Rocannon's World

"Rokannon’s World" is the first and best-known novel by the American fantasy queen, Ursula Le Guin. Published in 1966, "Rokannon’s World" is part of the Hainish Cycle, which became Le Guin’s calling card.

Gaverel Rokannon is the leader of an ethnographic expedition working on the planet Fomalhaut-II. The civilization of Fomalhaut-II stands at the level of feudal medieval times—castles, swords, spears, riders on winged beasts. The expedition’s ship, intended for instant interstellar communication, is blown up—and Rokannon is the only one to survive. Now he must defend the world he has come to love from formidable and treacherous invaders armed with advanced technologies, but lacking high moral and ethical principles. What price is he willing to pay to achieve his goal? And what if saving the entire planet requires paying with a friend’s life? And what if he’s given a supernatural gift—but with it comes enormous responsibility? Combining a science-fiction foundation with almost fairy-tale plots and atmosphere, Ursula Le Guin raises truly deep questions that each person can answer only for themselves.