'Gifts' in the series 'Annals of the Western Shore' by Ursula K. Le Guin follows the story of Orrec, a young man born into a Gifted family in the Uplands, where each family possesses a unique and often lethal psychic gift. Orrec struggles to control his own ability of 'unmaking,' leading him to make a drastic decision to blind himself for the safety of those around him. The novel delves into themes of family loyalty, individual desires, and the balance between kindness and protection in a harsh and unforgiving world. Ursula Le Guin's writing style is described as evocative, immersive, and lyrical, creating a tangible and believable world where emotion drives the narrative.

Characters:

The characters are complex, with Orrec and Gry embodying the struggles of youth against parental expectations, each representing different aspects of the themes of power and responsibility.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by lyrical elegance and introspection, using thoughtful prose to convey deep themes and immerse the reader in the narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers around Orrec, a young man dealing with his family's powerful and destructive gift while navigating the expectations of his parents and the conflicts within his community.

Setting:

The setting is an isolated, harsh upland community characterized by poverty and familial conflict, wherein magical gifts are a common but dual-edged aspect of life.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and contemplative, focusing more on character introspection and development rather than on fast-paced action.

He was lost when he came to us, and I fear the silver spoons he stole from us didn’t save him when he ran away and went up into the high domains. Yet in the end the lost man, the runaway man was our g...

Notes:

"Gifts" is the first book in the "Annals of the Western Shore" series by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Le Guin is well-known for her innovative storytelling and has received acclaim for her earlier works such as the "Earthsea" series.

The main character, Orrec, struggles with a powerful family legacy of destructive abilities called the "Gift of Undoing," which makes him blindfold himself for safety.

The story is set in a harsh landscape called the Uplands, where impoverished clans possess magical gifts, often leading to violent conflicts.

The narrative explores themes of family expectations, personal growth, and the moral implications of using one's powers.

The protagonist, Orrec, deals with the emotional challenges of adolescence in a community that values power and tradition.

Critics point out that the book focuses on human dimensions, prioritizing emotional and philosophical depth over action and adventure.

"Gifts" reflects Le Guin's belief in the constructive use of individual talents, paralleling the narrative with real-world implications of power and responsibility.

From The Publisher:

Scattered among poor, desolate farms, the clans of the Uplands possess gifts. Wondrous gifts: the ability-with a glance, a gesture, a word-to summon animals, bring forth fire, move the land. Fearsome gifts: They can twist a limb, chain a mind, inflict a wasting illness. The Uplanders live in constant fear that one family might unleash its gift against another. Two young people, friends since childhood, decide not to use their gifts. One, a girl, refuses to bring animals to their death in the hunt. The other, a boy, wears a blindfold lest his eyes and his anger kill.

In this beautifully crafted story, Ursula K. Le Guin writes of the proud cruelty of power, of how hard it is to grow up, and of how much harder still it is to find, in the world's darkness, gifts of light.

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About the Author:

URSULA K. LE GUIN was born in Berkeley, California, in 1929, and passed away in Portland, Oregon, in 2018. She published over sixty books of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, children's literature, and translation. She was the recipient of a National Book Award, six Hugo and five Nebula awards, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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Gifts

Ursula K. Le Guin

Book 1 in the series:Annals of the Western Shore