| The time and place are Earth, roughly a millennium in the future. The planet is sparsely populated by various humanoid groups, perhaps even separate and alien species, and North America has returned largely to the wild. A full-grown man emerges from the forest with no memory or life skills and must be trained from scratch by the primitive clan that discovers him and names him Falk. He realizes he must travel west to the great city of Es Toch to learn his identity and past. Es Toch is inhabited by the Shing, either a regulator or conqueror race -- it is not clear which -- that supposedly maintains peace on the planet. Much of this 1967 novel is occupied by the trek across wilderness, and it only picks up speed and tension when Falk reaches Es Toch and begins to divine the actual situation, and whether he is willing to give up his newly-developed mind and identity for an older one. The story is a stand-alone that is loosely connected to LeGuin's earlier novels; references are made to events in _Planet of Exile_. | ||
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Plot & Themes FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Inner Struggle Yes Plotlet: - search for identity/new understanding Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Cultural problems, alien culture Yes Culture clash- - one person from different culture of other persons Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - an entire race Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - mind reading - can read emotions How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some How sensitive is this character? Setting Terrain Earth setting: - distant future Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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