Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness

by Harold Bloom

A collection of nine critical essays on the modern social science fiction novel, arranged in chronological order of their original publication.

Genres: Science Fiction, Literary Criticism, Fiction

150 pages, Library Binding

First published May 1, 1987

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly informative analysis of a work that I admire more having read these essays. Some arguments were a little thin, or difficult for me to fully comprehend (thus being well worth re-reading), but every essay contained at least one insight that brought the incredible complexity and attention to detail in Le Guin's utopian/androgynous/dualist/Taoist narrative into better conceptual focus.

[James McVey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Light is the left hand of darkness
and darkness is the right hand of light.
Two are one, life and death, lying
together like lovers in kemmer,
like hands joined together,
like the end and the way."

An interplanetary envoy, Genly Ai embarks on a journey through the deceptive sphere of politics on Winter, and ultimately across the Gobrin Ice. Ursula K. Le Guin's pre novel assertions, "all fiction is metaphor", and "science fiction is not predictive; it is descriptive", alert the reader that no matter the strangeness of this fictional world, what unfolds is all human. This novel was groundbreaking for themes of identity and gender. Le Guin crafted a race of gender benders who always live in Year One and all drive no faster than 25mph, and made Genly Ai, the male human envoy seem the foreign alien with superb writing and a brilliantly executed idea of duality in flux up until kemmer. The physical adventure bits displayed: perseverance, resilience, and restraint, but were never the focus. I gave 4/5 stars for the brilliant thought experiment, and unique setting. The initial pace was slow and suspense was limited.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook which was really well produced with many actors with different accents. It even said, "end of part 1" which made me think it was produced back in the day when most audio books were on CDs.

If you don't know Ursula Le Guin, she wrote science fiction exploring gender roles during the 2nd wave of feminism. It was written long before gender ideology began wrecking every conversation. It's hard not to see it through the lens of what today passes for political correctness, but it is from a different time and really should be appreciated within it's own context if at all possible.

I wanted to read it every since I saw Hank Green compare her books to those of the culture series by Iain Banks. https://youtu.be/l6PT1VKPLlQ?si=9u9ts...

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each contributor to this stimulating collection of essays on The Left Hand of Darkness makes the point that dualisms provide a key to the novel’s structure. Here are some examples. Marin Bickman discusses the relationship between the novel’s form and its content. Marxist critic Fredric Jameson identifies Hegelian dialectic as a structuring element for Le Guin’s political themes. Donald Theall sees utopian dialectics, and Jeanne Murray Walker finds myths of social and economic exchange. Eric S. Rabkin finds a thematic contrast between determinism and free will. All the essays here also point to the novel’s dominant gender themes and expressions of Taoist philosophy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix of essays on The Left Hand of Darkness. Some resonated with me more than others - I particularly enjoyed the Bickman essay on form and content and the Rabkin essay on determinism, free will, and point of view. The collection was published in the 80s and I would have liked to see a discussion of the gender and androgyny in LHD through a more modern lens.

[Sharene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it was just that I was trying to read this book about a winter planet in the summer, but I couldn't get into it and didn't finish. The book's beginning is heavy with world building that felt tedious (e.g. sentences that are half difficult made up words). It very much feels like a book written in 1969, for better and worse.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Ursula K. Le Guin, and now I understand why she has conflicted feelings about being assigned the sci-fi genre, even though it clearly is. This is a great demonstration of how rich sci-fi can be without battle, monsters, or cheap gimmicks. I'm looking forward to more of her stuff.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this convinces me that SciFi is not my cup of tea but this was an enjoyable read nevertheless. The biggest point of exploration here is the possibility of undifferentiated sex with intermittent periods of activity. What would people be like if they were male & female at the same time?

[Scott Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's incredible how much she packs into such a small space.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very impressed by Le Guin's writing. Her language is gorgeous, her descriptions vivid. Topics in the book are very thought provoking. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

[Elise · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book read less like fiction and more like an anthropology/political commentary. Very boring. Couldn't finish.

[Henry Piskie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, enjoyable read with an interesting world and premise
6.75/10

[Mark Prelas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ursula K. Le Guin is one of my favorite authors of all time. This along with her other Hugo and Nebula award winners, the Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, rank as my favorite science fiction novels.

[Pau · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays are of varying quality. Some aren't as insightful as one would hope. Others, particularly the later essays, did give me new ways to think about Le Guin's works as well as how to better express some of the thoughts had already been there.

[Sarah Tavis · Rating 4 out of 5]

By shifting gender perceptions, Le Guin has offered her readers another way to look at politics, fear, and how the body is shaped and shaped both.