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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Ursula K. Le Guin is often cited as a SF master, and with good reason. She brings to the genre a total mastery of its concepts, and adds to it a sensibility and feminity that is often lacking. Make no mistake : Le Guin is years ahead of the usual 'romance SF' that is (often unjustly) linked to SF...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Seems very dated. Slow paced.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Very interesting novel about a chilly world inhabited by humans who have evolved into a hermaphroditic species, and the emissary from an interplanetary federation that tries to bring them into an alliance with other worlds. The characters, initially stiff, deepen and become more fascinating as the novel progresses. Surprisingly short--300 pages or so--yet a complete encapsulation of a world, its culture, and its history.”
C. D. W. wrote this review 1 hour ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting concept of genderless human beings. A good political and anthropological issue. The story can be a bit dragging though. 2 main characters undergo a gruelling journey across an endless land of ice. Too much descriptions of ice and glacier can be daunting to read. ”
Raquel Z wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Totally awesome oldschool scifi. Mmmm, tasty.”
Abi Cunningham wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“What if all men were women and all women were men for some part of their lives? How would that change what and how you view each other?”
Anna wrote this review Friday, November 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Hugely realistic world, unforgettable characters, extremely convincing strange society...These are just a fraction of the upsides of this reading jewel. I first try to read it when I was 12 or 13, and I stopped after reading 50 pages, but when I opened the book several years later I was entranced.
Vesso Zah wrote this review Friday, November 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Also, it is one of the few precious books that show new and new quality and experience every time you read it again.
I strongly recommend it. ”“Seems very dated. Slow paced. ”
Aaron wrote this review Sunday, November 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Humans have colonized approximately 80 planets, governed by a sort of United Nations organization, called the Ekumen. Looking to bring more planets into their alliance, the Ekumen sends and envoy to the planet Gethen. However, every human on Gethen is androgynous; capable of becoming either a male or female each month in their fertility cycle. This single difference permeates everything in their culture: politics, marriage, friendship, social structures. LeGuin's novel provides a deeply interesting fun house mirror for our own sexuality and sexually driven motives.”
Emily S wrote this review Sunday, October 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Another example of science fiction that explores literary themes. This was a great read.”
Bryan G wrote this review Monday, October 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Too early to tell, but the writing style is good. It seems different from the Earth Sea Trilogy which speaks volumes of Le Guin's talent.”
Tod L wrote this review Wednesday, September 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Genly Ai, an envoy of the Ekumen (a sort of intergalactic web of worlds inhabited by humans), comes to the planet Winter to try to convince its leaders to join the Ekumen. However, the cultural differences between Ai and the natives prove daunting.
Peach wrote this review Tuesday, September 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book is often considered feminist, because the humans inhabiting Winter are androgynous throughout four-fifths of their lives, then become male or female for one-fifth of their monthly cycle depending on the availability of a partner. How would a world without gender look? From Ai’s perspective, it is still fairly dangerous, although his relationship with Estraven shows him that beyond his fears and mission, there are human relationships.
Probably the most striking aspect of this book is the idea that the means justify the ends, and that the envoy is sent alone and vulnerable not because it’s the most effective way to build the Ekumen, but because the way that something comes about is often most important. Even though this book could be viewed as somewhat dated (particularly the political and gender background), I enjoyed it immensely for those little touches and could not stop reading.”
