The Left Hand of Darkness

I think it's interesting that this book is described as a "dystopia" in the sub-genre tags. It's now been a few weeks since I've read the book, so perhaps I'm forgetting some fo the details. The lingering sense I have of the book is a mixture of gentleness and self-exploration. I realize that there are problems with the society that the main character encounters - the leaders of the different alien communities prove to be treacherous, stupid and cruel. But the idea of a "ambisexual" human species - freed from social divisions driven by sex, gender stereotypes, and unequal childbearing responsibility - is compelling and strangely beautiful. Once again, Le Guin gives us a thought exercise in how to address some of our society's most ingrained shortcomings; the details notwithstanding, to me this seems like a roadmap to a more enlightened (if not utopic) civilization.