Slow start, but strong finish. ( )

It's interesting to read this series starting with Rocannon's world, Le Guin's first novel, and contains a fairly conventional central conceit, and read this third installment in this loose series and see how much the prolific writer progressed in just a year of publishing. City of Illusions is well placed in the series in combining two elements of the previous novels; the hero's journey of Falk, and the mysteriously alien interacting with the comparatively primitive. This is then combined with the unique twist of City of Illusions, and the dance the author plays with both the protaganist and the reader with the interplay between truth and deceit. This is of course uncomfortable to read, especially compared to the straightforwardness of the previous novesl, but I almost wish she'd gone the full nine yards and left the story ambiguous with its relation to the greater universe and of the relationship between the reasder and the books. As it stands it is a great addition to the cycle, as usual, Le Guin's ability to establish charaters so quickly and effectively while curating this facsinating sci-fi/fantasy world is what elevates her as one of the great writers of her genre.

City of Illusions feels like it has two main sections, one much cleverer than the other. The majority of the novel is Falk's journey west, which reprises a lot of such journeys west and doesn't feel particularly engaging. Many of the events along the way don't seem to add a ton to the narrative besides giving us more time with Falk himself. The payoff comes at the culmination of the novel, where upon reaching the City Es Toch, we find that Falk is an alien from another world that sent an expedition to Earth. He has had his prior memory erased, and upon recovering it must navigate the hostile city while combining the two experiences. This is a compelling conceit, touching on questions of the sense of self and the nature of truth. I'm also intrigued by the barebones skeleton of how the League of All Worlds fell to the Shing, an enemy whose ability to lie appears to be their sole advantage. I haven't read much in the way of space war, so thinking about how an ansible-connected galactic civilisation could crumble is fascinating. I love that the Hainish universe is able to provide a setting for all sorts of different stories, including this one. ( )

If you liked The Left Hand of Darkness, read Planet of Exile! If you liked Planet of Exile, read City of Illusions. ( )

A man—with unusual cat-like eyes—awakes in a strange place, not knowing who he is, where he‘s from, or where he‘s at. A kind family “adopts” him and teaches him the ways of their unusual world. It turns out to be a dystopian USA, with tribes, many violent, & one feared by all others. He goes on a journey to try to learn who he is & ends up in the city ruled by the most feared tribe. But they are so so nice to him. He feels, though, the kindness and offers to return his memories are actually deceptions. I found his journey to the city tedious, but once there, his self-discovery is very interesting. It‘s somewhat hard sci-fi so not my genre and not an author I‘m inclined to read again. But the story was interesting and I‘m glad I finally tried something by this author. ( )