The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
"His loyalty extended without disproportion to things, the patient, obstinate, reliable things that we use and get used to, the things we live by." (p. 193)
This book reminded me quite a lot of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. LeGuin's novel is less dark than Le Carre's, but they are working with some similar themes and there is at least one scene that was almost the same action in both stories.
LeGuin's story, written in 1969, raises questions about sex and gender identity (which Spy doesn't) which I found quite interesting. The story is about the first envoy to Winter (a world wholly created by LeGuin) from outside its galaxy. He deals with political intrigue and bickering and travels across vast ice fields in a desperate bid for survival which is intertwined with a kind of love story. Through this adventure in an alien world LeGuin shows us a lot about ourselves.
This book is from my Classics Club list and was my May Spin title.
That sounds interesting, Mary. My book club is going to read this in September. Looking forward to it.
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