I don't know when or why I got this set of stories, but I'm so glad I did. Inspired by the tediousness of air travel, LeGuin posits the ability to take that tedium, and the accompanying stress and misery, to change planes (get it?) and visit another world.
The stories that follow are thought exercises on different aspects of humanity, each reflected in the culture and history of alien races. They are by turns satirical, melancholy, threatening, and wistful, and the last one is a mind-bender that left me feeling destabilized -- not something I often feel when reading.
They remind me greatly of Jorge Luis Borges's stories, in that they are driven by philosophical concepts rather than plots; no surprise, though, given that LeGuin has cited Borges as an influence. This is not the book for someone looking for a traditional story, or even well-rounded characters. But if you want something that will make you think about what it means to be human, this is perfect.
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