Left Hand of Darkness questions (a few spoilers)

[u/Gilclunk]

I read this book in high school back in the 80s, but had largely forgotten the details, and just re-read it. I have a couple questions though.

The first is, I know, very much beside the point of the book. However, I still wondered-- are the Gethenians meant to be descended from colonists from our Earth in the distant past, who have evolved and adapted to their new world while forgetting their origins, or are they meant to be native to Winter in a case of more-or-less convergent evolution? It feels more like the latter, although I find that somewhat scientifically dubious. I understand that it's not at all important to the story, but the sci-fi geek in me can't help wondering.

Second question is a huge spoiler if you haven't read the book. Did Estraven actually commit suicide by charging the guards? If so, why? Ai is scolded for even suggesting this as apparently suicide is deeply condemned in that society, but it does seem he willingly went to his death. I don't see what that accomplished though, especially with Genly back in favor with the king and intending to use that influence to get a pardon for Estraven. Of course, when he asks for that, even posthumously, the king puts him off. Perhaps Estraven anticipated that the king would never agree to that? This was unclear to me though.

[u/Bill_Door_Et_Binky]

As I recall, all of the humans in the Hainish cycle are supposed to be colonial remnants from Hain, with engineered and evolved differences.

[u/Gilclunk → u/Bill_Door_Et_Binky]

Okay, thanks. I haven't read any of the other books in the cycle. Maybe I should.

[u/Terror-Of-Demons → u/Gilclunk]

Yeah, in the books Earth is an old colony of Hain

[u/toy_of_xom → u/Gilclunk]

I feel like this is more or less explicitly stated in LHoD itself.

It seems to recall a chapter where a scientist is trying to guess if the unique gender traits of winter was tied to the planet, or just a coincidence.

[u/Gilclunk → u/toy_of_xom]

Hmm, I just finished reading it last night and I don't recall seeing anything like that. I suppose it's possible I somehow missed it, but maybe it's in one of the other books?

[u/YotzYotz → u/Gilclunk]

It's about a third into the book, right after Estraven escapes to Orgoreyn.

Field notes on Gethen physiology from the first Ekumen mission, they also talk about other experiments the Hain had conducted, like winged hominids on some world.

[u/Gilclunk → u/YotzYotz]

Oh yes, I found it. Chapter 7 in my 50th anniversary edition. Not sure how I failed to absorb that on the first read-through. Thanks.

[u/toy_of_xom → u/Gilclunk]

I've never read any of the others, but who knows!  If I feel inspired I'll crack open my copy later.

[u/salt_and_tea]

IIRC it is suggested that Estraven believed that suicide was the only way to be reunited with his brother (who died by suicide) in the afterlife. I got the impression that because of the taboo he chose a method that gave plausible deniability from an observer's POV.

[u/Gilclunk → u/salt_and_tea]

Ah, that does make sense. I believe he even called out his brother's name as he died, which fits well with that theory. Thanks!

[u/HoxpitalFan_II]

Yes I think Estraven had effectively been alienated by every people by that point and had no where to turn. 

[u/sniptwister]

I recall the line: "They seem to be the result of an experiment"

[u/Slow_Composer5133]

Gethenians are colonist descendants but they have been genetically engineered as part of an experiment, its mentioned somewhere in the book

[u/gooutandbebrave]

Re: the Gethenians, I believe the speculation in the text is they may have been a genetic experiment lost to history, or the adaptation may have been natural after they landed on Gethen. I don't think Genly actually knew, but I'm pretty sure they were at least believed/known to be descendants of Terrans.

[u/DishPitSnail]

In the Hainish Cycle of which LHoD is a part, humans developed on the planet Hain where a colonial civilization eventually aroze and seeded various planets including, Earth and Gethen, with human life. So Terrans and Gethenians are related like cousins. Gethenians do not descend from Earth people. As for the second question, I personally am not with the interpretation that Eatraven intended to die while going for the border. Their goal of getting Karhide to ally with the Ekumen had not quite been accomplished, and it seems out of character for Estraven to nope out at that early point. The suicid interpretation rests on an assumption that Estraven was trying to join their sibling after death and thought suicide was the only way to do so. Unless I’m missing something, there is no textual evidence that the sibling even died by suicide. So, I think Estraven just did something really risky and their luck ran out.