The Shobies' Story
| "The Shobies' Story" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Ursula K. Le Guin | |
Cover of audiotape version; artwork by Robert Daniels, Jr. | |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Universe 1 |
| Publication type | Anthology |
| Publisher | Broadway (AudioText, Inc. for shown image) |
| Media type | Print (Audiotape for shown image) |
| Publication date | March 1, 1990 (1996 for shown image) |
| Series | Hainish Cycle |
"The Shobies' Story" is a 1990 science fiction novella by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin, describing the story of the first human crew to participate in a newly invented faster-than-light mode of space travel. It was first published in the anthology Universe 1 and subsequently appeared in A Fisherman of the Inland Sea published by Harper Prism in 1994.
The crew forms a miniature society in which each member must participate in creating a cohesive group narrative to alter the nature of reality, which causes the travel. "The Shobies' Story" is notable because Le Guin replaces the traditional militaristic and hierarchical chain of command used in traditional space travel with voluntary consensus.
"The Shobies' Story" was nominated for a Nebula Award in the novelette category in 1991.