The Left Hand of Darkness (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
- First Published: 1969
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction
- Time of Work: An unspecified time in the future
- Setting: The planet Gethen/Winter
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Politics, Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Gender roles, Exile or expatriates, Extrasensory perception or powers, Future, Other worlds, Friendship, Kings, queens, or royalty, Politicians, Life and death, Sacrifice, Androgyny, Diplomacy or diplomats, Ice Age
- Locales: Space, Gethen (fictive), Winter (fictive)
Characters Discussed
Genly Ai (GEHN-lee AY-ee), an envoy to the planet Gethen from the Ekumen, a league of planets. Not yet thirty years old, dark-skinned, and somewhat taller and stronger than the native Gethenians, Ai is occasionally impatient, quick to despair and to rejoice, somewhat of an innocent, and not always aware of the motives of others. Ai’s mission is to prepare the way for Gethenians to join the Ekumen, offering opportunities for “communication, trade, treaty, and alliance, nothing else.” He begins his stay on Gethen in Karhide, a country loosely run by a...
[The entire page is 1379 words long]
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