Powers

by Ursula K. Le Guin

First published 2009

Gavir lives as a house slave in the mansion of a wealthy family. He possesses an extraordinary memory that lets him recall any book page with a single glance. More disturbing are the flashes of future events that sometimes fill his mind. His older sister warns him to hide these abilities from their masters. When disaster tears apart everything Gavir holds dear, he abandons the only home he has known. The young man sets out across dangerous territory with no clear destination. He carries questions he cannot answer. Does he seek his freedom from bondage? Does he search for others like himself? Most puzzling of all, what purpose do his mysterious powers truly serve? His journey becomes a test of endurance as he travels through hostile lands. Gavir must learn to survive on his own while wrestling with grief and uncertainty. The road leads him toward discoveries about his identity and heritage that will reshape his understanding of himself.

Genres: science-fiction, literary-fiction, coming-of-age, fantasy

Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking

Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, journey

Setting: Western Shore

Period: 20th-century

512 pages · Kindle Edition · Mariner Books

Content warnings: slavery

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