Super Short Summary

In The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, Genly Ai, an ambassador from the Ekumen, arrives on the planet Gethen to convince its inhabitants to join the confederacy. Genly struggles to understand the genderless Gethenians and faces political intrigue and extreme climate conditions. Estraven, a Gethenian, becomes his ally, and together they embark on a perilous journey, forming a deep bond. The novel explores themes of gender, communication, and cultural differences. The book includes instances of death by suicide and discussions of sexual violence.