The Left Hand of Darkness
by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ursula K. Le GuinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Published)
Published: 1977
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Ace Books
Book Reviews of The Left Hand of Darkness
Book Review: Hot Desire on a Winter Planet
Summary: 5 Stars
This extraordinary novel details the adventures of a young man, Genly Ai, sent as an envoy to try to convince the people of Winter (Gethen) to join the great concord of peoples and planets known as the Ekumen. Genly is sent alone because that is the custom--one Envoy at a time sent into a strange world to question, be questioned and perhaps killed. Then another Envoy goes out, infinitely, until the planet gives up its fears and welcomes contact.
Genly first takes up his mission in the nation of Karhide, ruled by a mad king. He does not quite trust the king's minister and eventually takes his ambassadorship to the neighboring nation which is run on socialist lines. But he discovers that all news of his coming is censored in this second nation and eventually he is imprisoned.
This is also the story of the king's minister, Estraven. Estraven, like all his people, is neither a man nor a woman but hermaphrodite, sexless until a season of "kemmering" calls forth courtship in a couple. Estraven, for reasons of the heart, is willing to sacrifice his honored position for this young man beyond the stars.
LeGuin has created an astonishing world, full of complex politics and unusual philosophy. Sexuality shimmers beneath the reality of this gripping adventure. What if being man or woman is not a given but something that can change in a season? Everything we think of as human mutates. This is a classic of science fiction. Highly recommended.
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