Amazon.com: The Left Hand of Darkness (9780441478125): Ursula K. Le Guin: Books
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The Left Hand of Darkness Mass Market Paperback – March 15, 1987
by Ursula K. Le Guin (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 559 customer reviews
Book 4 of 7 in the Hainish Cycle Series
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Genly Ai is an emissary from the human galaxy to Winter, a lost, stray world. His mission is to bring the planet back into the fold of an evolving galactic civilization, but to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own culture and prejudices and those that he encounters. On a planet where people are of no gender--or both--this is a broad gulf indeed. The inventiveness and delicacy with which Le Guin portrays her alien world are not only unusual and inspiring, they are fundamental to almost all decent science fiction that has been written since. In fact, reading Le Guin again may cause the eye to narrow somewhat disapprovingly at the younger generation: what new ground are they breaking that is not already explored here with greater skill and acumen? It cannot be said, however, that this is a rollicking good story. Le Guin takes a lot of time to explore her characters, the world of her creation, and the philosophical themes that arise.
If there were a canon of classic science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness would be included without debate. Certainly, no science fiction bookshelf may be said to be complete without it. But the real question: is it fun to read? It is science fiction of an earlier time, a time that has not worn particularly well in the genre. The Left Hand of Darkness was a groundbreaking book in 1969, a time when, like the rest of the arts, science fiction was awakening to new dimensions in both society and literature. But the first excursions out of the pulp tradition are sometimes difficult to reread with much enjoyment. Rereading The Left Hand of Darkness, decades after its publication, one feels that those who chose it for the Hugo and Nebula awards were right to do so, for it truly does stand out as one of the great books of that era. It is immensely rich in timeless wisdom and insight.
The Left Hand of Darkness is science fiction for the thinking reader, and should be read attentively in order to properly savor the depth of insight and the subtleties of plot and character. It is one of those pleasures that requires a little investment at the beginning, but pays back tenfold with the joy of raw imagination that resonates through the subsequent 30 years of science fiction storytelling. Not only is the bookshelf incomplete without owning it, so is the reader without having read it. --L. Blunt Jackson
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Praise for The Left Hand of Darkness
“[A] science fiction masterpiece.”—Newsweek
“A jewel of a story.”—Frank Herbert
“As profuse and original in invention as The Lord of the Rings.”—Michael Moorcock
“An instant classic.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Like all great writers of fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin creates imaginary worlds that restore us, hearts eased, to our own.”—The Boston Globe
“Stellar...A triumphant return to the magic-drenched world of Earthsea...Le Guin is still at the height of her powers, a superb stylist with a knack for creating characters who are both wise and deeply humane. A major event in fantasy literature.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Richly told...Le Guin hasn’t lost her touch. She draws us into the magical land and its inhabitants’ doings immediately.”—Booklist
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Product details
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace Books; 1st edition (March 15, 1987)
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Biography
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (US /ˈɜːrsələ ˈkroʊbər ləˈɡwɪn/; born October 21, 1929) is an American author of novels, children's books, and short stories, mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. She has also written poetry and essays. First published in the 1960s, her work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.
She influenced such Booker Prize winners and other writers as Salman Rushdie and David Mitchell – and notable science fiction and fantasy writers including Neil Gaiman and Iain Banks. She has won the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Locus Award, and World Fantasy Award, each more than once. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Le Guin has resided in Portland, Oregon since 1959.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
559
4.2 out of 5 stars
5 star 59%
4 star 20%
3 star 9%
2 star 7%
1 star 5%
Top customer reviews
JLC
5.0 out of 5 starsSuperbFebruary 23, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This book is a classic so there is really nothing I can say that others have not already said, and better. It is science fiction that addresses the social consequences of contact between people from different planets rather than fixating on technology and the things that can go wrong. It is a great story with wonderful characters and descriptions of imagined worlds. It addresses the issues of sex and gender by imagining how a person from a world with two biological sexes would interact in a world where everyone is both sexes at once. The issue is not desire and the sex act, but rather how our social perceptions, interactions and expectations are shaped in rather profound ways by our ideas about gender. This is not the main point of the book but rather part of the rich social and philosophical landscape where the action takes place. I had been meaning to read this for years and am now a devoted Le Guin fan. I really think this might have made it into my top 20 favorite books.
72 people found this helpful
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Owen C. Marshall
5.0 out of 5 starsNo robots. No lasers. No problem!January 8, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Ursula K Le Guin. I had heard the name many times growing up. It was always spoken with respect by people who held my respect. And yet, for all of that I had not read her work until now. I wonder how different my life would have been if I had read her work sooner. I'll never know.
This book is, at its simplest and least descriptive, a thought experiment. What if there were a world where gender as we know it did not exist.
But that is not the half of it. It is not even close.
This book examines how nationalism can be wonderful and yet poisonous. It compares the societies of differing nation-states. It looks at humanity's role in nature. It stares unflinchingly at love in various forms and in the end, the reader has gone through a journey nearly as transformative as the one taken by our protagonist, Genly Ai.
My only true complaint stems from the idea that Genly's gender biases are so strong that he consistently labels the Gethenians as he despite having been briefed of their genderless status before beginning the assignment.
Still ignoring the pronoun confusion, this was an amazing book. It is thoughtful and thought provoking. It is wise and wonderful. And though a world as cold as Winter sounds like my own personal hell, I will revisit the characters again with pleasure.
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20 people found this helpful
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ljones62442
5.0 out of 5 starsAwesomeJanuary 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This book started out quite slow. I did not know if I would be able to finish it. All I can tell you is, hang in there, learn the weird names, and it will be worth it. In the story, she tells something not quite relatable in words alone. One of my new favorite authors.
11 people found this helpful
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greatmoney
5.0 out of 5 starsA Facinating view on gender and how it effects our lives and ways of thinking.May 5, 2017
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
"Sci-fi writers have a duty to turn away from the 'dystopian' and encourage complex thought and higher consciousnesses."
This book sums that up quite eloquently. It explores gender in a unique and enlightening way. How we, as humans, perceive gender and how it effects our lives and ways of thinking. It explores the bonds of friendship, love, politics, and war all without the confines of gender. A fascinating read through the eyes of the "Envoy" as he struggles to survive in a toiling political climate on an alien world.
Well worth the read!
10 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsBe prepared to have your world concept changed!December 28, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This book changed my thinking about gender. The planet natives are normally gender neutral (one can't say androgynous as they are neither male nor female, rather than both) until they enter kemmer, a sort of heat, when they become randomly male or female. After kemmer they go back to the neutral state, unless pregnant. So one person can be the mother or two and the father of three.
This book was published in 1969, and LBGTQ people may find some of the ideas dated, but it remains a profound exploration of what happens when the basic traits by which one is defined in one's own society don't apply in another culture. I was surprised when I re-read "The Left Hand of Darkness" to realize it could apply to any trait - race, religion, even political affiliation.
Highly recommended.
9 people found this helpful
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Melanie D. Typaldos
5.0 out of 5 starsHow SF should be writtenFebruary 1, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This is the 6th book in my quest to read all of the Nebula Award winning novels this year.
THIS is what the Nebula Award should be about. This is an amazing book. The world building is so complete, so detailed, so different, so believable, it is hard to believe that one person could have conceived of it. It almost seems as if it must really exist.
In general the beauty of the book is in the ambiance and the compelling story, but there are a few quotes that I want to share.
If civilization has an opposite, it is war. Of those two things, you have either one, or the other. Not both.
I wondered, not for the first time, what patriotism is, what the love of country truly consists of, how that yearning loyalty that had shaken my friend's voice arises, and how so real a love can become, too often , so foolish and vile a bigotry.
If the universe were not expanding, the night sky would not appear to be dark. (Is that true? It seems logical, but then wouldn't people have used this argument?)
You can see that the story explores concepts that need exploration. One of the great things about science fiction is its ability to let us examine our values independent of our own lives.
Anyway, if you haven't read it, read this book.
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18 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsA hard but worthwhile read!January 6, 2018
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Sci fi is an experience that the reader must accept to understand and enjoy. This experience gives us wonderment and joy if we can keep our minds open to it's progress. The story of a single man as an envoy from the stars that lands among the people and begins to tell his reason for being there. Was he a spy , did they need to fear him? Only one believed and this novel is dedicated to his unshakable love of his world. Truly a novel of love.
4 people found this helpful
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