Just read one of Ursula Le Guin’s books where humans sent off some unwanted people, no scientists, to another planet and they brought up how hundreds of years into living there, they still give arbitrary names to things. E.g. naming an animal Heron because it kind of resembles one, but this is an alien world, so it is really not.
Anyways, at one point one of the characters asks why people still use the name Victoria for the planet, as this was named by Earth people. And then suggested to just call the planet Mud, since they got so much of it. Was half a joke but later in the book some people do use Mud as a name for it.
It’s funny, as I got older I became kind of a germaphobe. (Like I’m usually carrying a pack of antibacterial wipes.)
When I was young payphones were still a thing. And I used them frequently. I couldn’t see myself doing that now. I have to wonder if people got weird ear diseases or ear infections from those things. I don’t remember any stories about it. Though it seems like the kind of thing that would become an urban legend.
Same! I snuck up behind and choke-holded them with Wizard until they passed out from Ged overdose, and then I crammed Atuan into each and every orifice before I left them for dead.
God she was an epic baller of a person too. An amazing personal story and she herself was a deep well of insight and compassionate wisdom. It comes through in most everything she wrote or said.
I am going through her catalogue. Whatever is available at our library. So far I liked them all. Least of all Lavinia, that started off quite weak but also got better, but out of all the strong books it was the one at the bottom so far.
There is a clear thematic connection here, but when I started reading your comment I thought you were going to say it was because “Ursula” resembled “Ursus.”
Just read one of Ursula Le Guin’s books where humans sent off some unwanted people, no scientists, to another planet and they brought up how hundreds of years into living there, they still give arbitrary names to things. E.g. naming an animal Heron because it kind of resembles one, but this is an alien world, so it is really not.
Anyways, at one point one of the characters asks why people still use the name Victoria for the planet, as this was named by Earth people. And then suggested to just call the planet Mud, since they got so much of it. Was half a joke but later in the book some people do use Mud as a name for it.
Telephone sanitizers?
That’s just the “B” ark. Ah. But I forget about the mutant star goat.
Are those people? Are they unwanted?
Only until the entire race contracts a nasty virulent disease from a dirty telephone.
It’s funny, as I got older I became kind of a germaphobe. (Like I’m usually carrying a pack of antibacterial wipes.)
When I was young payphones were still a thing. And I used them frequently. I couldn’t see myself doing that now. I have to wonder if people got weird ear diseases or ear infections from those things. I don’t remember any stories about it. Though it seems like the kind of thing that would become an urban legend.
Idk, someone’s gotta clean those things. I would’ve gone with telemarketers tbh. Those mfs can all be sent to mars for all I care.
Even if they were on Mars, I bet they’d still try to call us.
Yesss, I just Le Guin pilled someone last week. Fingers crossed they read it. They asked me for a general book list and chose one of hers from it.
Same! I snuck up behind and choke-holded them with Wizard until they passed out from Ged overdose, and then I crammed Atuan into each and every orifice before I left them for dead.
I can’t wait to have a new book bestie!
While I recognize the humor, I wish I had a book bestie.
i recently read through the series and now i only have the last short story left– and i don’t want to finish it becuase then it’ll be over :(
so few authors manage to make me sad this way
😂
The ones who walk away from Omelas is one of my favorite stories. Powerful metaphor, that.
God she was an epic baller of a person too. An amazing personal story and she herself was a deep well of insight and compassionate wisdom. It comes through in most everything she wrote or said.
Its currently sitting in my library app, but I’m bracing myself because of how hard the left hand if darkness broke me
I read that story like 20 years ago and I still think about it all the time.
i don’t know if it was intentional, but one of Expedition 33’s endings gave me vibes of that story
I am going through her catalogue. Whatever is available at our library. So far I liked them all. Least of all Lavinia, that started off quite weak but also got better, but out of all the strong books it was the one at the bottom so far.
Ursulandia and NoUrsulandia ?
Careful, if you go there you might run into Zensursula.
There is a clear thematic connection here, but when I started reading your comment I thought you were going to say it was because “Ursula” resembled “Ursus.”
Heh, gotcha’!