The Left Hand of Darkness (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
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
- Setting: The planet Gethen (also known as Winter)
- Principal Characters: Genly Ai, Therem Harth rem ir Estraven, King Argaven XV, The Commensals
- 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)
The Story:
Genly Ai, the Ekumen’s envoy to the planet Gethen/Winter, was dealt a setback in his mission to recruit Gethen to the Ekumen when Therem Harth rem ir Estraven, formerly Ai’s ally, withdrew support. Estraven had fallen from favor with Karhide’s King Argaven XV, because his efforts to avoid a war between his country and the neighboring nation of Orgoreyn caused the king to lose shifgrethor, a complex Karhidish version of honor. Estraven tried to explain to Ai that his new coolness to the Ekumen was a ploy to keep his dishonor from infecting the Ekumen’s...
[The entire page is 2388 words long]
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