User:Vanamonde93/sandbox/Powers (novel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Powers (2007) is the third book in the trilogy Annals of the Western Shore, sometimes called Chronicles of the Western Shore,[1][2] a young adult series by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is preceded in the series by Voices. Powers won the 2008 Nebula Award for Best Novel.[3]

Setting[edit]

The author giving a reading in 2008

Powers is the third volume of Annals of the Western Shore, following Gifts (2004) and Voices (2006). Gifts told the story of Gry and Orrec, who grew up in Uplands in the far north of the fictional world depicted in the series, while Voices is set in the city of Ansul, in the southern region of the same world.[4] The civilization of this world was settled by people from across a desert to the east of the regions depicted in the series. It consists of a number of city states, as well as some nomads on the borders of the desert.[4] Powers begins in the city of Etra, whose political structure is similar to that of the Roman Republic. The wealthy families keep slaves, of whom the protagonist, Gavir, is one. Slaves are not allowed to keep their children, and slaves thus are considered not to have ancestors.[4]

Plot[edit]

Gavir is a slave who develops a gift for precognition. He is trained to serve as a teacher for a noble family in the city of Etra; but personal tragedy drives him into the life of a hunted wanderer. He endures adventures, challenges, and suffering. Eventually he escapes to a new and happy life.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ursula K. Le Guin - Online Radio Interview with the Author". theauthorhour.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  2. ^ "Gifts #1 by Ursula K Le Guin | Good Reading Guide by Portico Books". goodreadingguide.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  3. ^ "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2009 Nebula Awards". locusmag.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  4. ^ a b c Waltman, Jo (April 29, 2009). "A new island of stability: Ursula Le Guin's Annals of the Western Shore". Tor.com . Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  5. ^ Review, Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2007

Sources[edit]