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aurora_noriealis's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
the book epitomizes le guins' anarchist ideas toward states and solidarity and freedom in a loving way. it toys with trust and relationship building, and plays heavily with Themes (recognizing trust, building trusting and supportive relationships). I love it for this.
the pacing varies quite a bit throughout.
that said, some of the depictions of cultures and gender are dated, discomforting at times. noting this less as a deterrent and more to bear in mind going into reading.
as someone who doesn't typically read fiction, I greatly enjoyed it.
the pacing varies quite a bit throughout.
that said, some of the depictions of cultures and gender are dated, discomforting at times. noting this less as a deterrent and more to bear in mind going into reading.
as someone who doesn't typically read fiction, I greatly enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual content
Minor: War
much of the imagery parallels pieces of the cold war - era states. collectivization, imprisonment, and exile are presented in ways reminiscent of Stalinist and McCarthyist states.blazingquill's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is an older book written in a classical science fiction style - which is to say, sometimes a slog to get through. In addition, while it takes several meaningful steps to deconstruct the gender binary, it does so in a way which is very accessible, and therefore doesn’t push as far at it perhaps could, as Le Guin herself commented on several times.
That being said, it’s a very profound look into the difference between things that are societally decided and things that are innately human, in a way that thoughtfully offers solutions to the world we currently live in rather than just pointing out the bad. (From what I understand, this is often a core tenant of Le Guin’s work, and makes me excited to read more.) At it’s core, despite the way it sometimes reads, it’s a story about friendship and love. The line, “I do not know if we were right,” inflicted psychic damage upon me, and just barely manages to push the heavy queer coding into explicitly queer.
If you have experience reading dense science fiction, and don’t mind it, I would highly recommend.
That being said, it’s a very profound look into the difference between things that are societally decided and things that are innately human, in a way that thoughtfully offers solutions to the world we currently live in rather than just pointing out the bad. (From what I understand, this is often a core tenant of Le Guin’s work, and makes me excited to read more.) At it’s core, despite the way it sometimes reads, it’s a story about friendship and love. The line, “I do not know if we were right,” inflicted psychic damage upon me, and just barely manages to push the heavy queer coding into explicitly queer.
If you have experience reading dense science fiction, and don’t mind it, I would highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, and Trafficking
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Police brutality
Minor: Murder, Transphobia, and War
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Blurb:
Genly Ai is a human envoy from an interstellar organization called Ekumen that coordinates communication, trade, transportation, and cultural exchange between anthropoid planets sent to the planet of Gethen to convince the planet’s government to join Ekumen. Gethen is an extremely cold planet with near-constant wintery weather. Another notable aspect of the planet is that its inhabitants belong to a singular, fluid sex. Their physiology is androgynous and asexual except for when they find themselves in heat, at which point they couple with another person in heat. When coupling, one person’s anatomy and hormones closely resemble that of a human male; the other, that of a human female. Genly Ai struggles as he fights to accomplish his goal on a planet that he finds strange, confusing, and inhospitable.
Review:
The Left Hand of Darkness is a science fiction novel that is often spoken about for its exploration of gender and sex, but it would be unfair to limit one’s assessment of the novel here, because The Left Hand of Darkness also delves into themes of patriotism, war, human nature, and cultural anthropology. The book’s main strengths lie in world-building, philosophical thought, and thematic explorations: since it reads like a cultural anthropology report, Le Guin’s highly imaginative world stands out but remains rather remote from the adventure, unique characterizations, and gripping plots that some expect from the science fiction genre. Nevertheless, she expertly evokes an icy atmosphere, both in terms of Gethen’s physical conditions and in the bewildering incomprehensibility its society presents for Genly Ai. The language and descriptions are so vivid, in fact, that I felt distinctly chilly every time I picked up the book. Although the plot moves slowly and takes place on another world, the story at the book’s center is a very human one.
The book’s imaginative worldbuilding and profound philosophical discussions make it a worthwhile and enjoyable read, but it would be incorrect to call The Left Hand of Darkness a ‘timeless classic,’ as several aspects of its thematic exploration betray it as a product of its time. For one, the book’s concern with the nature of patriotism and war reflects anxieties over America’s division over the Vietnam War, although these discussions still hold relevance today. On the other hand, its central optimism, rather unquestioning faith in institutions of open trade and cultural exchange, and lack of concern surrounding ecological destruction seem rather naïve to a twenty-first-century reader. Similarly, Le Guin’s narrative brushes against but never fully embraces the idea of gender and sex as social constructions, ultimately unable to fully escape a bio-essentialist understanding of gender. Her exclusive use of he/him pronouns to describe the ambisexual Getherians—despite their nonbinary conception of gender—particularly undercuts the impact of her commentary. The Left Hand of Darkness would have certainly been radical in the middle of the second wave of feminism, but now appears rather outdated in the face of subsequent scholarship in the field of gender and sexuality studies.
The Run-Down:
You will probably like The Left Hand of Darkness if:
· You enjoy cerebral, philosophical science fiction in the vein of Star Trek
· You are a fan of cultural anthropologys
You might not like The Left Hand of Darkness if:
· You are looking for an action-packed, adventurous story with fascinating characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexism, Death, and Incest
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, War, and Miscarriage
finn_1312's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Incest
sylvester749's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
extremely dense, very interesting and well read, found it a little difficult to get into. didn't feel as groundbreaking to me as i thought it would going into it, but that very may be because i read it 54 years after its publication. still, what a galaxy brain and very well explored premise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Police brutality
Minor: War, Deportation, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death, and Incest
hanyas's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy
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