Week 11: Pre-Post

So I went into this reading rather enthusiastic and excited. I love novels. I devour several a week.

My perspective has changed since my initial reading (obviously, I am writing this after the class discussion).  I was initially frustrated with the different styles of writing displayed but when giving it a chance and allowing that it is for the varying thought processes of each character and trying to use it as a map into each characters mind, it is instead a tool, not a hinderance.

LeGuin's goal to make Davidson hated is quickly accomplished with his arrogance and his overall lack of concern for anything or anyone. She achieves this quickly with her female audience when he calls women "prime human stock," as they arrive on a ship for population purposes. He is quickly disliked by his male audience as well though, for he fills every chauvinistic male stereotype a female has offered up in a fight of the sexes. In the beginning it is also important to note that Davidson wants to cut down the forest.

Selver is another matter, we sympathize with his plight and crusade, even if the methods seem a bit barbaric. But, we excuse them, because subconsciously we stil see them as something akin to "Ewoks" in StarWars than humans that are simply living the same intelligent lives we are, just on another planet.

I am still struck by several similarities of this piece and the technology and political environment that permeate the plot of this story (mind you written in 1972) and Ender's Game, by Orsen Scott Card (1977). In WWF, we hear of "the ansible" which is also mentioned in Ender's Game after the LeGuin's "Ansible", and it plays a pivotal role in both works. Ender's Game also has a political machine/structure lead by the Hegemon and International Fleet (IF) which is very similar to WWF's "The League."