About “Coming of Age in Karhide”
"Coming of Age in Karhide" is a science fiction novelette by Ursula K. Le Guin, first published in 1995. Set on the planet Gethen, the story is part of Le Guin's Hainish cycle and shares the setting of her 1969 novel The Left Hand of Darkness. The narrative focuses on the process of growing into adulthood on a world where individuals do not have a fixed biological sex. Critics noted that the story expanded on themes of sex and sexuality compared to The Left Hand of Darkness, and described it as a "quietly feminist" work. Some reviewers felt it lacked the "dizzying impact" of its predecessor. The story was included in the 2002 collection The Birthday of the World, which features other stories about marriage and sexual relationships. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Book details
- First published
- 1995