Worlds of Exile and Illusion: Rocannon's World, Planet of Exile, City of Illusions Book

I am glad I made the decision to read the Hainish cycle from the start, even though I owe this to my OCD reading style. While each novel is entirely capable of standing alone, has very different protagonists and raises very different issues, the continuity of the world-building was satisfying. I especially liked how protagonists from each novel became so legendary that they are mentioned much later in time in subsequent novels. The ethical concerns become deeper and more elaborate over the course of the cycle. To me what's most impressive is how deftly Le Guin navigates and celebrates cultural difference.