50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION—WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY DAVID MITCHELL AND A NEW AFTERWORD BY CHARLIE JANE ANDERSUrsula K. Le Guin’s groundbreaking work of science fiction—winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards.A lone human ambassador is sent to the icebound planet of Winter, a world without sexual prejudice, where the inhabitants’ gender is fluid. His goal is to facilitate Winter’s inclusion in a … Winter’s inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the strange, intriguing culture he encounters…
Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.
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This book had been on my list for awhile — it’s widely considered to be a must-read for any science fiction fan, and particularly groundbreaking, especially for the time in which it was written. In my opinion, the book is ahead of its time in some ways and very much of its time in other ways. Gender is often the focus of most discussions about this book, and gender does play its own role in the narrative, but the book is about Otherness in all of its forms. Le Guin is deftly able to work issues of race, gender, and politics into this novel, and the scope of the world and its inhabitants is rendered with care. This is a rare, complex, and compelling book, and I’ll be thinking about it for years to come.
As profuse and original in invention as The Lord of the Rings.
Early hugely popular novel of this revered Science Fiction and Fantasy writer. It is about a fairly complicated world whose inhabitants are ambisexual. They each have their own personal mating season called Kemmer during which they take on the secondary sexual characteristics of whichever sex is appropriate with their chosen mate. Le Guin used to say that her favorite sentence was in this book; “The king was pregnant.”
There is much more to this culture, and this story however. The Terrans have come to the planet, Gethan, to persuade them to join the Federation of Worlds. The culture is seen through the eyes of a very open minded Terran, who actually takes a guided trek through Gethan, called “Winter” which rightly indicates harsh conditions. Shit happens. We become completely immersed in the world and the story. The end is a bit of a shock, but it’s good, basically. Leaves you wondering and wanting more.
A quote from Harold Bloom; “Le Guin, more than Tolkien, has raised fantasy into high literature, for our time”. (Bloom, Harold (1987). “Introduction”. In Bloom, Harold. Modern Critical Interpretations: Ursula Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness. New York, New York, USA: Chelsea House Publications. pp. 1–10)
A brilliant novel
Slow read. Dated
“The Left Hand of Darkness” is one of Ursula LeGuin’s most powerful novels. It has many of the elements that make her stories so fascinating: anthropological, gender-bending and mind-expanding. She creates cultures, familial and gender relationships, societal and individual points of view that expose the reader to whole new concepts that may shake or overturn the reader’s assumptions. Yet often her new cultures are based on societies studied here and now. LeGuin is one of those authors who use science fiction to express those concepts that might be resisted, ignored or unacceptable if they weren’t presented in the guise of science fiction.
Way ahead of her time.
Thought provoking
Deseve it’s status as a classic, not just of sci-fi but of contemporary literature in general.
I don’t often recommend that everyone should read a particular book but The Left Hand of Darkness stands at the very top of my favorites list. Sci-fi only in genre. The social, political and environmental themes are so fully realized that I was convinced this world could very likely exist. One of those stories that can evoke a critical look at the assumptions we all carry.
At first, I struggled with this classic. It is methodical and a bit complex. It is also unique and a benchmark of science fiction, with a style to be emulated. Genly Ai is an Envoy from a Consortium of Planets/Civilizations intent on sharing information and ideals in a peaceful manner. He lands on frozen planet “Winter” and becomes embroiled in the politics and machinations of opposing autocratic and democratic nations, leading to exile with an unlikely ally. Written during the Cold War, Le Guin teases with the positive aspects of both ideologies, eventually revealing each underbelly. An excellent study of politics, social mores, religion, psychology and the human spirit on an environmentally unforgiving planet.
Had to read this for my English 299: Special Topics: Genre and Theme: Science Fiction college class. The consepts in it were difficult for the majority of us to understand and wrap our heads around. You will see what I mean if you read this book for yourself.
An ambassador of the Ekumen, a space-spanning confederation, has political intrigue as he tries to bring a new planet into the Ekumen.
I read it because it’s a classic. Some excitement and interesting enough to finish, but not all that classic.
Don’t pick this book up unless you don’t mind reading it many more times in the next month . I had a brief addiction, read it 4 times in a row the month after I finished it and a few times in the following years.
Currently reading this book and 25% done, but I’m very into it. The worldbuilding is spectacular.
True classic. Thought-provoking.
The writing was excellent and the premise interesting, but for some reason I never really got into it.
One of my forever books. Fabulous worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.
I have read this book several times and each time I come away with something different and unique about it.