Review: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Every Sci-Fi story needs an interesting premise—a “what if” question that it explores. This book has that covered. The key question is what if in human society, there were no genders? What if anyone could bear or sire a child? What a great question!

But every Sci-Fi story also needs to do something interesting with that premise—you want the author to deeply explore the central question, you want interesting characters, and you want some sort of satisfying conclusion. Here, I found the book lacking.

Le Guin only lightly touches on the implications of an “ambisexual” society—briefly mentioning the lack of (a) gender roles and (b) war—and even that is mainly done through tell, rather than show. We don’t see what it’s like for an ambisexual child to grow up; we don’t see what dating or romance is like; we don’t see how marriage or families work; there’s no discussion of the impact of gender on language, fashion, sports, film, or education; and we don’t explore why lack of gender would mean no war.

There are so many interesting ways this story could’ve gone, but instead, it mostly revolves around a rather unremarkable tale about politics and a trek through the cold. Perhaps in the 60’s, publishing something that dares to discuss non standard gender roles was enough to make this book controversial and unique. Reading it nearly 50 years later, it just feels like a great premise that’s not explored as fully as it could’ve been.

Rating: 3 stars