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Earthsea & The Left Hand of Darkness: Two BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations
Ursula Le Guin's groundbreaking fantasy sagas form the basis of these two BBC Radio full-cast dramatisations.
'Earthsea' is based on the first three books in the 'Earthsea' cycle. It tells the stories of Ged and Tenar, inhabitants of a vast archipelago where magic is part of life. Young wizard Ged releases a terrible shadow into the world and must risk everything to restore the balance. Meanwhile, Tenar is taken from her home and family to become Arha, priestess and guardian of the ominous Tombs of Atuan…
Based on Ursula Le Guin's award-winning masterpiece, 'The Left Hand of Darkness' is set on Gethen, a world in the grip of an Ice Age whose people are ambigendered – both male and female, and neither. Genly Ai has been sent from Earth on the biggest mission of his life: to persuade the people of Gethen to join the Ekumen, a union of planets. But his task is fraught with danger.
Ursula Le Guin is one of the most influential SF writers of the 20th Century, and these two dramatisations of her seminal novels will immerse you in magical worlds rich with wizards, dragons, endless snow plains and perilous ice sheets. Among the cast are Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey) and Toby Jones (Dad's Army). This CD edition also includes a bonus interview disc in which Ursula Le Guin discusses her life and work. Duration: 5 hours 25 minutes approx.
'Earthsea' is based on the first three books in the 'Earthsea' cycle. It tells the stories of Ged and Tenar, inhabitants of a vast archipelago where magic is part of life. Young wizard Ged releases a terrible shadow into the world and must risk everything to restore the balance. Meanwhile, Tenar is taken from her home and family to become Arha, priestess and guardian of the ominous Tombs of Atuan…
Based on Ursula Le Guin's award-winning masterpiece, 'The Left Hand of Darkness' is set on Gethen, a world in the grip of an Ice Age whose people are ambigendered – both male and female, and neither. Genly Ai has been sent from Earth on the biggest mission of his life: to persuade the people of Gethen to join the Ekumen, a union of planets. But his task is fraught with danger.
Ursula Le Guin is one of the most influential SF writers of the 20th Century, and these two dramatisations of her seminal novels will immerse you in magical worlds rich with wizards, dragons, endless snow plains and perilous ice sheets. Among the cast are Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey) and Toby Jones (Dad's Army). This CD edition also includes a bonus interview disc in which Ursula Le Guin discusses her life and work. Duration: 5 hours 25 minutes approx.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published July 7, 2016
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About the author
Ursula K. Le Guin
1,045 books30.1k followersUrsula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.
She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.
She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 19, 2021
If this BBC dramatization is your first experience with the Hainish Cycle or, worse yet, LeGuin, look elsewhere. Editing down and performing a 300-page-odd book (that’s over nine hours) into a two-hour recording, especially such a complex story as this, which requires some context at least into what the Ecumen is, to put it mildly, complicated.
That aside, this is another gem by the BBC. The performances are on-point, the main plot and political and philosophical points are maintained, the world-building is helped along (and not overdone) with solid sound effects, and, perhaps most importantly, LeGuin’s approach to gender is brought to life uniquely, memorably, and unmistakably. And I mean unmistakably because, quite surprisingly, I’ve read many a review of Ms. LeGuin’s science fiction which ignores and, bafflingly, sometimes negates, her views and approaches to equality, justice, gender, and sex. There is no mistaken on the fluidity of gender in this performance’s planet of “Winter.”
As usual, no spoilers here but highlights include the cinematic “feel” to this dramatization, while, again, not losing the author’s philosophical and sociological views. Individuals vs community, war vs peace, tradition vs science, misogyny vs feminism, fear vs hope, technology vs stasis: it’s all there, surprisingly, in only two hours’ worth of audio.
It’s certainly a rush to listen to, without a doubt, as the couple (the disgraced political and the spaceman-cum-ex-convict) Genly Ai and Estraven struggle through months of cruel snow and ice to reach their “salvation.”
So why is it called The Left Hand of Darkness? I did not reveal that in my original review and certainly won’t here. Read (and listen) on.
EDIT: I incorrectly used another edition when reviewing. The dramatization I listened to was The Left Hand of Darkness only; no Earthsea. My apologies.
That aside, this is another gem by the BBC. The performances are on-point, the main plot and political and philosophical points are maintained, the world-building is helped along (and not overdone) with solid sound effects, and, perhaps most importantly, LeGuin’s approach to gender is brought to life uniquely, memorably, and unmistakably. And I mean unmistakably because, quite surprisingly, I’ve read many a review of Ms. LeGuin’s science fiction which ignores and, bafflingly, sometimes negates, her views and approaches to equality, justice, gender, and sex. There is no mistaken on the fluidity of gender in this performance’s planet of “Winter.”
As usual, no spoilers here but highlights include the cinematic “feel” to this dramatization, while, again, not losing the author’s philosophical and sociological views. Individuals vs community, war vs peace, tradition vs science, misogyny vs feminism, fear vs hope, technology vs stasis: it’s all there, surprisingly, in only two hours’ worth of audio.
It’s certainly a rush to listen to, without a doubt, as the couple (the disgraced political and the spaceman-cum-ex-convict) Genly Ai and Estraven struggle through months of cruel snow and ice to reach their “salvation.”
So why is it called The Left Hand of Darkness? I did not reveal that in my original review and certainly won’t here. Read (and listen) on.
EDIT: I incorrectly used another edition when reviewing. The dramatization I listened to was The Left Hand of Darkness only; no Earthsea. My apologies.
Read
August 30, 2018What a treat. It was like a twisty turny suspenseful tale that was set to life with actors and sound effects. A delightful production though my library offering only included the left hand of darkness. Also I love the gender fluid and gender free imagination of people on a planet called Winter.
November 10, 2024
All of these books are ones I've read several times and The Left Hand of Darkness is a favourite that I come back to from time to time.....a bit like I do for Lord of the Rings.
I enjoyed LHOD as a dramatisation but wanted more, somehow. When you love a book it is problematic when it is edited,as it really must be, of course.
Earthsea I haven't read for a good few years, so got on less well with that and didn't finish listening to the dramatisation all the way through, sadly.
What I enjoyed, I enjoyed! 4-stars I think.
I enjoyed LHOD as a dramatisation but wanted more, somehow. When you love a book it is problematic when it is edited,as it really must be, of course.
Earthsea I haven't read for a good few years, so got on less well with that and didn't finish listening to the dramatisation all the way through, sadly.
What I enjoyed, I enjoyed! 4-stars I think.
June 3, 2021
I had hoped that a dramatisation, especially a BBC one, and extra-specially because Toby Jones was in it would be awesome and help me finally understand the book I was forced to read at school when I was 11... I just ended up being confused and losing track of the story multiple times. It isnt a great adaptation.
July 11, 2022
First let me say that I think I would have liked this book more if it wasn't the dramatized verson. I think this had themes ahead of its time and complex world and society building skills. I like the characters and I enjoyed following them around on their journey. However, I did not like the voice actors and the recording was over the top. I also thought this book was a tad dull.
April 28, 2025
I’m sure the real story is marvelous, but this abridged version was enough to give me a glimpse of the story and style of writing!
It was an interesting universe building and I had hoped it would dwelve more into the non binary of the genders!
I did like the endurance that the two main characters showed and how their values and dedication sticked until the end of their journey.
It was an interesting universe building and I had hoped it would dwelve more into the non binary of the genders!
I did like the endurance that the two main characters showed and how their values and dedication sticked until the end of their journey.
April 19, 2018
Typically BBC Radio plays are quite decent to very good. This one, however, falls very short, literally and in the ability to portray the whole of the story and in the short form. It is way too abridged and doesn't do the story justice.
April 30, 2018
I put this on my to be read list a couple years ago. I heard she passed not long ago. I felt the need to read her now. I enjoyed Earth-sea but I really like left hand of darkness. I’ve read her here and there but now I think I’ll taste some more. Excellent writer.
November 28, 2017
Not the unabridged version of the book that I wanted, but I was so so happy to hear Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice!
December 14, 2018
Book and story are great, Performances are way too abridged and hardly enjoyable because of such. Read the real books though
January 31, 2020
Fine performance, but the book is far too good to be cut down like this.
September 22, 2024
I read the book and forgot it!
Then I found this-what a great production.
Then I found this-what a great production.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews