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bookishperseus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It did take a while for me to be able to start this book, and at times I found it incredibly slow, complex or tedious.
I did keep reading it because there was a small interest as to what would happen, even though this book is following what could be considered a 'usual every day life'.
Towards the end, I found the final 3 or 4 chapters actually quite interesting. Not something I'd read again, but glad I finished it!
I did keep reading it because there was a small interest as to what would happen, even though this book is following what could be considered a 'usual every day life'.
Towards the end, I found the final 3 or 4 chapters actually quite interesting. Not something I'd read again, but glad I finished it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Child death, War, Chronic illness, Deportation, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Rape, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Vomit, Xenophobia, and Confinement
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
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