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Ursula K. Le Guin: The Hainish Cycle

September 19 - October 24, 2023, Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (six sessions)
925 SW Washington Street Portland, OR 97205

$240

The Left Hand of Darkness, The Word for World is Forest, & The Dispossessed are three of the most iconic novels by the legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin. Written within less than five years of each other, these novels all occur in the same science fiction universe that is most often referred to as Le Guin’s Hainish Cycle. Exploring themes of gender construction, non-hierarchical societies, & imperialist-driven environmental destruction, these texts deftly critique our own society through these expansive & imaginative worlds. The fourth text for this seminar, “The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction,” is an essay by Le Guin that argues our society has been devastated by our dominant form of story: the hero’s journey. In the essay she implores us to consider telling the untold stories of life while abandoning overdone violent narratives. This brief essay will act as a lens through which to consider the three other imaginative novels. This seminar will not only immerse us in tremendous works of fiction—we will explore how the stories we tell can create & challenge the society we live in.

Texts:

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin

Access Program
We want our classes to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers class registrations at a reduced rate. The access program for writing classes covers 60% of the class tuition. Most writing classes have at least one access spot available.

Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org if you have questions.

Liaison position
Every in-person class and seminar at Literary Arts has one liaison position. Liaisons perform specific duties for each class meeting. If you are a liaison for a class or seminar, the full amount of your tuition is covered by Literary Arts.

Apply here for the liaison position.

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Benjamin McPherson Ficklin

Benjamin McPherson Ficklin will never surrender—Benjamin McPherson Ficklin will always love you. They are the author of the novella The West & the collection A Cynical View of Dystopian America. Among various publications of fiction, poetry, & journalism, their work has been recognized in Best Small Fiction 2019 and Best American Essays 2020.
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