guin's portrayal of the Kesh serves as a critique of contemporary society, inviting readers to consider the value of community, sustainability, and a deep connection to the natural world. Overall, "Always Coming Home" is a rich and rewarding read that offers a unique perspective on the power of storytelling and the importance of community. Le Guin's lyrical prose and imaginative world-building make this a standout work of speculative fiction that will resonate with readers long after they have turned the final page...
Octavia Butler
Kindred
A powerful novel about a modern black woman who is transported back in time to the antebellum South. This book is a great choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of race, identity, and history.
Learn MoreUrsula K. Le Guin
The Dispossessed
A powerful novel about a man from a poor, anarchist society who goes to a wealthy, capitalist world. This book is a great choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because it explores similar themes of culture, society, and identity.
Learn MoreUrsula K. Le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness
A groundbreaking novel about a human emissary to a planet of ambisexual beings. This book is a must-read for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its thoughtful exploration of gender, culture, and humanity.
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Dawn
The first book in the Xenogenesis trilogy, in which humanity is rescued from a dying Earth by an alien race. This book is a good choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of race, gender, and what it means to be human.
Learn MoreMary Doria Russell
The Sparrow
A novel about a group of Jesuit priests who travel to another planet and encounter an alien race. This book is a good choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of faith, culture, and communication.
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Children of God
The sequel to 'The Sparrow', in which the remaining members of the first mission return to the planet of the alien Runa. This book is a great choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of faith, culture, and the consequences of first contact.
Learn MoreUrsula K. Le Guin
The Word for World is Forest
A novel about a planet where the indigenous inhabitants are enslaved by human colonizers. This book is a great choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of colonialism, environmentalism, and the consequences of exploitation.
Learn MoreAnn Leckie
Ancillary Justice
A novel about a starship's AI who seeks revenge after being reduced to a single human body. This book is a good choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of identity, power, and the consequences of technology.
Learn MoreMary Robinette Kowal
The Calculating Stars
A novel about a mathematician and pilot who fights for equality in the early days of the space race. This book is a great choice for fans of 'Always Coming Home' because of its exploration of gender, power, and the consequences of technological progress.
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