“Rocannon’s World by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #1)

So I started reading the series, The Hainish Cycle. I have already read #4 (The Left Hand of Darkness) and the #6 (The Dispossessed) in the series, so I thought I may enjoy the rest.

This book finds us on a world inhabited by some pre-warp humanoid species. There is also a person from an advanced world there studying them. He gets trapped there and gets involved in warning his home planet about some technologically advanced invaders.

I enjoyed the world-building in this one, but the rest of the book felt flat to me. After the main plot gets developed, we have the main character, Rocannon (sometimes spelled Rokanan), on a journey to his ansible (instant radio type communicator) to warn his people about the invaders. This journey to the radio is pretty ho-hum. They fly their flying tiger things, rest, and keep flying. They encounter some baddies, and keep going.

I was expecting to have my socks blown off with this one, but didn’t. Maybe Le Guin was just getting into the groove with her earlier books before hitting gold in Left Hand of Darkness. I hope I enjoy #2, Planet of Exile better.

Rating: ★★★★

Book #8 in my #ReadingChallenge2021 #BookReview #UrsulaKLeGuin #HainishCycle #aliens”,