Ursula Le Guin - The Left Hand Of Darkness Drama]

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20150412

In a snow-changed city in the middle of an Ice Age on an alien world, one young man prepares for the biggest mission of his life. Alone and unarmed, Genly Ai has been sent from Earth to persuade the world of Gethen to join The Ekumen, a union of planets. But it's a task fraught with danger. Genly is shocking to the natives. This is a world in which humans are ambigendered - everyone can be a mother, and everyone can be a father.

First Minister Estraven is the only person who champions Genly's cause, but their relationship is deeply incomprehensible and troubling. Genly's life is at risk and he must decide who to trust.

Sci-fi with incredible humanity from brilliant feminist writer, Ursula Le Guin.

This is the first dramatisation of her 1969 novel, which is as groundbreaking in its approach to gender as when it was first published over 45 years ago.

Adapted in two parts by Judith Adams.

20150419

20150425 (R4)

In the middle of an Ice Age on an alien world, two friends flee across endless snow plains on a journey that will take them to the edge of their physical and emotional endurance. The stakes are high - to save a world from war, and save their own lives.

The first radio dramatisation of Ursula Le Guin's novel which is as groundbreaking in its approach to gender as when it was first published in 1969.

Genly Ai has arrived from Earth onto the planet Gethen, a world in which humans are ambigendered - everyone can be a mother and everyone can be a father. In coming to terms with their otherness - and also their sameness - Genly must let go of everything he understood about his own identity.

Adapted by Judith Adams

Estraven - Lesley Sharp

Genly Ai - Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Ashe - Ruth Gemmell

Gaum - Louise Brealey

Obsle - David Acton

Shusgis - Stephen Critchlow

Esvans and Asra - Sam Dale

Sorve - Ayesha Antoine

Doctor - Rhiannon Neads

Skipper - David Hounslow

Director: Allegra McIlroy

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2015.

Genly Ai arrives from Earth onto a planet with ambigendered humans.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20150412		In a snow-changed city in the middle of an Ice Age on an alien world, one young man prepares for the biggest mission of his life. Alone and unarmed, Genly Ai has been sent from Earth to persuade the world of Gethen to join The Ekumen, a union of planets. But it's a task fraught with danger. Genly is shocking to the natives. This is a world in which humans are ambigendered - everyone can be a mother, and everyone can be a father. First Minister Estraven is the only person who champions Genly's cause, but their relationship is deeply incomprehensible and troubling. Genly's life is at risk and he must decide who to trust. Sci-fi with incredible humanity from brilliant feminist writer, Ursula Le Guin. This is the first dramatisation of her 1969 novel, which is as groundbreaking in its approach to gender as when it was first published over 45 years ago. Adapted in two parts by Judith Adams.
02	20150419	20150425 (R4)	In the middle of an Ice Age on an alien world, two friends flee across endless snow plains on a journey that will take them to the edge of their physical and emotional endurance. The stakes are high - to save a world from war, and save their own lives. The first radio dramatisation of Ursula Le Guin's novel which is as groundbreaking in its approach to gender as when it was first published in 1969. Genly Ai has arrived from Earth onto the planet Gethen, a world in which humans are ambigendered - everyone can be a mother and everyone can be a father. In coming to terms with their otherness - and also their sameness - Genly must let go of everything he understood about his own identity. Adapted by Judith Adams Estraven - Lesley Sharp Genly Ai - Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Ashe - Ruth Gemmell Gaum - Louise Brealey Obsle - David Acton Shusgis - Stephen Critchlow Esvans and Asra - Sam Dale Sorve - Ayesha Antoine Doctor - Rhiannon Neads Skipper - David Hounslow Director: Allegra McIlroy First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2015. Genly Ai arrives from Earth onto a planet with ambigendered humans.