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Macy Lu's avatar

Raphael's time among Utopians slightly reminds me of Genly's time among Gethenians in "The Left Hand of Darkness". They're both diplomatic foreigners trying to make sense of cultures that are wildly different from their own. I wonder if Le Guin might have drawn inspiration from More's story.

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Elle Griffin's avatar

That's actually a theme in a lot of utopian novels! Including Peach Blossom Spring, The New Atlantis, Herland, etc.

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Macy Lu's avatar

Ooo that's interesting! I tend to read more dystopian than utopian, so I didn't know that. Will keep this in mind when I visit those other novels you'd mentioned. :) Particularly looking forward to The New Atlantis. Bacon fascinates me as a historical figure and a writer. (And not just cause his name is my favorite breakfast food).

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Elle Griffin's avatar

Ha! I know, I'm excited to read more of Bacon's philosophy, unfortunately he died before he finished The New Atlantis so we only get a couple chapters in and then it ends abruptly and we don't get to know what the rest of the world is like!

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