The Unreal and the Real: The Selected Short Stories of Ursula K. Le Guin

The book is great, but Amazon sent me a damaged copy, that had stained pages. Seriously!? Who ships a book like that?

Every serious sci-fi and fantasy fan is aware of Ursula Le Guin's fiction. It has had a profound effect on the genre. Her novels like the 'Earthsea' cycle are classics, and a lot of her imaginative work was in short story form. These are ones she considers her best. These stories serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers to her work. Many blur the line between "serious" literature and science-fiction. While the settings are fictional, the stories deal with very human issues. I've admired her work for a long time, and believe others will be feeling the same way when they read this. Every story is beautifully written, unique and worth reading.

I read the kindle version (which is a great buy) and had no problems with the ebook. While many of the stories are outstanding classics some are painful to get thru -- though I admit I am not a real fan of short stories so that may have colored my judgement. There is some overlap with (two stories) with her recent novella collection. All in all I enjoyed the kindle version of this collection though I do think the collection was of mixed quality. Due to the ebook price and the selection including some very very good stories it is well worth reading and buying.

LeGuin is not just a science fiction writer but is an insightful and deeply knowledgable student of human nature's breadth. The book contains some of the best writing available today from an American writer, whatever the genre, and each story is special and fascinating in its own way.

An amazing grouping of stories, in both parts. Even though they are all short stories and separate, they flow well together when reading them back to back. So many fantastic pieces I had never read before! This is definitely a fantastic book to loan out to those hardly familiar with or not at all familiar with Ursula's writing.

I am an avid LeGuin fan and enjoy all her work formats: novels, novellas, shorts, essays. I would unfortunately describe this book as the "whiny / moody / display of technical skill" collection. Despite being - as always - dazzled by the writing prowess including a few things most other authors wouldn't dare to try, the stories just didn't resonate with me. I didn't care much for anyone in them. I'm not sorry I bought the book but I'm not going to urge anyone else to buy it.

We like this book is part of curriculum.

LeGuin is one of the GREAT science fiction/speculative fiction/fantasy writers. Some of the work is not for all readers but it is worth buying to read or reread spell binding work. Enjoy the work of a truly astounding creator.

super geklappt. War ein Geschenk und schneller da, als erwartet. Perfekt

Beautiful writing most stories are imaginative some are a bit slow.

Premesso che i racconti ambientati sulla terra mi piacciono molto meno degli altri e quindi la prima parte è un pochino deludente, questa è un'antologia formidabile che raccoglie davvero il meglio della produzione breve della Le Guin. Da leggere.

Ursula K Le Guin is my favourite author, and I'd read at least eighty percent of these stories before, but it's a joy to have so many of her best gathered in one volume. The Direction of the Road, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas, Semley’s Necklace, The Rule of Names, and more than thirty more. I may not read it cover to cover every time, but I'll be dipping into this collection frequently for years to come.

Was looking for S.F.a la "the Word for world is forest". Found psychologically intricate characterization. Lost interest after a third of the way through.