Review of Another Story by Ursula K. Le Guin

This short story (novella?) is also known as A Fisherman of the Inland Sea.

This story is, so far, the least liked of my reads from The Time Traveller’s Almanac. I had a relatively good idea this would be the case going in, but I decided to keep an open mind and read the whole story.

I really did like the concept of churtening – instant transportation from one place to another. The explanation and experimentation surrounding it was good, and kept my attention. I also enjoyed the story of Urashima. That said, the time travel Urashima experienced and the time travel Hideo experienced are different in nature, and one wonders why he felt he had to relate the story of Urashima, given the differences.

I struggled when it came to Hideo’s explanation of the culture he grew up in. It felt gratuitous, and I really didn’t feel it was necessary to the working out of the story. By all means, describe the society some, the area, but in so much detail? I’m not convinced it’s necessary.

So bit of a mixed bag, but overall not a story I can say I enjoyed to read.

2/5 stars

My other reviews of this collection can be found here.

About Laurel C Kriegler

A born and bred South African, I was educated at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, where I graduated with an Honours Degree (post-graduate) in Economics at the end of 2001. After spending several years gaining work experience in the UK, I returned to South Africa to get married. It was during the ensuing period that my pursuits of writing and editing took hold.

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