Despicable Congressman from Virginia

2008-11-01T03:29:57Z

Ursula K. Le Guin - Reading from her new novel, LAVINIA

2008-10-28T15:30:23Z

Some of you, upon reading the previous few posts, asked me what authors I felt were responsible and on-target regarding issues of race, ethnicity and gender in their fantasy writings for children.

At the top of my list would have to be the incomparable Ursula K. Le Guin. I spent countless hours as a teen reading her work, and often revisit it as a grownup now. Le Guin uses the fantasy genre to tell stories that make important points about humanity in general. She blends anthropology and sociology into her fiction about "other" worlds or creatures, and in the process helps us to think critically about our own society, and our role in it, and how we treat one another.

Le Guin's award and accolades are too numerous to list here, but can be viewed on her Web site.

Personally, I'd love to see someone in Hollywood - or at MTV - take the kind of interest in Le Guin that they seem to have taken in Stephenie Meyer. In particular I think the Earthsea series would make a spectacular movie or movies. (I am aware of the weak SciFi channel series based upon the books, and also know that Le Guin disliked how it turned out.)

Interestingly, no one takes issue with reviewers of Le Guin who say she draws upon Jungian psychology and anthropology in her writings - with many reviewers making reference to the fact that Le Guin's father was an anthropologist. Yet make one mention that Stephenie Meyer might similarly have been influenced by the teachings of the Mormon Church that she herself lists on her Web site biography as being a huge influence, and you are nearly run out of town by, one presumes, the "faithful".

I wonder how many of you will suddenly chime in now, accusing me of unfairly assuming Le Guin meant to convey Jungian, sociological, anthropological messages in her work...?

Double standard, anyone?

Anyhow, Le Guin also writes absolutely brilliant adult fiction, with this year's incredible "Lavinia," a notable standout among standouts, from which she reads in the video posted here.

Watch the video