Orsinian Tales

Read my review at Entering the Enchanted Castle:
https://enterenchanted.com/the-1976-club-two-by-le-guin/

Most of these stories I didn't care much for initially. I have read some of Le Guin's other non-SFF stuff, such as her essays and novels like The Beginning Place, but this was the first time I've ever had to push myself to continue reading her work. Largely a miss for me. After finishing however, some of them are very much growing on me

One story was an instant poignant hit for me. It concerns a man who pleads a great impresario to play a work he's written. The man is overworked, constantly distracted by busiwork and household chores- what he's presenting to the impresario is the work of over a decade.

But the man will never amount to anything. He will never release anything of note. He has the talent and the perseverance to create something beautiful, but he has the time nor the support to actually do it. A great talent is wasted by his inability to spend time on it.

It's a depressing story, but it still echoes in my mind. Might be one of my favorite Le Guin stories.

Favorite stories: “An die Musik” (aforementioned) and “The Lady of Moge”.