The Left Hand of Darkness

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It's a hit!

I absolutely loved this book. I am still in wonder as to Le Guin's ability to take something so essential as sexuality, and turn into something so... (show more)

I absolutely loved this book. I am still in wonder as to Le Guin's ability to take something so essential as sexuality, and turn into something so alien. I am normally unfavorable to science fiction, however I love the way I feel so totally immersed into Winter that I could not help but accept the new reality. Le Guin's speculative use of science-fiction really makes the story of Winter and Genry seem so personal and near to our own future, with the Ekumen shadowing contemporary organizations. Overall, Le Guin is by far my favorite science-fiction author. Now only if I could fine A Wizard of Earthsea...... :) (show less)

 

 

by Facebook-gebruiker

No, it's a flop!

I guess I am in the minority but I didn't think this book was award winning. The world building was fairly shoddy with lots of holes in the culture... (show more)

I guess I am in the minority but I didn't think this book was award winning. The world building was fairly shoddy with lots of holes in the culture and unexplained bits and pieces that were left dangling. I was struggling through right up until they were on the journey across the ice. Then it got a little bit more exciting and a relationship was created that could spark my interest. Then it all fell apart again. This is my first LeGuinn book but I won't give up on her since so many other sci-fi people say she's the bees knees. (show less)

 

 

by Janin Otwell

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  The Left Hand of Darkness is good. It is bordering on phenomenal, depending, largely, on the beholder. While the technical side of the writing and the changing of perspective may hold up some who would enjoy the story, by the time the end is reached, so much more is understood- and all is more than certainly forgiven. This is a book full of subtlety, full of reality, and full of absolutely amazing things. It is not nearly the fairy-tale of fantastic ideas as a brief synopsis could suggest or ... (show more)

  The Left Hand of Darkness is good. It is bordering on phenomenal, depending, largely, on the beholder. While the technical side of the writing and the changing of perspective may hold up some who would enjoy the story, by the time the end is reached, so much more is understood- and all is more than certainly forgiven. This is a book full of subtlety, full of reality, and full of absolutely amazing things. It is not nearly the fairy-tale of fantastic ideas as a brief synopsis could suggest or lead you to expect. Instead, the book takes a relatively serious tone to everything, providing an immensely surprisingly honest feel to the story and each of its characters. You will be astonished by some of the passages in this book- both occurrences and encounters, and equally the way they are presented. It is a credit to the book's quality that it really is not a legend. (show less)

   

  by Brian Louis on Feb 07, 2009 at 10:16PM

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  This book really could have been the start of a 3-5 book series. It has everything necessary--except for the missing books! I thought it was very enjoyable as a read. Certainly contains a wonderful worldview of the planet Gethen. Very well thought out and executed. I would love to read more about the Ekumen and the other worlds mentioned in this book. I can't say I was surprised by the ending. The only thing that truly surprised me was that there was no inter-species lovemaking. Perha... (show more)

  This book really could have been the start of a 3-5 book series. It has everything necessary--except for the missing books! I thought it was very enjoyable as a read. Certainly contains a wonderful worldview of the planet Gethen. Very well thought out and executed. I would love to read more about the Ekumen and the other worlds mentioned in this book. I can't say I was surprised by the ending. The only thing that truly surprised me was that there was no inter-species lovemaking. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that it turned out so well as a novel. Harth and Genly fall in love, but it's not a physical love. It's more deeply intertwined within their beings. I really liked the brief section about Genly traveling to one of the fastnesses. The foretelling of his question was a great part of the book. In the end, I think that this book raised more questions than it answered, but perhaps that's what makes it such a masterpiece. (show less)

   

   

  by Anonymous User on Aug 26, 2009 at 12:46AM

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