THE MASTERS BY URSULA K. LE GUIN (SHORT STORY REVIEW)
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! How are you doing? I've actually just returned from an unplanned vacation...and guess what? I'm back with another Le Guin reading recommendation. In my past post, I reviewed Tenahu, the fourth book in the Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin. Today I'll recommend and review a STEM themed short story from Ursula K. Le Guin! If you haven't noticed, I'm something of a fan.
The short story in question is titled The Masters. It's one of Ursula's early works. If I'm not mistaken, it's her first or second published work. Some sources list is as first publish work, some as the second one. Published in 1963, this short story is set in a dystopian future. It opens with a young protagonist undergoing an initiation of some kind. Soon, we as readers learn more about this initiation as well as the dystopian society he lives in. It's a preindustrial sort of world where the Sun is only occasionally seen. It's possible that what Ursula describes is a future on planet Earth. It's a bleak future, where people are prosecuted for expressing interest in Science and Math.
Professor Alex Kasman put it on his list of mathematical works of fiction. According to his `secret formula', the following works of fiction are similar to this story (I'm sharing these links in case there are some mathematicians amongst you): The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov, Young Beaker by J.T. Lamberty, Jr., Special Meal by Josh Malerman, Progress by Alex Kasman, The Story of Yung Chang by Ernest Bramah (Ernest Bramah Smith), The Second Moon by Russell R. Winterbotha, 3-adica by Greg Egan, Axiom of Dreams by Arula Ratnakar, The Crazy Mathematician by Ralph Sylvester Underwoo and The Seventh Stair by Frank Brandon.
If it was up to me, I'd definitely add Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein to this list. While that novel doesn't deal with Mathematics specifically, it does stress that everything worth learning is based on Math, so it definitely puts forward the message with importance of Math.
“A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.”
YOU CAN READ THE MASTERS BY URSULA K. LE GUIN FOR FREE HERE
IN DARKNESS A MAN STOOD ALONE.....
The novel opens with a young man named Ganil undergoing an initiation of a sorts.
The initiation has a cult kind of feeling. 'Did I do it alright? ' Ganil asks the other men, and one responds that he had done alright but kept the torch burning for too long. In fact, Ganil gets burned by the torch. This could be an allusion to Icarus and going too close to the sun. Light in this story is a metaphor for knowledge, it seems. The torch symbolizes knowledge and Ganil gets burned because he wants to be closer to that knowledge. There's also a bit of brilliant foreshadowing here, that will become more apparent once you read the story.
When the ceremony finishes, Ganil's left feeling humbled. An older man described as 'the bald fellow', implies that the ceremony was humiliating and our young man agrees. The bald man assumes a sort of a mentor role as the two strike a conversation. The bald man advises Ganil to see someone about the burn, and they continue their talk over beer. Through their conversation we learn more about the dystopian world they live. I think there's a strong implication that it is Earth in future, but the information isn't exactly specified. We can conclude it from the society that seems human in all ways.
In this society, the Sun is seen only occasionally. Why is this? We can assume it is because of pollution or a similar catastrophe. Many authors of science fiction have made this prediction of the Sun dying out and speculating how it will affect our life.
In Ursula's story, it's more a metaphorical thing, I should say. Yes, the sun is dimmed and hidden from view, but it's not the focus of the story. It felt more like the metaphor for the lack of knowledge. You see, this future society is ruled by dogma.
The initiation this young men undergoes instructs him not to teach what he has learned to others, to the non-believers, referred to as the gentile in the short story. Ganil earns the title of a master, and is to become a mechanic, but he's not allowed to teach or discuss his work. Moreover, the 'mastery' of the masters is rather primitive.
The future society Ursula describes is medieval. Arabic numbers are not used. Instead, everyone does Math using Roman numbers. The world of our protagonist changes when a fellow colleague introduces him to zero. The way this concept is explained is so well written. You can literally see the mind of the protagonist expanding as he learns more about Math.
What I love most about this story is how it puts forward love for mathematics. Our protagonist is a Math guy at heart. He loves the numbers for numbers. He's aware that the Arabic numbers are considered black magic in this world, but he wants to learn them nonetheless. Initially he hesitates when the collogue introduces him to new concepts, saying that these are dark numbers and hence forbitten but with time you can see his scientific curiosity growing.
There is a clear choice put before our protagonist? To study the dark numbers or not? That's the question. Apart from his interest in Math, he seems a regular part of the society. There's a young girl he is in love with, and that returns his feelings. However, courting is a long process in this society. Our young man has to do everything by the book, and this takes months of visiting her family.
At the same time, he meets other people who want to study the forbidden numbers. I liked how they are all described uniquely. There's a guy who is a Physicist at heart. He wants to know why. That's why he needs Math and our protagonist. Our protagonist is a Mathematician at heart, he was always interested in numbers for their own sake.
It's very credible the way he's described as attracted to the numbers, even at personal risk at himself. The study of dark numbers is punishable by death! I want my review to be spoiler free, but I will say this The Masters is a well crafted and thought out story. It doesn't get into detail, but the world it describes seem credible.
The protagonist Ganil is described really well and his character development is very satisfactory. The ending is a bit sad, but quite inspiring nevertheless!
More information from wikipedia:
The Wind's Twelve Quarters was positively received by critics, though, according to Spivack, reviewers were generally less favorable toward Le Guin's short stories than her novels.[40] A reviewer in the Atlantic Monthly wrote that Le Guin was the "ideal science fiction writer for readers who ordinarily dislike science fiction", which Spivack attributes to Le Guin's exploration of the "ideas and psychological implications" of science rather than its technological aspects.[41] The Sydney Morning Herald similarly praised Le Guin's "startlingly original approach to the genre" in the collection.[8] A review in The New Republic found the science fiction stories, and particularly those exploring plausibly scientific possibilities, most effective.[41] A review in Publishers Weekly praised the collection as "First-rate Le Guin", describing it as a "retrospective" of the a decade of Le Guin's writing and a demonstration of her "special talent" for speculative fiction.[7] Susan Wood wrote that the collection was a good showcase of Le Guin's "rapid development as a writer" in the period following the publication of her first stories,[42] and that the collection was essential to understanding Le Guin.[5] The Salt Lake Tribune called the book a "collection of excellence only a handful of writers can match".[43] Multiple reviews called attention to the author's notes that preceded each story, with the Sydney Morning Herald saying they "[threw] some light on the workings of one of the most original minds in the genre".[7][8] Reid wrote in 1997 that the stories showcased Le Guin's "wide range of talents and ethical concerns" and praising her comfort with widely varied settings.[6] A review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said that the collection "certainly stands on its own", and praised Le Guin's characterization in particular.[44]
Commentators favorably highlighted a variety of individual stories. Wood called particular attention to "Nine Lives", "Winter's King", and "Vaster Than Empires and More Slow", writing that in each, scientific extrapolation was used as a "framework for powerful psychological studies".[42] Reid, writing in 1997, also highlighted "Vaster Than Empires and More Slow", calling it a "Le Guin classic", as well as "April in Paris", praising Le Guin's use of her knowledge of medieval French culture.[6] Literary scholar Charlotte Spivack had similar praise for "April in Paris", describing it as a "delightful "time" fantasy".[45] She also praised "The Stars Below" as an "excellent science fiction story", and compared it favorably to the thematically similar "The Masters".[46] Publishers Weekly highlighted the stories "April in Paris", "Nine Lives", and "The Ones Who Walk from Omelas" (sic), while the Salt Late Tribune reserved particular praise for "Winter's King" and "Semley's Necklace".[7][43] In a 2020 retrospective of the collection in Tor, Sean Guynes wrote that the four "germinative" stories that grew into novels were of interest largely because they hinted at Le Guin's later explorations, but considered "Semley's Necklace" "beautifully written" and "The Rule of Names" amusing.[47] In contrast, the Toronto Star had particular praise for "Winter's King".[48] Guynes also praised "April in Paris" and "The Good Trip", finding the other stories in the first half of the collection average.[47] The rest of the volume, in contrast, received strong praise: Guynes wrote that they were "heady, beautiful, and thought-provoking", written with a "careful, sometimes quiet, power".[49] Guynes concluded that the collection as a whole was "multifaceted, intellectually rich, and artistically transformative".[49] Guynes noted that many individual stories in the collection were among Le Guin's most famous, including in particular "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" and "The Day Before the Revolution".[47] Scholar Donna White noted that those two stories, along with "Nine Lives" are among Le Guin's most-anthologized stories.[50]
BIOGRAPHY CITED FROM URSULA K. LE GUIN PAGE:
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929-2018) was a celebrated author whose body of work includes 23 novels, 12 volumes of short stories, 11 volumes of poetry, 13 children’s books, five essay collections, and four works of translation. The breadth and imagination of her work earned her six Nebula Awards, seven Hugo Awards, and SFWA’s Grand Master, along with the PEN/Malamud and many other awards. In 2014 she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2016 joined the short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America.
Ursula Kroeber was born in 1929 and grew up in Berkeley, California. Her parents were anthropologist Alfred Kroeber and writer Theodora Kroeber, author of Ishi. She attended Radcliffe College and did graduate work at Columbia University. She married historian Charles A. Le Guin, in Paris in 1953; they lived in Portland, Oregon, beginning in 1958, and had three children and four grandchildren. Le Guin died peacefully in her home in January, 2018.
Few American writers have done work of such high quality in so many forms. Her oeuvre comprises 23 novels, 12 volumes of short stories and novellas, 11 volumes of poetry, 13 children’s books, five collections of essays, and four volumes of translation. Le Guin’s major titles have been translated into 42 languages and have remained in print, often for over half a century. Her fantasy novel A Wizard of Earthsea, the first in a related group of six books and one short story, has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Le Guin’s first major work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness, is considered groundbreaking for its radical investigation of gender roles and its moral and literary complexity. Her novels The Dispossessed and Always Coming Home redefine the scope and style of utopian fiction. Le Guin’s poetry drew increasing critical and reader interest in the later part of her life; her final collection of poems, So Far So Good, was published shortly after her death.
Among many honors her writing received are a National Book Award, seven Hugo Awards, six Nebula Awards, the Howard Vursell Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the PEN/Malamud Award, and the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2000, she was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and in 2016 she joined the short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America. Three of Le Guin’s books have been finalists for the American Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
Critical reception of Le Guin’s work rewarded her rigor and willingness to take risks with forms considered by some to be outside of literary fiction. Harold Bloom includes her among his list of classic American writers. Grace Paley, Carolyn Kizer, Gary Snyder, and John Updike praised her work, and many critical and academic studies of Le Guin’s work have been published. The documentary Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin, directed by Arwen Curry, was released theatrically in 2018, and a biography of Le Guin’s life and work, by Julie Phillips, is forthcoming.
WHAT TO READ FROM URSULA K. LE GUIN?
WELL, THE LIST IS LONG! I REVIEWED MANY OF HER WORKS ON MY BLOG, SO HERE ARE THE LINKS TO MY READING RECOMMENDATIONS
FIRST OF ALL- THE EARTHSEA CYCLE
PERFECT FOR LOVERS OF FANTASY!
2) THE TOMBS OF ATUAN, THE SECOND EARTHSEA NOVEL
3) THE FARTHEST SHORE, THE THIRD EARTHSEA NOVEL
4) TENAHU, THE FOURTH EARTHSEA NOVEL
IF EARTHSEA CYCLE ISN'T YOUR THING, WHY NOT CHECK OUT HER OTHER WORK?
URSULA K. LE GUIN'S BOOK REVIEWS ON MY BLOG
1. THE WORD FOR WORLD IS A FOREST (A NOVELLA)
This novella is an absolute masterpiece! Poetically written, profoundly serious and wonderfully imaginative, The Word for World is a Forest is an exceptional book. The story Le Guin created is a incredibly tragic and sad one, but it rings absolutely true in its sadness and tragedy.
The Telling in the novel's title is actually a philosophy (or a religion if you will) based on Taoism. I loved Le Guin's take on Taoist inspired religion/philosophy know as 'The Telling' in the novel. It seems to me that Le Guin is well acquainted with Taoism and Buddhism, so well acquainted she is able to summon some of the complexity of Asian theologies, myths and philosophy in this novel, something I imagine is not easy to do.
3. THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS (A NOVEL)
The Left Hand of Darkness is a brilliant novel set on a planet whose culture is quite different from our own. It questions gender identity in the most brilliant of ways. This is a novel way ahead of its time. One of the best novels I have ever read for sure!
The Dispossessed is an Utopian (at times Dystopian) philosophical science fiction novel with a developed plot, charismatic protagonist and detailed world building. Focusing on social and philosophical themes, The Dispossessed is written in a non-chronological way.
THE STORY OF MY OUTFIT - SUSTAINABLE FASHION FILES
TEA GREEN BLOUSE BY LOCAL DESIGNER STANKA ZOVKO (OZZ BRAND)
STANKA ZOVKO TEAGREEN BLOUSE - FASHION BRAND OZZ (LOCAL DESIGNER)
This blouse is actually a part of a set. Follow the links to see other ways to style it.
https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-matching-tea-green-set-from-designer.html
https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2023/08/a-tale-of-love-and-darkness-novel-by.html
https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2024/05/inspired-by-vintage-edition-of-anna.html
Ozz is a local brand founded and run by fashion designer Stanka Zovko.
If you want to see more outfits featuring items from this brand, you're welcome to check the links below.
15. https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2024/07/summer-2024-when-sun-goes-down-in-mostar.html
THE BLUE SCARF WORN AS A HEADSCARF - GIFTED, worn in my last post and also when I visited Buna recently!
THE MINI BLACK BAG WITH GOLD ACCESSORIES
In this post you can see multiple ways to style this mini black bag. I even did a fashion illustration with it!
MODA IN MINI LIGHT GREY MINI SKIRT (CROATIAN BRAND)
with a striped blouse here in 2019,
BROWN PLATFORM SANDALS (NOT SURE ABOUT THE BRAND)
See how I wore them in this post (with a satin skirt and floral blouse)
Yes, practically live in these sandals in summer. Check out this post for 60 something ways to wear them and this one to see even more. I'm getting close to 70 wears, how exciting!!!!
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OUTFIT?
DO YOU LIKE IT?
WOULD YOU WEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LOCATION?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT IT?
“The book itself is a curious artifact, not showy in its technology but complex and extremely efficient: a really neat little device, compact, often very pleasant to look at and handle, that can last decades, even centuries. It doesn't have to be plugged in, activated, or performed by a machine; all it needs is light, a human eye, and a human mind. It is not one of a kind, and it is not ephemeral. It lasts. It is reliable. If a book told you something when you were fifteen, it will tell it to you again when you're fifty, though you may understand it so differently that it seems you're reading a whole new book."
(Staying Awake: Notes on the alleged decline of reading, Harper's Magazine, February 2008)”
LOCATION : BUNA HOTEL NEAR MOSTAR (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)
We dined at Buna hotel and restaurant. The dishes, as you can see, were lovely! I had fish, my husband had meat. We both enjoyed our meal.
MY MOST RECENT VISIT TO BUNA :
THE STORY OF A LOCATION - Check out my visit in SUMMER 2023! Follow the links below to explore Buna!
OLD VISITS TO BUNA For example in 2013, I showed you a photograph I took of a beautiful bird Euroasian Hoopoe. The same year, I showed you the spring of river Buna that is said to be the most powerful spring in Europe. If, you want to see more of this place, you can read about one of my earliest visits here (2013), you can see an outfit post with Buna in the background here (2013), you can read about spring time and my love of flowers here (2017), you can read about my most recent visit here (2017), you can read about winter magic in Buna revisited post here (2016), you can read about summer magic here (2015). Bellow you can find even more links to some of my older posts about Buna and my visits to this place: April 6th, 2013, November 28th, 2016, May 16th, 2017, June 10th, 2018, January 24th, 2018, May 18th, 2018, March 20th, 2019, March 27th, 2019
IF YOU ARE VISITING BUNA DON'T FORGET THAT BLAGAJ IS LOCATED A SHORT DRIVE AWAY!
WHAT TO SEE AND IN BLAGAJ? READ MY POST FROM 2019
VISIT BLAGAJ FORTRESS WITH ME! READ MY POST FROM 2021
A THANK YOU TO MY PHOTOGRAPHER GORDAN!
As usual, these photographs were taken by my husband with his phone. Most of the photographs that appear on this blog are taken by my and him. I used some of Ursula's photographs in collages, just because I'm reviewing one of her short stories, so it seemed appropriate. Apart from those collages, the photographs were not edited. However, some of the photographs were shot with portrait mode on, meaning the background is a bit blurry. You will notice that my earrings are blurry in some of the photographs, and the reason is the portrait mode!
Thank you for reading and visiting!
Her work carries on. And it's great to find young readers who can't get enough of her series in our YA library. Thanks so much for the insightful post about her life and her background. Such a lovely top you are wearing. And what great food! ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️💛💛💛💛💛💙💙💙💙💙All the best to what summer has in store. Thanks for your comments. All the best to what's next.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's great to see young readers drawn to her. I' considering introducing her work to my students.
DeleteSince finding your reviews, I have looked into our library to see what I could find. It was a nice surprised to see we have many of her books..and a few well worn, too..so that has to be a great sign. 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙Adoring your summer outfit and all the photos. Thanks so much for the review and more. Thanks for being here. All the best to the last part of August☀️💛☀️💛☀️
ReplyDeleteA worn out book is the best sign!
DeleteMy University professor told me that we should pride ourselves for having books in bad conditions. It's means we're using them- and that's a sign of an intellectual. I never forgot that.
Very interesting post. I like books Ursula K. Le Guin.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteLindas as fotos e muito boa a indicação! Gostei de por aqui passar! beijos, chiuca
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThank you for your recommendation! <3
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I think you'd like this author.
DeleteGorgeous photos, love that outfit. Hope you enjoyed the coffee. I gave up coffee in March and still miss it so much!
ReplyDeletethank you, I'm glad you enjoyed them. I did enjoy my coffee. I can imagine how much you miss coffee.
DeleteWhat a beautiful photos! I love it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. Dzijekuje!
DeleteOlá Ivana!
ReplyDeleteBlogue muito interessante, que aborda a temática da leitura, que aqui em Portugal anda um pouco arredada de grande parte dos Portugueses. Presumo que não será só em Portugal, quiçá, um pouco por todo o mundo. A internet, desviou muitos leitores do livro tradicional em papel, para outro tipo de leitura mais rápida e superficial. Sinais do tempo...
Confesso que não conheço muitos dos autores que aqui d´sugeres. Serão por certo excelentes, naturalmente, mas não os conheço.
Agradeço a visita e gentil comentário no meu cantinho.
Tenho, entretanto, outro blogue, que se o desejares poderás visitar. Deixo aqui o endereço. http://poesiaaquiesta.blogspot.com
Beijinhos e boa semana!
Mário Margaride
Obrigada pelo seu comentário, Mário.
DeleteEspero que nunca comecemos a ler livros.
Esses livros que recomendo são da escritora Ursula K. Le Guin, ela era uma escritora dos Estados Unidos da América.
Me gusta esa autora. Tomó nota. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteDear Ivana! I have the same hobby! We both like reading novels!
ReplyDeleteIt's great we have the same hobby.
Delete
ReplyDeleteYou look so relaxed and dreamy. The photos are beautiful.
I love the blouse, it's a pretty color.
Thank you dear
Deletei do not know this author:)
ReplyDeleteUrsula is s a great writer.
DeleteLovely cheerful photo. I love reading too.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear!
DeleteI'm always in awe of your thoughtful in-depth reviews, Ivana!
ReplyDeleteThe photos your husband took of you during your short vacation are fabulous. You look gorgeous and totally relaxed! xxx
Thank you. This was just regular date night. We had our vacation in Croatia, and I'll post about it shortly.
DeleteI hope the sun is not limited in the future. Nice review, and absolutely love your look, hope you enjoyed your coffee! Have an amazing rest of the summer beauty!
ReplyDeletexoxo, MidoriLinea
https://www.midorilinea.com/blogs/midori-linea/panda-village-koala-world
The coffee was great, thank you!
DeleteHello
ReplyDeleteI saw this post as if it were a conversation while drinking a delicious espresso! And I love it! I liked the way you explained this book, the metaphors it contains and how many writers predict what planet Earth will be like in the future. Let's hope that's not the case, of course! I love maths, so my interest in the book has increased! You look great in any photo!
We must always hope for the best.
DeleteThank you.
I've read "Very Far Away from Anywhere Else", promoted as a different kind of Love Story.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!
DeleteWhat lovely, relaxed photos these are, Ivana! xxx
ReplyDelete