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A review by dharaiter
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
4.0
I once read that Ursula K. Le Guin faced such a hard time making her name in a genre that was heavily dominated by men in writing as well as readership, that she had to think and write like a man. And I believe that showed in her writing. I don't know if it was an internalized issue but the few remarks made about women in the book were all stereotypical and prejudiced, indicating women can't be rational and pragmatic ("Someone's behavior was womanly, all charm and tact and lack of substance, specious and adroit." "A man wants his virility regarded, a woman wants her femininity appreciated.", etc.) It can be argued that they were the views of Ai, but Le Guin's writing style in this book exhibits that she was using Ai's POV to convey her own beliefs as a citizen of Earth.
Of course, she had a broader view where she tried to talk about the unfairness women face ("No one is quite so thoroughly ‘tied down’” as Terran women. Everyone is respected and judged only as a human being.") but her need to pigeon-hole "Terran women" to uplift the unconventionality of Gethen, plus the total absence of female characters refuted that broader outlook. If I criticize Foundation and Asimov for entirely rejecting the notion of female characters, I have to criticize Ursula K. Le Guin too. Octavia E. Butler, a woman sci-fi writer from a similar era, faced the same issues as Le Guin, maybe more because she was a POC, but it didn't stop her from writing good female characters. I definitely need to read more works by the author before giving such a review but I have heard of this complaint from her fans too, and I am willing to change my review if it changes my opinion after reading her other books.
What I loved about the book:
1. The brilliant introduction before the book by Le Guin herself, because no doubt, she is one of the sharpest, most cerebral, and outspoken women of our times, and these qualities shine the most in this section of the book.
2. The little stories of the Gethen natives pocketed between the chapters. The imaginative prose makes me wonder if the dry writing style for the main plot was intentional.
3. Het whole outlook on anthropology, politics, nationalism, and humanity. I'll remember some of the quotes for life.
4. Estraven.
Of course, she had a broader view where she tried to talk about the unfairness women face ("No one is quite so thoroughly ‘tied down’” as Terran women. Everyone is respected and judged only as a human being.") but her need to pigeon-hole "Terran women" to uplift the unconventionality of Gethen, plus the total absence of female characters refuted that broader outlook. If I criticize Foundation and Asimov for entirely rejecting the notion of female characters, I have to criticize Ursula K. Le Guin too. Octavia E. Butler, a woman sci-fi writer from a similar era, faced the same issues as Le Guin, maybe more because she was a POC, but it didn't stop her from writing good female characters. I definitely need to read more works by the author before giving such a review but I have heard of this complaint from her fans too, and I am willing to change my review if it changes my opinion after reading her other books.
What I loved about the book:
1. The brilliant introduction before the book by Le Guin herself, because no doubt, she is one of the sharpest, most cerebral, and outspoken women of our times, and these qualities shine the most in this section of the book.
2. The little stories of the Gethen natives pocketed between the chapters. The imaginative prose makes me wonder if the dry writing style for the main plot was intentional.
3. Het whole outlook on anthropology, politics, nationalism, and humanity. I'll remember some of the quotes for life.
4. Estraven.