The Left Hand of Darkness

Ekumenical Envoy from Terra composing a retrospective report; physically a dark-skinned outsider on a world of hermaphrodites; politically naive in Karhidish protocol, emotionally guarded, increasingly isolated after his court mission fails.

Exiled former Prime Minister; blackmails Shusgis, infiltrates Pulefen Farm, rescues Genly; navigates the Ice crossing; in kemmer during the ascent; confesses the sexual tension and chooses friendship over consummation.

Reigning King of Karhide; receives Genly in audience; accepts the ship's landing; mourns Estraven obliquely but refuses to immediately revoke his exile order.

Argaven's cousin; insolent antagonist to Estraven in the parade scene; becomes new Prime Minister and presses aggressive nationalist claims on Sinoth Valley.

Presides over Foretelling; explains to Genly that the Handdara practice Foretelling to exhibit the uselessness of answering the wrong question, and that uncertainty is the ground of life.

Young Indweller at Otherhord who acts as Genly's guide, explains the Foretelling rules, and tells the story of Meshe's emergence from a disastrous Foretelling.

First-person narrator of 'Coming of Age in Karhide'; a young Gethenian undergoing first kemmer, experiencing it as a woman with Arrad Tehemmy after a frightening encounter with Karrid.

Head cook of Sov's Hearth; attempts to force Sov's first kemmer as a declaration of possession; retreats when Sov's kemmer accelerates unexpectedly.

Hearthmate a few years older than Sov; worked with Sov in the gardens; becomes Sov's first kemmer partner, described as shining with beauty in the kemmerhouse.

Voluble, fat, feminine-looking Yomeshta who manages Genly's lodgings in Erhenrang; warns him against association with the exiled Estraven; helps arrange onward passage.

Meets Estraven at Kuseben gate to share his ruin; offers to accompany him and gives him a packet; Estraven coldly refuses and passes him by.

Author of field notes on Gethenian sexual physiology and social structure; reflects on kemmer cycle mechanics, absence of war, and speculates on the purpose of the Hainish experiment.

Jovial, wealthy politician who effusively welcomes Genly, installs him in luxurious quarters, and hosts the dinner where Genly meets Orgota officials and Estraven.

Fat, genial, inquisitive Commensal who questions Genly about other worlds at supper; has a quietly approving intelligence behind his geniality.

Frail, intense, idealistic-looking official who presses Genly on whether Ekumen membership would cover Orgoreyn alone or all of Gethen.

Delicate, dapper politician who hosts the political gathering and questions what practical benefit an eighty-fourth world brings to the Ekumen.

Lord of Stok who saves the wounded young Therem of Estre, vows peace with his mortal enemy, and secretly ensures the enemy clan's lineage continues.

Young heir of Estre who survives ambush by hearth-brothers, is saved by his mortal enemy Stokven, vows peace, ends the old feud, and is branded traitor for it.

Fellow prisoner at Pulefen Farm; tells stories in his soft dialect; receives Genly's tale of Terra; philosophizes that 'we none of us choose'; dies in coma.

Staff member at the Royal Karhidish Embassy in Mishnory; trusted by Estraven to convey word of Genly's imprisonment to Argaven.

Old hunter who leads a trapping party up the Esagel River; Estraven joins his group as cover before breaking off alone toward Pulefen Farm.

Farmer who sheltered Estraven and Genly near Sassinoth but informed on Estraven via wireless, triggering the fatal border dash.

Author speaking in her own voice in the introduction; describes the genesis of Gethenian gender physiology and defends fiction as a metaphorical truth-telling mode.