Review:
Gifts by Ursula Le Guin
Orion. 2004. 274 pages
ISBN 1-84255-498-0
Ursula Le Guin, the award winning author of the Earthsea series,
once again delivers a rich and absorbing tale that will appeal to
fantasy lovers. Gifts is set in a mythical slave owning land called the
Uplands, reminiscent of early Scotland. The two main characters, Orrec
and Gry, have grown up believing that the prosperity and safety of
their domains depends on inherited gifts that have been passed down
through the generations. Orrec is late coming into the gift of the
Caspros, that of the terrifiying power to “undo” or destroy, people,
places and animals. When his gift of “undoing“ surfaces, he is unable
to control it and his father blindfolds him so that he cannot see to
destroy things at random with his wild gift. Gry has the ability to
call animals to her and must decide whether she will follow her
mother’s example and bring animals into the hunt to be killed.
Le Guin slowly builds up a vivid picture of a world that has been
dominated by Brantors who depend on inborn gifts to control their lands
and the people who work for them. The technique of having her
characters tell stories to and answer the questions of a runaway man
from the Lowlands is a useful device to help describe their situation.
Le Guin subtly guides her reader through the moral dilemmas that face
her two teenage protagonists. The use and misuse of both supernational
and natural gifts and talents is explored as the two young protagonists
mature in outlook and experience the grief and joy that these gifts can
bring. They also must come to grips with their growing feelings for
each other which conflict with family demands to marry not for love but
to keep their lineage pure and hand on their gifts to the next
generation.
Voices is the second book in
the series.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007