The Left Hand of Darkness ~ with Signed Letter

by LE GUIN, Ursula K. [LeGuin]

$4,829 · Offered by Biblio

First edition · Signed

Macdonald, 1969 1969. 1st UK Edition. Hardcover. VG++/VG++. 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. Together with a T.L.S. from Le Guin to Malcolm Edwards the then editor of a Science Fiction Fanzine called Quicksilver, dated 20th April 1971. In it she addresses questions about 'The Left Hand of Darkness' and the first printing of her short story, 'Winter's King' in Orbit 5' (copy included) which she refers to in the letter as "the genesis of the story". A clean bright book without name inscription or bookplate and just a tiny Foyles label on the verso of the front free endpaper. There is also little tape burn on the fore edge of the front free endpaper, presumably from a previous jacket cover, but otherwise the pages are very clean. The dust jacket which is now protected in a removable, clear cover (not shown) is in excellent condition with the merest hint of dust marking to the rear panel and a tiny 3mm tear on the top edge of the rear panel with a touch of associated creasing. 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

• Publisher: Macdonald
• Year: 1969
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: first
• Binding: hardcover

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