The Left Hand of Darkness (Masterplots II: Women’s Literature Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
- First Published: 1969
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction
- Time of Work: The future
- Setting: The imaginary planet of Gethen, also called “Winter”
- Principal Characters: Genly Ai, Therem Harth rem ir Estraven, Argaven XV, Tibe, Faxe the Weaver, Foreth rem ir Osboth, Obsle, Commissioner Shusgis, Esvans Harth rem ir Estraven, Arek Harth rem ir Estraven, Sorve Harth rem ir Estraven
- 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)
Form and Content
The Left Hand of Darkness is one of several novels describing the results of experiments carried out on other planets by beings from the planet Hain. On Gethen, the Hainish established a race of ambisexual humans. Gethenians are usually androgynous and asexual; once a month, however, they enter a state called “kemmer.” During this period sexuality predominates over everything else. In kemmer, Gethenians develop male or female characteristics, but their specific gender is completely arbitrary and may vary from one cycle to another.
The novel...
[The entire page is 2390 words long]
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