The Left Hand of Darkness: 50th Anniversary Edition

The Left Hand of Darkness is a short book, but it’s packed full of tangles. It’s something you read once and then need to read again, both for the plot and the intertwining of the two stories and points of view, and for the language and references once you know more about the world. It’s strange and politically detailed, with a myriad of different cultures and views that are alien to us as well as to Ai, who’s there to observe. It’s also intricately laced with details about society, kemmer, the rituals and traditions, the food…and the world itself, Winter, is as alien as the people and viewpoints are. The details are wonderful: the winter doors are ten feet up because of the snowdrifts, and Ai is constantly cold in a society that exists between two glaciers.The story is strange, told from both Ai and Estraven’s points of view, giving us a strange duality on events. I ended up seeing Ai as an alien, as the society does; Winter was strange, yes, but Ai’s observing position and knowledge of his own strangeness gave it a reserve. The plot is interesting, and intricate; I loved the ice-field and their strange, eerie journey.Some period gender references that have not aged well; describing something as “womanish” doesn’t sit well with me, considering I have no such construct in my head – and it’s something my father says, which doesn’t endear it. But it’s a minor point – just something that stuck out to me. I also found it interesting to consider how the same book would have been written in the modern era – and it would have been very, very different. It’s a book that’s made me think about my own writing, and my own method of storytelling; not that I am likely to change immediately, but…it’s something that will help me grow, I think.So. Odd, eerie, intricate, detailed, political and alien. Definitely a book worth reading once in a lifetime.

I've been meaning to read this book for donkey's years, ever since a mate of mine said what a good book it was.I agree with him - it is a fine novel. I got the strong impression that it was not so much science fiction as just fiction, but it is none the worse for that.On a bitterly-cold planet, Gethen, also known (appropriately enough) as Winter, there exists a human civilization. However, all of the people are the same gender. Imagine that - if there were no opposite sex to you, what would the world be like? This is the theme explored by this novel. It is a reasonably short book, and it's great to see a lady author competing in this almost-all-male field.Le Guin writes beautifully, almost poetically, and creates a vivid and real world, with various countries, political systems, religions, and traditions. It is very believable. Without giving too much away, what happens is that an envoy from "proper" humanity is sent to Gethen, to try to persuade the planet to join a confederation of human planets. How will he be received? Will he succeed in persuading them to join? You will have to read it to find out.Part political thriller, part adventure story, with a generous dash of philosophy, this is a good read, and I recommend it. However, I frankly did not get the impression of it being a masterpiece. For me it simply did not have the "wow" factor of a true classic. However, it was sufficiently good that I would like to read more of Le Guin's books.

This is such a fantastic read; a perfect example of the sci-fi genre at it's very best.The book incorporates a 'journey' (both literal and metaphorically) of Genly Ai, an ambassodor of the Ekumen to the planet Winter, on a path of self-discovery to better understand the country, friendship and love of this alien world.The writing is so descriptive and beautiful, describing a world and an alien species that is so similar to humanity, and yet so different at the same time. There are not many authors who could write about a hermaphrodite species with such eloquency, and create a world which is so rich and believable, chronicling geography, religion, mythology, history, philosophy, culture, economy, politics, climate etc, in such a short novel. I couldn't recommend this book enough.

One of my all time favourite books. Intense, immense scope, tightly written, wonderful. About love and gender, ecology and technology. If you haven't read already, read it!

This is a towering novel which transcends the genre of sci-fi thrillers. It deals with themes of power, responsibility, gender and humanity in an exciting and revealing way. There is a sense of bereavement when it ends - to paraphrase another critic - for a moment it redeems you from the cares and worries of the world in which we live and transports you to another. One of the 250 or so must read novels in English.