Books

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. Clean boards with just the merest hint of pushing to the corners and a touch of fading to the very top edge of the head of the spine and rear panel. Internally there is a gift inscription dated Xmas 1969 to the front free endpaper and a few drips (tea?) to the margins of three pages. The dust jacket which is now protected in a removable, clear cover (not shown) has a touch of toning to the spine and a little dust staining to the edges of the rear panel and some light spotting most obviously to the rear fore edge. There is a 2cm closed tear at the top of the lower joint (there appears to be a touching up of the colour arounf this) and a similar one to the top fore edge - both have a japanese paper repair on the inside. The Left Hand of Darkness is probably the most famous examination of androgyny in science fiction. A major theme of the novel is the effect of sex and gender on culture and society. When the book was first published, the gender theme touched off a feminist debate over its depiction of the ambisexual Gethenians. The book won Le Guin the Nebula Award for the Best Novel in 1969, the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1970, the Otherwise Special Retrospective Award in 1995 and was voted 2nd in the All-time Best SF Novels by a Locus Magazine Poll in 1987 only being beaten by Dune. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in science fiction. Rainford & Parris Books welcomes enquiries, so please do not hesitate to ask if you require further images or have any questions. All books are packaged with great care.

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.