Harare Review of Books

304 pages.

First published in 1969.

Finished reading on 12 July, 2021.

Genre: Speculative Fiction.

A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an 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.

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.

Got so immersed that I’m sad to have left this world.

I’m a big reader, but haven’t read many of the classics of the Western canon. This was one, on my TBR for many years; and I’m glad to have finally have got round to it.

I felt that this was more fantasy than sci-fi; I imagine that’s one of the reasons it’s properly termed speculative fiction, and possibly one reason sci-fi and fantasy are always grouped together. With not very much science in it, it’s a novel about an intense relationship, well-described, in a beautifully built world. Genly Ai is a stranger in a strange land, and his otherness (and the otherness of the others) is well-explored. He’s also quite typical of the male of the species 🙂 which was also nicely done, in the ways he felt confronted by the non-duality of Gethenian gender (–he called everyone he, which was a little disconcerting, considering). In his defense, I, too, was a little challenged, a little stretched, by Estraven’s backstory, alluded to early, and confirmed at the end; and I was intrigued and also mind-boggled by the implications of kemmer.

I’ve never been anywhere really cold, so normally my imagination falters (Johannesburg winters and Grahamstown rain notwithstanding); but I promise you, I was completely immersed in the weather of Winter. Le Guin is brilliant at creating atmosphere, and the epic journey described in the book is writing of the highest quality. Character development is also stellar; as I began to see the coming wrinkle, near the end, I was gutted.

This is a deserved classic, a brilliantly-written story. Highly recommend it for fans of story, whether you normally read sci-fi or not. It took me a while to get into because I’ve been reading entirely too much for “work” lately; but I feel sure I’ll re-read it in the future, and will be on the lookout for Le Guin’s other works (although I’m given to understand this was the peak).

Rated: 9/10.