Maeve Murray Book Review 4 The Word for World is Forest by Ursula Le Guin October 31, 2012 Many

y science fiction and fantasy novels are lengthy, often topping out at five hundred pages or so, and sometimes even followed by sequels. Yet The Word for World is Forest is neither. It doesnt break two hundred pages and does not have any forthcomings. An avid reader of epic fantasy may find this odd and a little off-putting, and perhaps with good cause. The book does not have the same qualities of high fantasy, but it doesnt need them. Le Guin didnt write a story about characters, place, or even plot. She wrote a story about a concept humanity. The novel does have qualities of fantasy that I appreciate; the descriptive language is both detailed and poetic. The world within the story came to life almost effortlessly. There wasnt much that needed to be connected or thought about; it all just flowed together and made sense. I would say that there is one exception. Dreaming. The idea of a different kind of dreaming is mentioned and talked about throughout the novel, but only ever in brief moments and often very vaguely. Im still not sure what dreaming was to the Athsheans. It seems to allow them to communicate with the world in a more open and fluid way, but as to how it works or what it actually is remains a mystery by the last page. I also noticed a distinct lack of character development, but this is due to the fact that Le Guins characters dont function as characters, but vessels. They represent something other than themselves. Selver is an Athshean and a man, but more than that, he is the broken spirit of humanity pushed over the edge past the point of no return. Once he decided to act on revenge and perpetuate violence, he lost the humanity he fought to defend. Even though his actions eventually lead to peace for his people, the death and destruction that litter his path become the chains of doubt, guilt, and remorse. Do the ends really justify the means? Was there another way? Lyubov is the hope that Selver kills. He is the peace and reason that both

sides reject, the humanity we would all like to think we possess, but is it true? Le Guin asks us, is it true? The story closes with Lyubov, Davidson, and Selver on Athshe, and it is important to note the symbolism of their states. Lyubov is dead, but remembered. Davidson is alive, but isolated. Selver remains among his people, but as a ghost of a man, a shell of what he once was. And this is what humanity has left! This is what they have to look up to a memory of hope, a distant yet close violent heart, and the regret of one who was among the best of them and what they do with it is up to them. The last lines of the novel, Maybe after I die people will be as they were before I was born, and before you came. But I do not think they will (189). But I do not think they will. This is the author speaking to us. Once we give ourselves over to violence, we do not come back from it. Le Guin wrote about an idea, but I dont get the feeling it was as innocent as that. I believe she was making a statement.