Le Guin is a masterful storyteller. In the company of richly developed characters, her intriguing narrative runs at a steady, even pace allowing the reader to effortlessly scale ideas of great height and depth. This story is set among the clans of the uplands who possess a variety of ‘gifts’ or abilities: with a glance, a gesture or a word they can summon animals, bring forth fire, move land, or even chain a mind or inflict illness. But two young people decide not to use their gifts because they do not wish to seek power for themselves or inflict harm. They show a wise fear of learning power, knowing it is a heavy thing. They are determined to use their gifts only to do good, never to destroy, in spite of what is socially expected. Heroism is shown facing duty for the sake of others, and care is taken to notice and act on their needs. Marriage is based on true, self-giving love, and writing reading, poetry and stories are shown to be great treasures which contain and decipher the very meaning of life.