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Rocannon’s World Audiobook
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(3.00) - 1,784 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This debut novel from preeminent science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin introduces her brilliant Hainish series, set in a galaxy seeded by the planet Hain with a variety of humanoid species, including that of Earth. Over the centuries, the Hainish colonies have evolved into physically and culturally unique peoples, joined by a League of All Worlds.
Earth-scientist Rocannon has been leading an ethnological survey on a remote world populated by three native races: the cavern-dwelling Gdemiar, the elvish Fiia, and the warrior clan, Liuar. But when the technologically primitive planet is suddenly invaded by a fleet of ships from the stars, rebels against the League of All Worlds, Rocannon is the only survey member left alive. Marooned among alien peoples, he leads the battle to free this newly discovered world and finds that legends grow around him as he fights.
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"Reading a compiled edition of 3 of LeGuin's early books, about her Hainish worlds. Loved this! Don't let the cheesy cover dissuade you, it's really well written. Her worlds are always fascinating, and really well thought out. A very quick read, but full of great stuff. The character of Rocannon is great too. I'm wondering if she wrote about his earlier life at all in other books. You get a bit of his history, and want to know more."
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I had forgotten, in the thirty-five years since I first read it, just how good a book Rocannon’s World is…So when I listened to Stefan Rudnicki’s brilliant reading of the book…I was prepared for the book to be good. It was more than good…I would call the book unforgettable, except that I had forgotten almost everything about the plot. What I didn’t forget was the impression it made on me; and this time through, especially with Rudnicki’s deeply emotional reading, it made just as strong an impression.”
— Orson Scott Card -
“Stefan Rudnicki’s muscular, antiseptic voice is the perfect vehicle to deliver this tale. His tone is impeccable, his pronunciation exact...It’s well worth your time.”
— SFFaudio.com
Rocannon’s World Listener Reviews
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" Light, breezy, and, in the end, kind of lacking in any kind of impact. Plus it reminded me of "Tracking Song" only (of course) it wasn't as good as "Tracking Song." "
— Zach, 2/13/2014 -
" I think this is one of her first novels, if not her first. It combines the legends of fantasy in a brief Science Fiction framework. Rocannon encounters the stereotypically beautiful alien of legend and travels to a backwater world, leaving behind all he knows to find that he has played a part in something that now poses a deadly threat to the people of the planet, and becomes a legend himself. Not as lovely as her later work, but still enjoyable. (January 30, 2005) "
— Cindy, 2/10/2014 -
" I'm so glad I came across this book! Amazing writing, as always. "
— Tamara, 2/9/2014 -
" The kind of book the sole purpose of which seems to be to entertain. "
— Sylvain, 2/8/2014 -
" Don't read this book. There is nothing interesting about the main character. His magic suit is a really bad plot device. The ending is the epitome of deus ex machina. But her other books are good. "
— Tim, 1/19/2014 -
" Good but rather dated sci-fi. Sort of the female analogue to Jack Vance's Dying Earth stuff. Lots of "traveling to a distant land" stuff, and that trippy/goofy mix of fantasy and sci-fi. Fun but nothing earth-shattering. "
— James, 1/3/2014 -
" 9/09 The first of Le Guin's World of Exile short novels. The story is set on a pre-industrial planet that gets pulled into an intergalactic conflict by becoming a hidden base for rebel forces. Good storytelling. Courage, bravery, and self-sacrifice are strong themes in the book. "
— Susan, 11/8/2013 -
" An early work of Le Guinns and my first experience with her "Hainish Cycle" it's a mishmash of sci-fi and fantasy that mostly works. Though it is not as satisfying as some of her novels she would publish just a few years later, it is still enjoyable. "
— Shaun, 11/4/2013 -
" Difficult to follow. Didn't have the clarity of her later work. "
— Jake, 8/31/2013 -
" the story drags there in the middle and the ending is sort of abrupt but not bad. definitely not her best work, but worth the read "
— Uldene, 5/25/2012 -
" This is some Joseph Campbell shit right hurr. "
— Gabriel, 5/18/2012 -
" Kind of old school for UKL, with its swords and chivalry and massive destruction. But it's from 1966 after all. "
— Hal, 9/27/2011 -
" i commend le guin for creating science fiction that often reads like fantasy. the world of this book reminded me a lot of gene wolfe's "book of the new sun" (although without the incredible, poetical language). "
— Jake, 8/8/2011 -
" The three books are VERY losely connected. They can be read seperatly with no issues. Great job on the characters. "
— Ryan, 4/28/2011 -
" I enjoyed all three of the short stories and also how she tied the three together. I thought this book was a great introduction to the Hainish series and to Ursula Le Guin's style of writing and I can't wait to read Left Hand of Darkness. "
— Ashe, 1/7/2011 -
" Phenomenal! This is what science fiction should be. "
— diana, 9/23/2010 -
" Three related stories by Ursala K. LeQuin - well crafted and each carrying a theme inherent with the well-chosen titles. I'm glad to have found this book collecting all three novels together! "
— Mike, 5/10/2010 -
" First Ursula Le Guin book I ever read. Hooked for life. "
— Juliet, 5/6/2009 -
" I read this years ago. I am re-reading it. It is excellent. "
— Amanda, 3/31/2009 -
" A well-written, wild adventure trilogy. "
— Karena, 1/19/2009
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 Stefan Rudnicki
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.