The Word for World is Forest (The Hainish Cycle #5) [B1734]

2010 PB in nice clean condition. 1973 Hugo Award Winner. When the inhabitants of a peaceful world are conquered by the bloodthirsty yumens, their existence is irrevocably altered. Forced into servitude, the Athsheans find themselves at the mercy of their brutal masters. Desperation causes the Athsheans, led by Selver, to retaliate against their captors, abandoning their strictures against violence. But in defending their lives, they have endangered the very foundations of their society. For every blow against the invaders is a blow to the humanity of the Athsheans. And once the killing starts, there is no turning back.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This novel filled me with anger and a deep sense of helplessness, feelings made even more unsettling by how relevant The Word for World Is Forest remains more than fifty years after it was written. It explores colonialism and the racism inseparable from it: the dehumanization of the 'other', exploitation of both people and land, and the devastation of environmental destruction. Just as powerfully, Le Guin examines resistance and the ethical dilemma it carries, asking whether violence can ever be justified, or whether it inevitably corrupts even the most just cause. And all this within an immersive science-fiction world, making the ideas even more visceral and impactful."; "People say this book comes across as super 'preachy' and I think people need to read books like this. Lets get more preachy! Let's get more woke! Colonialism has Not Ended. Start caring MORE. With only 110 pages, this book did so much. It's depressing because it's so real."; "A small book that remains as relevant now as it was at the time of writing during the Vietnam War - the Athsheans would be singing for us if they saw our world now."