Books

Macdonald, 1969 1969. 1st UK Edition. Hardcover. VG++/VG++. 1st UK Edition,13 x 20.4 cm purple boards with silver titles to the spine. 286[2]pp in original unclipped jacket priced at £1.50 and 30s. net. Together with a T.L.S. from Le Guin to Malcolm Edwards the then editor of a Science Fiction Fanzine called Quicksilver, dated 20th April 1971. In it she addresses questions about 'The Left Hand of Darkness' and the first printing of her short story, 'Winter's King' in Orbit 5' (copy included) which she refers to in the letter as "the genesis of the story". A clean bright book without name inscription or bookplate and just a tiny Foyles label on the verso of the front free endpaper. There is also little tape burn on the fore edge of the front free endpaper, presumably from a previous jacket cover, but otherwise the pages are very clean. The dust jacket which is now protected in a removable, clear cover (not shown) is in excellent condition with the merest hint of dust marking‚Ķ

The Left Hand of Darkness is a science fiction novel by U.S. writer Ursula K. Le Guin, published in 1969. The novel became immensely popular and established Le Guin's status as a major author of science fiction. The book is a part of the Hainish Cycle, a series of novels by Le Guin, all set in the same universe, where the people of different planets are attempting to co-operate with one another. The novel follows the story of Genly Ai, a human native of Terra, who is sent to the planet Gethen as an envoy of the Ekumen, a loose group of planets. Ai's mission is to persuade the nations of Gethen to join the Ekumen, but he is hindered by lack of understanding of Gethenian culture. Individuals on Gethen are ambisexual, with no fixed sex, which is a central theme in the novel.

Look for the mention of 'Ace Books' as the publisher, lack of subsequent ISBN, and the presence of a statement of 'First edition'.