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A review by mmcloe
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's a classic for a reason and it's about time I got around to reading it. On a basic plotting/aesthetic level, it can read a bit like intergalactic CSPAN, especially the first half. I appreciate the slightly metafictional/encyclopedic quality of the different creation myths, folktales, and journal entries.
On a thematic and ideological level, it's incredibly cool to see something so old grapple with gender in such a meaningful and clear-eyed way, especially for a cis writer. The idea that gender is simultaneously a set of social/political relationships, a manifestation of erotic desire, and a series of discursive gestures that shape everything from our folklore to our interactions based on how adept we are at "reading" is explored quite excellently.
On a thematic and ideological level, it's incredibly cool to see something so old grapple with gender in such a meaningful and clear-eyed way, especially for a cis writer. The idea that gender is simultaneously a set of social/political relationships, a manifestation of erotic desire, and a series of discursive gestures that shape everything from our folklore to our interactions based on how adept we are at "reading" is explored quite excellently.