75. (February 2019) The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. LeGuin — The Tabletop Roleplayers' Book Club

2. Religion

Michael_S_Miller — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:26:29 +0000

Arha/Tenar is a high priestess of the Nameless Ones. How does her social role as priestess affect her story? How does religion fit into Kargish society?

The Kargs have religion, but use no sorcery. The Inner Lands use sorcery, but have no religion. How are they related?

7. Emotional impact

RichardAbbott — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 07:36:34 +0000

Something which I don't think has emerged yet in our chat is the emotional impact of Ursula LeGuin's writing. For me, one of the great features of her best work is the way that a setting which has been predominantly descriptive or contextual suddenly grabs you as reader in a much more visceral way. Here, the line "Take care, Tenar" (in its narrative context) invariably does that for me, and has done since first reading the book about four decades ago

Lines like that - and I can easily think of other examples from her writing, especially in The Dispossessed - transmute the story into gold. The real focus of the tale switches from being about "other people in other places" to a personal and sometimes overwhelming response.

Of course, she is far from the only writer that can do this with a stray line here and there, but it highlights her skill as author.

Anyone else feel this?

6. Gaming

Michael_S_Miller — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:30:17 +0000

What elements of the book could be used at the gaming table?

Are there specific games that would suit these elements better, or worse?

5. The Nameless Ones

Michael_S_Miller — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:29:16 +0000

The Nameless Ones are a definite force in the novel. What did you think of them as characters?

What did you think of them as gods?

4. The Tombs

Michael_S_Miller — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:28:29 +0000

The Tombs are right there in the title. What did you think of them?

Even without (much) visual description, did you get a sense of place?

Did you find their structure and rules believable?

3. Tenar & Ged

Michael_S_Miller — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:27:51 +0000

Arha/Tenar’s life changes when Ged, protagonist of A Wizard of Earthsea, breaks into the Tombs.

How is her story different than his?

How are they similar?

1. Coming of Age

Michael_S_Miller — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:25:52 +0000

Like A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan is a coming-of-age story.

What role does growing-up play in Tenar’s story?

Her beliefs change significantly across the events of the novel—how and why?