The Left Hand of Darkness

author: Ursula K. Le Guin
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1969
rating: 3
read at: 2017/08/06
date added: 2017/08/06
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin was the July pick for my book club. It's a classic sf book first published in 1969.

Genly Ai is an emissary to the planet Winter. There have been previous visitors that have collected information. Genly is here to invite this planet to join a larger collection of planets and civilizations known as the Ekumen. The people on this planet are ambisexual, changing their sexual orientation based on their internal rhythms. Male Genly is seen as a pervert since he is only male. He is befriended by Estraven, a prime minister, but before he knows it, Estraven is on the outs with the leaders and Genly decides to try a different section of the planet to try his emissary approach with.

I like that the planet has different countries with different cultures. So much of SF seems to propose a homogenous culture for an entire planet. I also like that Genly makes errors of his own making because of preconceived notion.

The plotting is slow, and the alternating viewpoints were confusing until I figured out who was speaking in each chapter. I had read this book years ago, and barely remembered it, so I was glad to get to revisit this book.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2uy5cOW