THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS The Hainish Cycle, Book 4

Le Guin's thought-provoking classic can be a challenge for any narrator. Her ahead-of-its-time narrative is a crazy quilt of excerpts from anthropological reports, cultural myths, and even a personal journal. Yet that doesn't seem to faze Golden Voice Michael Crouch in this gripping audiobook. Using a variety of accents, he brings to life the difficult mission of a human envoy visiting the planet Winter, where the inhabitants regularly change gender. Crouch smoothly differentiates the visitors and dozens of the dual-gender natives, making a complicated story simpler for the listener. Winter is a complex, often inhospitable, world, and Crouch is the perfect guide to sort it out. Thanks to his efforts, this production gives Le Guin's message-packed masterpiece the respect it deserves. D.E.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]