Play Audiobook Sample
Powers Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 1,413 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Ursula K. Le Guin's haunting epic of survival, selfdiscovery, and hope is third in a sequence that begins with her PEN Award-winning Gifts. Young Gavie sometimes "remembers" the future. But as a slave living among those who feel threatened by the powers of the Marsh people, Gavie must hide his abilities. And then tragic events force the grief-stricken Gavie to flee the only world he's ever known. In his perilous quest for freedom, Gavie must learn to harness his unique gifts or he may never find a place he can call home.
Download and start listening now!
"I loved this book! Gav is about 11 when the story starts. He is a house slave in a city state in another time and place. He starts out thinking he has a pretty good life but gradually he begins to understand the injustice of the whole system. He is educated to be a teacher. When his sister is murdered he runs away and begins a journey to discover his powers and his place in the world. One one level the book is about justice and freedom, on another level it is about friendship, family ties, and cultural roles. On still another level it is about what makes for a good life."
— Andi (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
-
Winner of the 2008 Nebula Award for Best Novel
Powers Listener Reviews
-
" I thought this one was a bit better. I have a hard time thinking I am better for having read it, but I did think it was well written and I did lose myself a bit in it. I guess I wasn't convinced it was a story that needed to be told. Well, I am glad I read it. "
— -kevin-, 1/30/2014 -
" Excellent ending to the trilogy. This where Le Guin shows her chops for putting together a great story with some philosophical insights into the human condition. Spoiler alert . . . I found the ending rather quickly and unsatisfactorily resolved. The tension set up by the pursuit of Gav's long time enemy just sort of falls off the story as well as the horse. That was the only real disappointment in the book. "
— Steven, 1/29/2014 -
" Good. Except the climax is at the beginning. It gets uninteresting towards the end. I had to force myself to finish it. "
— Andrew, 1/7/2014 -
" Third in the series I liked the least. One of the most anticlimactic "the villain is finally gone" moments ever. Might have well just said "Oh, and I think I heard somewhere, 35 years later, he died or something, I'm not sure." Unsatisfying. "
— Megan, 1/4/2014 -
" I enjoyed this series -- good YA. "
— Jane, 12/19/2013 -
" The third book in the Annals of the Western Shore. Born into slavery, Gavir learns about his extraordinary gift to "remember," both forwards and backwards as he triumphs over devasting loss and change. "
— Ruby, 12/3/2013 -
" It was a good addition to the series, but overall the series is not as good as some of her other series "
— Brian, 10/26/2013 -
" Interesting in its premise. While technically a fantasy book, the magical part doesn't play a huge role overall. It is an interesting look at slavery. "
— Emily, 7/20/2013 -
" Could... not... finish... too... slow... read... two... thirds... of... it... and... was... bored... really... wanted... to... enjoy... but... too... slooooooooow "
— Nicole, 3/12/2013 -
" Great potential - yet, fails to captivate or resolve compellingly leaving the generally unsatisfied. "
— Brandon, 1/11/2012 -
" I love most of Ursula Le Guin's books. My first was left Hand of Darkness. Still a favorite. This one is part of a brand new series of three. They are Young Adult - very easy reads, I read through all three very quickly. But as a fan... I'll read anything. "
— Sherry, 9/14/2011 -
" Powers was good although not as good as voices. If was slower than voices and lacked the excitement as well. I found that a few places it was dragging but otherwise I enjoyed it. The ending was good and the characters do make an appearance, although its a small appearance. "
— Brandee, 6/7/2011 -
" The concluding book in a wonderful trilogy of YA fantasy fiction. LeGuin has a gift of using cultural anthropology to add depth to her wonderful stories. I wish the series could continue. "
— Kelly, 4/14/2011 -
" Can be read as a stand alone. "
— Jenny, 1/27/2011 -
" Liked this one too. Search for self and place in world. Ends up tying characters from all 3 books together. "
— Mckinley, 1/17/2011 -
" Gah, so good... got a bit teary a couple of times "
— Qing, 1/14/2011 -
" lyrical narrative hooks you right into a most compelling journey of self discovery from the get go! "
— Hamidah, 11/19/2010 -
" A simple yet mesmerizing tale about growing up, about life and most of all, about freedom and what to do with it. "
— Michael, 10/24/2010 -
" Great potential - yet, fails to captivate or resolve compellingly leaving the generally unsatisfied. "
— Brandon, 8/5/2010 -
" This is the first I've read of the series. The other two I just listened to. It is considered a young adult book and it was kinda simple. I did like the various characters. "
— Ange, 6/8/2010
About Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) was an American author of novels, children’s books, and short stories, mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. She has also written poetry, literary criticism, and essays. She was widely recognized as one of the greatest science fiction writers in the history of the genre. She won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards on several occasions, as well as the National Book Award, the PEN/Malamud Award, and many other honors and prizes. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
About Andy Paris
Andy Paris is an actor and writer. His audio narration have earned him the prestigious Audie Award, as well as AudioFile Earphones Awards. A member of the Tectonic Theater Project, he and others wrote The Laramie Project, which was nominated for an Emmy in 2002 and in which he played Stephen Belber. He has also appeared in Law & Order.