A review by porg
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

5.0

Economical, vivid sci-fi. An envoy for an interplanetary alliance goes to the planet of Gethen, alone and unthreatening, to convince them to join the alliance.

The book is really a political story, as the envoy navigates the various powers on the main continent of Gethen each with their own fears or machinations for what he represents. as a political story, it's part fantasy and past Orwellian. Yet in it's short space, it's also many other things: a story about communication across cultures, an allegory on patriotism and it's place when matters transcend borders, a moving story of friendship, a prison break romp, and even an effective wilderness adventure story.