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| Review Summary |
LeGuin's 2000 addition to the loose Hainish cycle that began with her very first sci-fi novel in 1966 concerns Sutty, an Observer for the Ekumen federation, who is studying the planet of Aka. The Corporation State of Aka has banned all traditional language and religious practices, and Sutty has been kept to the large and modern city of Dovza. (Much of this resembles recent historical developments far back on Earth.) But she unexpectedly receives permission to travel upcountry, where she meets people who quietly, secretly practice the old ways and beliefs. Much of this involves an oral history told and retold, and known as The Telling. A state Monitor has followed her, however, and her new friends may suffer for her presence, though they urge her on to the final umyazu, a sort of monastery and repository of wisdom hidden deep in the mountains. This stately tale may remind one of any number of repressive 20th century Earth cultures, as well as universal issues of values, memory, traditions, and progress.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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The Telling is the latest book in the Ekumen series. Like the others it features a human visitor to a strange world. Aka is a world rather like modern, developing China. The people are in the process of an industrial revolution and the government is intent on repressing and destroying anything old or outmoded. When the heroine, Sully, manages to escape from the empty modern culture to investigate the traditional culture of a backwoods town she finds much more than she bargained for. The book turns into a fight to save what remains of a traditional culture from destruction at the hands of fanatics.
Che Monro, Resident Scholar
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| Detailed literary breakdown of The Telling |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 55%
Tone of book
- sensitive (sigh....)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Repressive society story
Yes
Repressive because:
- strict rationing of freedoms/goods
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Religious overtones?
Yes
Cultural problems, alien culture
Yes
Culture clash-
- one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Intense exploration of society's culture?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- diplomat
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- government investigator
- bureaucrat
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
- deluded
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Mountains
- Forests
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
- inhabited by friendly aliens
- very controlled society
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/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 dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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