From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

Start date: June 1, 2024

Finish date: June 30, 2024

Discussion: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 13 topics — 1,197 comments total

Science Fiction and Fantasy

* 2026 Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror Planning
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 16 posts · 25 views

last updated 1 hour, 11 min ago

* 2025 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 14 posts · 148 views

last updated Jan 05, 2025 07:59PM

showing 8 of 8 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jan 06, 2015 Katherine Sas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sf, favorites

Updated 9/11/21: Read for a third time for Kris Swank's brilliant Signum University course on Le Guin. I'm sure there's plenty to quibble with in the details of how Le Guin discusses gender, how she depicts the Gethenians and Genly's reaction to them, her choice of pronouns, etc. (Though I doubt we'd all agree on how she could have done it better.) But for me this is just a really powerful story of reaching across divides, personal and cultural, to connect with people unlike yourself. It's a won Updated 9/11/21: Read for a third time for Kris Swank's brilliant Signum University course on Le Guin. I'm sure there's plenty to quibble with in the details of how Le Guin discusses gender, how she depicts the Gethenians and Genly's reaction to them, her choice of pronouns, etc. (Though I doubt we'd all agree on how she could have done it better.) But for me this is just a really powerful story of reaching across divides, personal and cultural, to connect with people unlike yourself. It's a wonderful depiction of the kind of camaraderie (and LG even uses the word "joy") that can develop out of trials and hardship (though most of us will hopefully never suffer a journey as hard as the one they take across the ice). Le Guin is so smart and intellectual in her approach that I sometimes feel a slight emotional distances from her stories, but this one gets me right in the feels by the end. With all the nationalism in the air right now, Estraven's devotion to the good of mankind, rather than merely the good of his own country (though of course the one necessarily includes and envelops the other) is especially moving. Love it. I'm curious to see as I revisit The Dispossessed and read a few books that are new to me whether anything else in Le Guin's oeuvre can top it for me.

2015: I read this book about five or so years ago, and what a difference five years can make. I remembered the bare bones of the plot, but otherwise it was like a first reading. I enjoyed this second reading much more, and was able to look past trying to figure out the plot and what all the strange Gethenian words and customs mean and focus on the fascinating meeting, clashing, and understanding of cultures. The halting friendship of Genly and Estraven is intricately drawn and ultimately quite moving. It's realistic about humanity's flaws but hopeful about its potential. Le Guin is as wonderful at creating powerful ideas as at crafting detailed and lovely prose. I couldn't put it down but didn't want it to end. I'd definitely like to read of of the other Hainish Cycle books after this re-read. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2023 GONZA rated it really liked it

Shelves: goodreadsgroups, posseduto

And with that I think I have read the most important books by UKLG, whom is definitely one of my favorite science fiction authors as well as one of those I have delved into the most both in various reading groups (real and virtual) and through various essays.
Compared to "The dispossessed", I definitely enjoyed this novel more and not only because of the themes covered, just because of the plot and the characters.Anyway Earthsea remains still my absolute favorite.

E con questo credo di aver letto ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 07, 2014 Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-trad-and-modern, fantasy-and-science-fiction-course, science-fiction

I really enjoyed this book - after a slow start it increasingly engaged me and I started to care about Ai and Estraven.
Overall, to me, the story was about relationships. Despite their differences Ai and Estraven find a mutual understanding and come to a friendship based on their individual qualities. This is highlighted by the asexuality of the Gethenians.
A clever, slow burning, insightful story.

2 likes · Like · see review