The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

 I read the 50th anniversary edition of this classic first-encounter science fiction novel. It has an introduction and an afterword by notable authors that added to my enjoyment.

Genly Ai is an emissary whose mission on the icy planet humans call Winter is to persuade the rulers to join Earth's alliance of planets. Being the lone ambassador, he is met with curiosity by the planet's inhabitants and is befriended by the king's right-hand man, Estraven. When Estraven falls out of favor and is sentenced to death, he flees to a neighboring country. Ai and Estraven are soon reunited and begin a perilous journey to freedom and, in Estraven's case, redemption.

I like first-contact stories, and this one is a winner. I particularly liked the description of the planet and the curious sexual fluidity of the natives. Despite having been published in 1969, it holds up well and is rich in atmosphere and insight. It took me a while to get used to the writing style, but once I did, I was caught up in the world and the characters. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton

 I enjoyed Edward Ashton's science fiction books, Micky7 and Antimatter Blues, so much that I was thrilled to see this standalone book. It is similar to the other two books in that he has crafted an alien culture in which a bumbling human must try to survive. Written with wit and odd situations, The Fourth Consort is another winner.

Dalton's life is going poorly: his father died, and his girlfriend dumped him. Faced with few prospects on Earth, he joins a group of multi-species space explorers called Unity, whose lofty goals include first contact with alien civilizations. On his first mission as an ambassador, Dalton's crewmembers consist of an alien pilot who looks like a giant snail and fellow Earthling Neera, a fellow scout. They encounter an alien culture, only to find a rival organization, the Assembly, that has gotten there first. Things go badly between the two groups, and Dalton and Neera get stranded on the planet with a crewmember of the Assembly, Dalton calls Breaker. They are in a race to see who can win over the alien culture first.

I loved the moral dilemmas Dalton faced and the diplomatic tightrope he walked. Ashton does an excellent job of world-building and describing the alien beings. First-contact stories are my favorite science fiction reads, and The Fourth Consort ranks right up there as one of the best. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is February 25, 2025.

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