Andrew

The main character almost exclusively tells you what is going on in her head instead of you seeing it, which is unsatisfying, like eating a picture of a cookie. Add to that what seems like a cast of thousands - there are probably twice as many named characters as the action warrants. And then the final reason to give up about 70% through is that the setting is the first half of the 20th century and the dialogue both external and in her extensive internal monologue, is entirely 2017.

Earthsea all in one place is very nice to have, and it's a nice edition. Included are some interesting notes from the author on how she came to write various things and what she thought about them at the time as well as what she thinks about them years later. The very short stories done specifically for this volume (at the end) aren't that strong but they're still Le Guin. Also included are a couple of essays on Earthsea.

Strangely the illustrations by Vess aren't that great - he's done better quality work in comics - and don't add much.

Current progressive politics is I think only just now catching up to the things Bisson was saying here 35 years ago.

Most writers trying to say something via SF will never catch up to the way Bisson is saying it.

Thought provoking and well written, I know it will sit in my mind a long time.

Reads like Neal Stephenson read his older books and decided to write a parody of that type of fiction. Or a rip-off. Or an homage? It wanders between all three but what it definitely is not is original in any way. The premise is somewhat interesting but the moment to moment text may have been written by an neural network based on his previous works.

Hard to believe this is by the same person who wrote the various City Of books. Got about a third of a way in before having to give up due to extreme annoyance at the complete lack of a feeling of place. And also the fact that the talking magic item sounds like any internet commenter 2018. And the main character about the same. And we were starting a quest for the lost ancient magics just stop. Reread any “City Of” book instead.