The Left Hand of Darkness (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
- First Published: 1969
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction
- Time of Work: Hainish Cycle 93, Ekumenical year 1490- 1497
- 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)
Places Discussed
Gethen/Winter. Planet similar to earth in size and having an atmosphere capable of supporting a humanoid but not human population. It exists in an unspecified galaxy and in a distant future. It is called Gethen by the people of Hain, an advanced and distant planet from which the protagonist comes, and is sometimes called Winter for reasons that quickly become obvious. The central figure is Genly Ai, a diplomat who represents an intergalactic political organization called the Ekumen; it is Ai’s task to live on Winter for as long as it takes to slowly and...
[The entire page is 1100 words long]
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