The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas: Difference between revisions
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"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (Variation on a Theme by William James)" by [Ursula K. Le Guin] was first published in 1973 in ''New Dimensions 3'' edited by Robert Silverberg, and won the [[Hugo Award]] in 1974 for best short story. | "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (Variation on a Theme by William James)" by [[Ursula K. Le Guin]] was first published in [[1973]] in ''New Dimensions 3'' edited by [[Robert Silverberg]], and won the [[Hugo Award]] in 1974 for best short story. | ||
The story concerns an affluent, artistic, comfortable town, full of beautiful, happy, comfortable people. The author rapidly makes it clear that the happiness of the town is based on the abject misery of one emotionally and physically starved child. Without a line of dialogue or a single named character, she opens a discussion on the moral quality of happiness based on the misery of others. | The story concerns an affluent, artistic, comfortable town, full of beautiful, happy, comfortable people. The author rapidly makes it clear that the happiness of the town is based on the abject misery of one emotionally and physically starved child. Without a line of dialogue or a single named character, she opens a discussion on the moral quality of happiness based on the misery of others. | ||
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The story has spawned extensive attention and commentary, some of which can be found in the external links below. The name "Omelas," Le Guin says, came from driving by a sign that said, "Salem, Oregon" and reversing "Salem, O" in her head. | The story has spawned extensive attention and commentary, some of which can be found in the external links below. The name "Omelas," Le Guin says, came from driving by a sign that said, "Salem, Oregon" and reversing "Salem, O" in her head. | ||
The story's extensive power and popularity can be judged by references to it in online venues such as [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-koehler/reclaiming-omelas_b_29896.html The Huffington Post]. It has also been | The story's extensive power and popularity can be judged by references to it in online venues such as [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-koehler/reclaiming-omelas_b_29896.html The Huffington Post]. | ||
It has also been adapted for dance and theater by Steve Kidd, under the name ''Sigh/Omelas''. | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ones_Who_Walk_Away_From_Omelas wikipedia entry] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ones_Who_Walk_Away_From_Omelas wikipedia entry] | ||
*[http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-omelas/intro.html study guide] | *[http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-omelas/intro.html study guide] | ||
*[http://www.colby.edu/theater/productions/sigh.shtml page for a production of ''Sigh/Omelas''] | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, The}} | |||
[[Category:Short stories | [[Category:Short stories]] | ||
[[Category:1973 | [[Category:1973 publications]] | ||
[[Category:Hugo Award winning short stories | [[Category:Hugo Award winning short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Works by Ursula K. Le Guin]] | |||
Latest revision as of 13:15, 17 March 2008
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (Variation on a Theme by William James)" by Ursula K. Le Guin was first published in 1973 in New Dimensions 3 edited by Robert Silverberg, and won the Hugo Award in 1974 for best short story.
The story concerns an affluent, artistic, comfortable town, full of beautiful, happy, comfortable people. The author rapidly makes it clear that the happiness of the town is based on the abject misery of one emotionally and physically starved child. Without a line of dialogue or a single named character, she opens a discussion on the moral quality of happiness based on the misery of others.
The story has spawned extensive attention and commentary, some of which can be found in the external links below. The name "Omelas," Le Guin says, came from driving by a sign that said, "Salem, Oregon" and reversing "Salem, O" in her head.
The story's extensive power and popularity can be judged by references to it in online venues such as The Huffington Post.
It has also been adapted for dance and theater by Steve Kidd, under the name Sigh/Omelas.