Reading order · 2 books · 1969 to 1974 · Set in space
Hainish Cycle in Order
The Hainish Cycle is a loose series of science fiction novels set in worlds settled long ago by the people of Hain, now linked by a league called the Ekumen.
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Series facts
- Books
- 2
- Published
- 1969 to 1974
- First book
- The Left Hand of Darkness
- Latest
- The Dispossessed (1974)
- Setting
- Set in space
The reading order
Every Hainish Cycle book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
2 books · Set in space
- 1The Left Hand of Darkness1969With Genly AiGenly Ai, an envoy from the Ekumen, is sent to the frozen planet of Gethen, whose people are neither male nor female, to persuade its nations to join the league.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Dispossessed1974With ShevekShevek, a brilliant physicist from the anarchist moon of Anarres, travels to its rich, divided sister planet Urras, the first visitor in nearly two hundred years.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
The novels stand alone and can be read in any order.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Genly Ai | Shevek |
|---|---|---|
| 1 The Left Hand of Darkness | LLead | |
| 2 The Dispossessed | LLead |
Characters in the Hainish Cycle books
2 characters from Ursula K. Le Guin’s chart, with the number of Hainish Cycle books each appears in.