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The Left Hand of Darkness
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The Left Hand of Darkness
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin

Book Information
Publisher: Ace
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780441478125 - ISBN-10: 0441478123
Pages: 320


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette

Book Description:
Praised as a groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary's mission to Winter, an unknown alien world whose inhabitants can choose -- and change -- their gender. His goal is to facilitate 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 completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Completely 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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Top Member Book Reviews

Kendall F. (Kendall) wrote on 12/3/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Twists and bends our basic categories of selfhood, forceing us to look at them in new ways. Highly recommended.


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Althea M. (althea) wrote on 9/15/2008...


I’ve read this classic (winner of both the Hugo & Nebula awards) more than once before. Although well known for its exploration of alternate views on gender and sexuality, and it does discuss that, it, in the end, is really a story about humanity and the nature of friendship.
Genly Ai, an Envoy of the Ekumen, a sort of non-partisan organization that facilitates travel and communication between worlds, has volunteered to try bring the Karhide into the Ekumen. On the planet known as Winter, he is overhelmed an alienated by the cold and inhospitable weather, by the inscrutable social customs and baffling political machinations of the people of the country of Karhide, and perhaps most of all by the fact that the the people of Karhide are asexual for much of the time, only coming into ‘heat’ or ‘kemmer’ at certain periods – at which time they could become either gender.
Following his mission, Ai meets Estraven, an official of Karhide who falls out of favor and is exiled… the events that follow are both bitter political drama and action-adventure quest, during the course of which Ai – and the reader learn more of the nature of humanity.
A truly excellent book.

BOB C. wrote on 3/18/2007...


Innovative science fiction tale.

Amanda G. (momg24k) wrote on 1/21/2007...


Written in 1969, the novel investigates some of the differences and some of the similarities between men and women within the context of a "First Contact" SF.


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