One of my favorite books. My twin brother and I were strongly influenced by this book, it led to us both being environmental activists for many years. I always felt, however, that Le Guin sort of "copped out" regarding the conflict between the Kesh and the Condor People: personally, I thought the Condors would conquer the Kesh, as they had other peoples in that far-future setting. I never really accepted Le Guin's pat assurance -- via Pandora -- that, eventually, the Condors would implode, due to their own toxic culture. Thirteen-year-old me always wanted to add, "... But only after they've destroyed the Kesh!" I think it was because I felt like a Kesh in a world dominated by a culture like the Condor People, and I desperately wanted to know how the Kesh managed to survive.

Nice to see discussion of Le Guin with (at this point) 80 or so comments.