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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780441007318
ISBN number: 0441007317
Label: Ace Trade
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: July 01, 2000
Publishing house: Ace Trade
Release Date: July 10, 2000
Sale Popularity Level: 5819
Studio: Ace Trade
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Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel of the Year
A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.
'As profuse and original in invention as The Lord of the Rings.' --Michael Moorcock
'What got to me was the quality of the storytelling. She's taken the mythology, psychology--the entire creative surround--and woven it into a jewel of a story.' --Frank Herbert
'Evocative.' --The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
'An instant classic.' --Minneapolis Star-Tribune
'[A] science fiction masterpiece.' --Newsweek
Amazon.com Review:
Genly Ai is an emissary from the human galaxy to Winter, a lost, stray world. His mission is to bring the planet back into the fold of an evolving galactic civilization, but to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own culture and prejudices and those that he encounters. On a planet where people are of no gender--or both--this is a broad gulf indeed. The inventiveness and delicacy with which Le Guin portrays her alien world are not only unusual and inspiring, they are fundamental to almost all decent science fiction that has been written since. In fact, reading Le Guin again may cause the eye to narrow somewhat disapprovingly at the younger generation: what new ground are they breaking that is not already explored here with greater skill and acumen? It cannot be said, however, that this is a rollicking good story. Le Guin takes a lot of time to explore her characters, the world of her creation, and the philosophical themes that arise.
If there were a canon of classic science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness would be included without debate. Certainly, no science fiction bookshelf may be said to be complete without it. But the real question: is it fun to read? It is science fiction of an earlier time, a time that has not worn particularly well in the genre. The Left Hand of Darkness was a groundbreaking book in 1969, a time when, like the rest of the arts, science fiction was awakening to new dimensions in both society and literature. But the very first excursions out of the pulp tradition are sometimes difficult to reread with much enjoyment. Rereading The Left Hand of Darkness, decades after its publication, one feels that those who chose it for the Hugo and Nebula awards were right to do so, for it truly does stand out as one of the great books of that era. It is immensely rich in timeless wisdom and insight.
The Left Hand of Darkness is science fiction for the thinking reader, and should be read attentively in order to properly savor the depth of insight and the subtleties of plot and character. It is one of those pleasures that requires a little investment at the beginning, but pays back tenfold with the joy of raw imagination that resonates through the subsequent 30 years of science fiction storytelling. Not only is the bookshelf incomplete without owning it, so is the reader without having read it. --L. Blunt Jackson
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I have read Ursula Le Guin's other novels(the Earthsea series and The Dispossessed). I thoroughly enjoyed everything I had read by her, so I expected big things coming into this book. Reading the term "feminist science-fiction", I was a little worried I would see a lot of male-bashing.
The story begins at a slower pace. The author creates such an elaborate and effective atmosphere of this foreign world, that I felt extremely lost. Not lost as in that I didn't understand what was going on, but lost in that I her description was so immersive that I was a stranger to this exposed world. The story picks up pace as the plot develops, but the author is very adept at maintaining readers.
To avoid sounding like a book critic, the story was simply excellent. I can't ensure you'll love it, but I'm inclined to think you will.
Rated by buyers -
Another lovely, beautifully written story from Le Guin. I'm 3/4 done with it, and I think you should read it yourself to find out the plot. None of the synopses I've read do it justice.
Rated by buyers 
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I recently began to delve into science fiction, and wanted to read some books that were considered "classics" in the genre. Sadly, I couldn't get past page 50. The story had potential to be really exciting, but it had taken a BORING bent. Decades ago, this was probably good stuff, but for THIS CENTURY, I think readers are looking for something more to get their juices flowing. Like I said, I didn't get past page 50, but it didn't seem like there was going to be any mystery, comedy, dueling, suspense, or excitement whatsoever.
ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.
Rated by buyers 
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In short, if you are looking for a sci-fi book, keep looking. This is simply a fictional novel.
Touching superficially on space travel and life on icy worlds does not immediately qualify as science fiction. The bulk of the book occurs in a remote world called Winter where a pre-space-travel civilization deals with the issues of very first contact. There is an immediate immersion into the inner workings of that society. If you are interested in exploring topics such as what would happen if men gave birth or if people could change genders, then this book may be for you (and don't get any funny ideas, the only sexual experimentation will be the romantic interludes of portly, middle-aged men). I was greatly bothered by the obvious holes at the heart of the story. The central character is badly tortured by the locals even though he means well and comes from a technologically advanced civilization. This could have been avoided, but he refuses to land his ship and prove his identity to the local authorities. Why? Well, simply because there have been problems with that approach in the past. That's it, you just have to take the author's word for it! I happen to have read Vernon Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep" right after this book. Now that's real sci-fi dealing with very first contact between races at different stages of development. As sci-fi books, I consider that an 8 out of 10 and Le Guin's a disappointing 2.
Rated by buyers -
I probably very first read this book long before many of the posters were born, but not in a vacuum-I also read all of the other Hainish novels I could find. For whatever reason, the Hainish novels have always held my attention in a way that the Earthsea books do not.
I was always struck, not by the gender-role examination, but by what the book had to say about common aspects of humanity and loyalty. Look at it also in terms of how we relate to societal norms that are different from our own.
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