Book description
Featuring a new introduction by Ken Liu, this revised edition of Ursula K. Le Guin's first full-length collection of essays covers her background as a writer and educator, on fantasy and science fiction, on writing, and on the future of literary science fiction. "We like to think we live in daylight, but half the world is always dark; and fantasy, like poetry, speaks the language of the night." --Ursula K. Le Guin Le Guin's sharp and witty voice is on full display in this collection of twenty-four essays, revised by the author a decade after its initial publication in 1979. The collection covers a wide range of topics and Le Guin's origins as a writer, her advocacy for science fiction and fantasy as mediums for true literary exploration, the writing of her own major works such as A Wizard of Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness, and her role as a public intellectual and educator. The book and each thematic section are brilliantly introduced and contextualized by Susan Wood, a professor at the University of British Columbia and a literary editor and feminist activist during the 1960s and '70s. A fascinating, intimate look into the exceptional mind of Le Guin whose insights remain as relevant and resonant today as when they were first published.
About the Author
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was a celebrated author whose body of work includes twenty-three novels, twelve volumes of short stories, eleven volumes of poetry, thirteen children's books, five essay collections, and four works of translation. The breadth and imagination of her work earned her six Nebula Awards, seven Hugo Awards, and SFWA's Grand Master, along with a PEN/Malamud Award and many others. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2016, she joined the short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America.
Chuckles
This app has rekindled my passion for storytelling in the most convenient way. I'm addicted to this app's seamless performance and impressive library. I can't get enough of this app – it's like having a personal library with me. Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 Say hello to audiobook nirvana! This app's user-friendly design and comprehensive features have made my reading routine smoother than ever. 🌌📚
PepperBurst
Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
Forger
⏰ Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks – energizing! 🌅🎧 ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. It's like having a personal assistant for my literary adventures. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Fantastic app!
Abyss Tamer
This app is like a personal audiobook concierge! The ability to download and organize audio files effortlessly is a game-changer for my reading routine. 📱📖 ListenBook's statistics feature is eye-opening. I had no idea how much time I spent immersed in audiobooks until I started using it. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and visually appealing. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
TrixiePhany
Book groups feature keeps series and related titles together. Neat and tidy! Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Shooter
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks.
Wiccan Trouble
ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Suicide Jockey
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. The narrators on this app are truly talented – they bring characters to life. 🎉 Making each day a new chapter – this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! 📖🌄 Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's design is a standout. My house has never been cleaner! I kept finding chores to do just to keep listening. The narrator's energy matched the tone of the book perfectly.
Alpha
The compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch sets ListenBook apart from the rest. Audiobooks have turned my mundane activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment.
Cowboy Booter
This app has transformed my daily routine into moments of literary delight. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. 📚✨ I love the variety of themes available. It makes the app feel personalized. Perfect narration for this genre! The voice actor’s tone matched the atmosphere of the book, enhancing the overall experience. No complaints—just a smooth, enjoyable listen from beginning to end.
Trip
This app is a boon for book lovers who are always on the go. This app has made multitasking a breeze – I can 'read' while I work! Effortlessly accessing my favorite audiobooks has become a reality, all thanks to this app's user-centric design and comprehensive format support. A must-download! 📱🎧
Queen Bee
ListenBook has brought the joy of audiobooks back into my life in a whole new way. I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile! Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Nacho
Listening to audiobooks has become my daily ritual for relaxation and escape. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. Audiobook journey simplified – this app's functionality is a wonderful surprise. Automated metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is so organized now. Noise reduction and voice tone changing are brilliant features.
Tangerine
The narrators have a way of bringing characters to life – it's a unique experience. This app's sleek design and effortless controls have made audiobook listening an immersive experience. ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Mother Night
ListenBook has elevated my audiobook enjoyment to a whole new level – it's a must-have for any audio enthusiast. ListenBook's integration with AirDrop and sharing options makes it simple to spread the joy of storytelling. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Spooky Yellowjacket
ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. ⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧
Truth
I appreciate the minimal ads – it's all about uninterrupted enjoyment. Kudos to the developers! ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are fantastic features. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
Trigger Warming
I can't believe how much more productive I am – I'm learning and growing while multitasking! Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily. An audiobook I’ll listen to again! The story was engaging, and the narrator’s performance made it even better. Some parts were so well-delivered that I replayed them just to hear the emotion again.
High-Fructose
This app has rekindled my passion for literature in a whole new way. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of storytelling with friends. Looping playback helps me immerse myself in the content. It's my secret study weapon. Listening statistics motivate me to read more. Excellent feature! The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
B@d B0y
ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. Finally, an app that values usability – navigating and listening is a breeze! The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow. The playback speed adjustment is a game-changer for busy individuals. Time saver! ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience