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sunn_bleach's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I read "The Left Hand of Darkness" in 2018 and didn't really get it. Yeah, I got the subversion of man-as-default, but I didn't get some of the deeper considerations Le Guin was going for regarding societies that previously did not know war and totalitarian systems that don't match one-for-one to our earthly systems. I also found Genly and Estraven's trip over the icefield monotonous - but after four years of serious mountaineering pursuits, it's anything but that, and Le Guin masterfully captured the sheer stress of being on the run for one's lives while also underneath the beauty of the stars. I'm tempted to argue that the gender fiction aspect falls prey to TVTropes' "Seinfeld is Unfunny" given how much has progressed in half a century (like the he/him pronoun aspect not being as radical), but the fact it still makes me think shows it's relevant 25 years into the new millennium. Masterful book, and a good example of "the worst criticism I have is that it could be longer"... and the ending felt a little saccharine, losing the conceit of it being a report. But still!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, and Death
Moderate: Incest, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, War, Pregnancy, and Sexism
luis_vieira's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, and Xenophobia
Minor: Pregnancy and Incest
_mokuren_'s review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
itsnicholaslashay's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Grief
_david_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The worldbuilding is masterfully executed, revealing a rich and diverse world and culture within the confines of a relatively short book. The characters are captivating, and the narrative effectively captures the challenges of collaboration with a culture one doesn't fully comprehend and vice versa.
The book successfully presents multiple perspectives, with the main character questioning his own ideas and cultural norms after engaging with Winter's people. What stands out is how Winter and its countries aren't portrayed as utopias nor lesser places than earth. They're not good or bad, just different, with their own moral grey areas. Even the two countries that are shown in the book have big cultural differences. Eventhough gender is a significant theme and the first thing you'll likely learn when looking up the book, the core focus revolves around learning to respect and collaborate with another culture. The way gender is represented in the book is in a world that shows the what-if scenario of a society where gender (or sexuality) has no impact on people's role in it.
The only aspect I wish were different is that 'neutral' pronouns and other terms are male to the reader. Perhaps it highlights the flaws of the main character and his default way of thinking. But I still found it odd.
The book successfully presents multiple perspectives, with the main character questioning his own ideas and cultural norms after engaging with Winter's people. What stands out is how Winter and its countries aren't portrayed as utopias nor lesser places than earth. They're not good or bad, just different, with their own moral grey areas. Even the two countries that are shown in the book have big cultural differences. Eventhough gender is a significant theme and the first thing you'll likely learn when looking up the book, the core focus revolves around learning to respect and collaborate with another culture. The way gender is represented in the book is in a world that shows the what-if scenario of a society where gender (or sexuality) has no impact on people's role in it.
The only aspect I wish were different is that 'neutral' pronouns and other terms are male to the reader. Perhaps it highlights the flaws of the main character and his default way of thinking. But I still found it odd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Police brutality, Confinement, Grief, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Incest, Suicide, and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Cursing, Incest, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexism
paloverdepages's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stuck between a 4.75 and 5 for this one- there were a few passages about gender that i resonated strongly with. i wish i understood more, hope that reading the rest of the series will give me some insight when i get around to rereading this one. maybe i'm too hesitant to give books 5 stars; i just saw no reason not to with this one. also now i get to talk about it with so many people! so excellent, absolutely merits a reread and maybe some hardcopy annotating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal death, Suicide, and Incest
ericadawson's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The verse was a bit difficult to parse at times, but annotation helped me get through.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding surrounding the Gethenians' physiology, though I felt some of the analysis lacking and, to my consternation, at no-point during Genly Ai's three-year stay with the Gethenians did he realize that he should, perhaps, stop associating only the traits he hates with women. It was understandable in the beginning, but grating by the end, even when he was forced to confront the nature-vs-nature/biossentialism in the tent when Harth pegged him about it.
I felt that the worldbuilding was the strongest aspect, and I wish more had been done with the commentary on nationalism and patriotism. I liked that this was a hidden first-contact story, and that both Gethenians and Terrans are human, just of a different variety.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I loved Estraven's dedication to Ai even when Ai was being an ass. Being willing to cross 800 miles with someone while knowing you could both very well die is true love, to me.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding surrounding the Gethenians' physiology, though I felt some of the analysis lacking and, to my consternation, at no-point during Genly Ai's three-year stay with the Gethenians did he realize that he should, perhaps, stop associating only the traits he hates with women. It was understandable in the beginning, but grating by the end, even when he was forced to confront the nature-vs-nature/biossentialism in the tent when Harth pegged him about it.
I felt that the worldbuilding was the strongest aspect, and I wish more had been done with the commentary on nationalism and patriotism. I liked that this was a hidden first-contact story, and that both Gethenians and Terrans are human, just of a different variety.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I loved Estraven's dedication to Ai even when Ai was being an ass. Being willing to cross 800 miles with someone while knowing you could both very well die is true love, to me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexual content, and Incest
ford_defect's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Le Guin’s writing is fantastic. I seek out sci-fi to get transported to other worlds, and man, can this woman worldbuild. I could easily picture Winter/Gethen despite it being so foreign. The effort put into the culture, politics, history, and characters is something one doesn't see often (and keeping a coherent storyline, too???). Even within the genre. It almost felt like reading an anthropology book about real people.
However, I was a little disappointed on how the relationship with the two main characters ended. I can only blame my friend who hyped this up as some kind of LGBT-adjacent romance, which it is and isn't simultaneously. Still, this book has given me a lot to reflect on when it comes to our gendered, heteronormative society. It's something I'll certainly have to re-read in the future.
There were a couple things that rubbed me the wrong way, though. CW: incest, sexism, misogyny, transphobiaFor one, incest is somewhat acceptable in Gethenian culture, which was certainly a choice. The main character also had inherently sexist views since he came from a gendered society and seemed to get uncomfortable when Gethenians displayed femininity. (Albeit, he does grow). Lastly, I found it a little problematic when they wrote about Gethenian procreation like they were animals mating instead of regular people having sex. It comes off as a little transphobic, but I do understand why it's there.
But overall, my discomfort didn't sour this book for me. The uncomfortable parts had their place in the story. It's still an amazing work that certainly deserves a spot in SF history.
4.75/5
There were a couple things that rubbed me the wrong way, though. CW: incest, sexism, misogyny, transphobia
But overall, my discomfort didn't sour this book for me. The uncomfortable parts had their place in the story. It's still an amazing work that certainly deserves a spot in SF history.
4.75/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Incest, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Transphobia and Pregnancy
transfish's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i think once again that leguin is an expert storyteller. shes a master at capturing the perspectives of her characters. i agree that the book couldnt have ended any other way, as much as i hope for a different ending. a wonderful commentary on the arbitrariness of gender in our own society. i recommend those struggling to read this put it down & come back to it in a few years
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest and Suicide
waxwwing's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is so complicated, man. (Yes, I understand how ironic the use of the word 'man' is here). I'm very grumpy about Estraven's death but I think the ending of the novel is, ultimately, very fitting. This is the sort of novel that I believe I would enjoy much more if I was studying it - there's so many layers to this text and what is has to say about gender, and I'm particularly interested in the role incest (god) plays into the narrative. TLDR; Ursula Le Guin would be massively fascinated by modern ABO fanfic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Incest, and Violence