The left hand of the darkness.
The left hand of darkness is a science fiction novel written by American author Ursula Kroeber Le Guin. It was published in 1969 and deals with the diplomatic intrigues and peculiarities of a society devoid of duality between genders.
This is a deeply thoughtful and philosophical work. The events take place on a distant planet called Gueden or Winter, due to its freezing temperatures. There an Earthman, Genly Ai, is sent to negotiate an alliance with Ekumen, an organization of planets inhabited by humans. Introducing this character of our civilization in a utopian world, in which there are no wars or defined genres, the novel addresses the relationship between both themes.
A deeply thoughtful work
Kroeber Le Guin made a deep reflection on how sexuality and the opposition of genders determine identity not only of individuals, but also of societies.
The author was awarded for this work with the Nebula prize for the best novel in 1969 and the following year with the Hugo award in the same category, two of the most coveted recognitions within the genre of science fiction in literature.
About the author
Birth and family
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin was born in the city of Berkeley, California, on October 21, 1929. She was the first daughter of the marriage of two prominent figures of anthropology and letters in the United States: Theodora and Alfred Kroeber. This interest in social studies and anthropology is present in the novels and short stories published by the writer in later decades.
Studies and marriage
He studied at the Radcliffe School and later at Columbia University, where he specialized in Romance languages. She also studied in France where she met Charles Le Guin, whom she married in 1953.
Works and first publications
After her return to the United States, she settled in the city of Macon, Georgia, and was a French language teacher at various universities. In 1964 he published his first famous novel, entitled The world of Rocannon, halfway between fantasy and science fiction. These two genres were the most worked by the author throughout her life.
Ursula Kroeber LeGuin.
The arrival of The left hand of darkness
After other publications, one of his masterpieces finally comes to light: The left hand of darkness, for which he received various awards. This is part of the Ekumen cycle, started with The world of Rocannon and of which there are six other novels. These works take place in a universe of planets inhabited by humans with different characteristics, descendants of the same ancient civilization.
In his novels of the Ekumen cycle, he creates utopias in which political and social issues are explored through science fiction., such as feminism, anarchy, concern for the care of the environment, pacifism and power.
In addition to science fiction, he wrote numerous fantasy novels, among which the Earthsea cycle stands out.. For this series the author recreated a fictional world populated by magicians and supernatural beings, with psychological and social conflicts. Portions of these stories were adapted into a Studio Ghibli animated film production titled Tales of Earthsea (2006), whose direction was in charge of Goro Miyazaki.
He also published numerous poetry books, essays and children's stories. He also wrote and published science fiction and fantasy novels not related to the Ekumen universe or Earthsea, such as The celestial wheel, The eternal homecoming, The gifts, The twelve dwellings of winter, among others. She also stood out as a translator of different languages. Among other works, he translated works by Gabriela Mistral and Lao Tse.
He died in Portland, Oregon, on January 22, 2018.
Ekumen's universe of contrasts
The left hand of darkness is set on Gueden, a planet covered in glaciers also called Winter, in which genderless humans inhabit. The Earthman Genly Ai is sent to this planet with the mission of having an encounter with King Argaven, to make Gueden's alliance with Ekumen.
Ekumen is a federation made up of a considerable number of planets populated by humans who adapted themselves physiologically and socially to the conditions of each one, all of them descendants of ancient human inhabitants of Hain. Eight novels by Úrsula Kroeber Le Guin take place in this universe.
The differences and particularities of each give rise to reflections on our own society. This means that the author's novels can be given various readings within anthropology, politics and sociology.
Gender equality as a utopia
The main characteristic that distinguishes the inhabitants of Gueden is that they do not have sex most of the time, nor gender roles to assume. Their appearance is totally androgynous and everyone is equally capable of conceiving and giving birth. A few days a month they are male or female, randomly. This moment in which they are sexed is called "kemmer".
One of the central propositions of the novel is that in a society without male-female opposition And without the power relations that are generated from this duality, there are no wars, nor many of the social confrontations in our world. The conflicts occur mainly around the desire for social prestige.
Nor does gender equality exist as an ideal because gender is neutral. In this sense, it could be read as a feminist utopia, a world where feminism is not necessary.
A story about the disagreement
Difficulty in communication is another of the hottest issues in history. The people of Gueden consider Genly Ai a strange and sick person, constantly in kemmer and untrustworthy. This in turn sees them as effeminate beings whose gestures are difficult for him to understand.
The conflicts in the story unfold from Ai's waiting to gain an audience with King Argaven., and they continue with the events after this meeting and the exile of the Prime Minister, Estraven. Genly Ai makes a long journey to meet Estraven again, with whom she cannot communicate effectively due to cultural differences.
The freezing weather is also the protagonist of the story and adds difficulties to the possible and desired understanding of the terrestrial with the people of Gueden.
Quote by Ursula Kroeber Le Guin.
Characters
Genly Ai
He is a man from Earth sent to Gueden with the mission of making this planet ally with Ekumen. He faces countless difficulties caused by the cultural difference and the little understanding between him and the people of Gueden.
Derem Straven
Prime Minister of Karhide, Nation of Gueden. He supports Genly Ai and helps him arrange an interview with the king. The day of the interview he is exiled and retires to Orgoreyn.
Argave XV
He is the king of Karhide. He is paranoid and considered insane by his subjects. At first he rejects the alliance that Ai proposes to him, considering him a liar.
osle
He is one of the 33 power figures that rule Orgoreyn, called the Commensals.. At first he supports Genly Ai and the establishment of the alliance with Ekumen, but when he realizes that he will not obtain the expected benefits, he stops being interested in him.