I have found a new favourite author in Ursula K. Le Guin. I first read her work, "A Fisherman of the Inland Sea" which piqued my curiosity and I kept searching for her books until now. "The Birthday of the World and Other Stories" is not so different from the book I first read by this author. They are both collections of short stories and even feature some of the same planets. Somehow, I did not tire of the universe that Le Guin has created. There was always something new to learn about a planet or a species, even if I had already read about them before.

While her universe isn't as carefully crafted as one would think (her prologue discusses this), there is no denying the fact that her universe is extremely immersive. I could get lost in the lore and the people in it. Her characters, although many of them alien, are very understandable. Though their customs may be different, it was still generally easy to empathize with their specific alien problems. Everything is so believable and feels very real. Not once was I pulled out of my suspense of belief.

The stories were very memorable as well. Each culture was so distinct that I found it hard to mix up stories. I will admit that some of my favourite stories are the ones about the people of O and their complex relationship structures. However, my favourite story from this collection is without a doubt the very last story.

Maybe I'm being a little bit egocentric because it's a story about us humans directly but I found it to be a very touching experience. I envy future generations who get to travel through space and I am always in awe of future generations learning about the past and how they would think of our current ways of thinking. Still, there's a relationship element in addition to all the nitty gritty sci fi that made my eyes water towards the end.

All in all, I would travel in Ursula K. le Guin's universes again. Her worlds are a world builders wet dream. Thank goodness I have found Ursula K. le Guin.

First: Inventing a universe is tough work.

Last: They danced together that way.