The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction

The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction is a short and powerful essay by Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018), an American writer which gained prominence through her science fiction and speculative novels. In this essay of great importance in literary and social studies, Le Guin revises the History of humanity and a particular form that is dominant in story structures.

In de-throning the figure of the Hero from its pedestal in Occidental culture, with its triumphant narratives, of domination and death, the author proposes the possibilities of telling “another stories, the untold story, the story of life”. A story that resembles less the accounts of mammoth hunting – and more the bags used by the first human beings to collect, store and share food supplies.

“We’ve heard it, we’ve all heard all about all the sticks and spears and swords, the things to bash and poke and hit with, the long, hard things, but we have not heard about the thing to put things in, the container for the thing contained. That is a new story. That is news”

“I would go so far as to say that the natural, proper, fitting shape of the novel might be that of a sack, a bag. A book holds words. Words hold things. They bear meanings. A novel is a medicine bundle, holding things in a particular, powerful relation to one another and to us”

Translated by Isabel Diegues, the book includes, even more, an essay from philosopher Donna Haraway and another from writer Carola Saavedra, besides illustrations from Cecilia Stockler Carvalhosa.

About the author
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) has published 23 novels, 12 short story collections, 11 poetry collections, 13 children’s books, five essay collections, besides translations. A consecrated writer of science and speculative fiction, the width and breath of her work’s imagination rewarded her with six Nebula Awards, seven Hugo Awards, and the title of Grand Master of the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association), besides the PEN/Malamud Award, among others. In 2014 she received the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (DCAL) and, in 2016, she joined the select list of authors published by the Library of America while still alive.

Specifications
Title A teoria da bolsa de ficção [The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction]
Author Ursula K. Le Guin
Translator Isabel Diegues
Complementary texts Donna Haraway and Carola Saavedra
ISBN 978-65-5691-189-2 
Language Portuguese
Cover and illustrations Cecilia Stockler Carvalhosa
Format Softcover
Size 11,5 x 15,3 cm
Page count 64
Year 2025
Price R$ 58,00