It seems LeGuin’s The Other Wind is this year’s World Fantasy Award winner for best novel.
You know, normally I would be jumping for joy over a LeGuin victory—but The Other Wind frustrated me so badly that I’m no better than ambivalent.
Let’s be clear: I love LeGuin. I love the Earthsea series. I absolutely love Tehanu and Tales from Earthsea both. And there are some lovely moments in The Other Wind.
Taken as a whole, though, The Other Wind frustrated me. I discussed why in one or two (or perhaps three) messages on the-ekumen mailing list.
So I’m happy Ms. LeGuin has another award, but I wish she’d won it for a more satisfying book.
