The Left Hand of Darkness has been reprinted more than 30 times, and received high praise from reviewers. The novel also explores the interaction between the unfolding loyalties of its two main characters, the loneliness and rootlessness of Ai, and the contrast between the religions of Gethen's two major nations. When the book was first published, the gender theme touched off a feminist debate over the depiction of the ambisexual Gethenians. A major theme of the novel is the effect of sex and gender on culture and society, explored in particular through the relationship between Ai and Estraven, a Gethenian politician who trusts and helps Ai. The Left Hand of Darkness was among the first books in the genre now known as feminist science fiction and is the most famous examination of androgyny in science fiction.
Individuals on Gethen are ambisexual, with no fixed sex this has a strong influence on the culture of the planet, and creates a barrier of understanding for Ai. Ai's mission is to persuade the nations of Gethen to join the Ekumen, but he is stymied by a lack of understanding of their culture.
The novel follows the story of Genly Ai, a human native of Terra, who is sent to the planet of Gethen as an envoy of the Ekumen, a loose confederation of planets. It was fourth in sequence of writing among the Hainish novels, preceded by City of Illusions, and followed by The Word for World Is Forest. The novel is set in the fictional Hainish universe as part of the Hainish Cycle, a series of novels and short stories by Le Guin, which she introduced in the 1964 short story " The Dowry of Angyar". Published in 1969, it became immensely popular, and established Le Guin's status as a major author of science fiction. The Left Hand of Darkness is a science fiction novel by U.S.
Print ( paperback original hardcover also 1969) Front cover of the first edition, with art by the Dillons
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