This book was really close to being a 4 star read for me, but ultimately, it felt like something was lacking. I didn't connect with the characters, and some of the stories were a bit too weird for my taste. I read some strange books and short stories, but this was next-level weirdness. The made-up names were so bizarre they were hard to remember, and that often made it difficult to follow what was going on in the story.

The pacing was languid- it felt like you were continually waiting for something to happen, though there wasn't much plot to move the stories along. The slow pace almost gave it a nostalgic feel, since it was so sleepy.

All in all, an interesting collection. I really enjoyed a handful of the stories, while the other ones just missed the mark. I'm glad I gave Le Guin a try, but I may end up sticking with [a:Margaret Atwood|3472|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282859073p2/3472.jpg] when I reach for a book in this genre again.