The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction

I found this book in my library catalog.  It’s a 1989 edition of and 1979 publication that first collected Le Guin’s essays, talks, and non-fiction works about Science Fiction and Fantasy.  The book is now out of print, and I understand why.  The introductions to Le Guin’s first five novels are all available in their most recent printings, and Le Guin updated those introductions in 2012, I believe.  The essays that cannot be found today are either tied to the specific state of Science Fiction in the ‘70s and ‘80s, or take positions that Le Guin has further refined and stated better at some point in the 21^st century, or both.

In other words, what we have here is hardly necessary reading, even for a general fan of Le Guin’s thoughts and writing.  That said, it is a wonderful and interesting read, both for the essays themselves, which are as insightful, critical, and humorous as Le Guin’s writing always is, and for the look at Le Guin at this other time period.

In the 1970s, Le Guin was in her 40s and at what she must have thought were the heights of her creative and cultural abilities.  She could not have known then that she would only continue to grown in her power, skill, and perspective.  There is a lot of youth and vigor in these essays, which are a joy to encounter, and I loved getting to see this younger version of her critical self.  She has all the wit and fire that she will possess throughout her career, but there is something of the hot shot in her writing, like she’s spoiling for a fight, confident in her ability to take all on comers, but with some nervous energy.  Over the years, this tone will mellow, never losing the certainty, but no longer concerned about any return punches, and a complete readiness to be wrong if she is proven so.  The gloves are laid down as the opinions stand for themselves.

Susan Wood selected and ordered the essays.  She also writes short introductions for each of the five sections she creates, and headnotes that pull quotes from essays and talks that are not included in the collection.  This was clearly the work of someone who loved and admired Le Guin’s writing, and she did a wonderful job.

If you are a fan of Le Guin’s writing on writing, and you want to see some early works of hers, this is a wonderful collection.  I hope your library has a copy, because they are rather expensive on ebay.  Too expensive for me to add to my collection for the mere sake of collecting.

Words Are My Matter: Le Guin on Books and Writing

 

Le Guin is a rare artist.  Her fierce intelligent is guided by her unerring instincts, so that she works through her stories both intellectually and emotionally, by thought and by feel.  As I read my way through her novels, I took special pleasure in reading her own forwards (which I often read as afterwards, instead) because she had the additional gift of being able to evaluate her own work from a loving distance, crediting and admiring what deserved credit and admiration, and criticizing what she saw falling short.  Better still, her non-fictional essays were written with the same grace and energy as her works of fiction.

When I was contemplating writing a collection of critical essays, I knew I wanted to peel myself away from my own academic style of writing.  So I picked up this copy of Le Guin’s essays on writing. About half of the book is comprised of book reviews and introductions that she has written for the works of other authors, and the other half consists of essays and talks about the art and field.  I had originally intended to pick and choose the essays for inspiration and study, but instead I found myself reading the collection in its entirety.

I find the way Le Guin looks at and considers the world to be both comforting and inspiring, although I can’t put my finger on what it is.  There is a determined optimism combined with a certain crankiness.  A loving gentleness and a sharp critical eye.  A large sense of understanding and a demand that things get done right.  I don’t agree with everything she says, but nor do I dismiss anything she says, because I know each position is considered, both in its content and in its presentation.

I was so moved by one of her introductory essays, that I immediately got a copy of the book and read it before finishing Le Guin’s.  That book was Vonda McIntyre’s Dreamsnake, and I loved it.  By the time I finished this collection, I had created a reading list of some 20 books that I have every intention of working my way through: the Books Le Guin Admired.  I have a few things to read before beginning the list in earnest, but I’ve very excited about it.  When I find someone I admire and trust, I like to look at who they admire and trust in turn.  Because her essays are earnest and don’t hold back on criticism any more than they do praise, I fully trust her evaluations.

I am impressed that this book has sold well and is still in print, because I imagine that the audience for it is rather small: those of us who enjoy Le Guin’s writing and person enough to want to hear what she has to say about dozens of other authors.  But if that sounds like an enjoyable trip by the premise, you will find a lot here to enjoy, and just as much to inspire you onward.