Plot outline of Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin
Storyboard Text
That's a cool arch. I love recording events on this planet
(Ch 1) Genly Ai is in a parade on Karhide, Gethen celebrating a new arch.
Oh no! How about you use our amazing 'ansible' communication device if you join Ekumen though?
(Ch 3) Genly goes to the King's Palace to ask if Gethen would like to join his planet alliance 'Ekumen'
No thanks, also your only friend on the planet Estraven is a traitor and he has to be banished.
Nope. Still not interested. Please leave Genly
Will Gethen join the Ekumen within 5 years?
(Ch 5)Genly meets with foretellers to record what they do on the planet
Yes
(Ch 6) Estraven meanwhile is exhiled and is running away. And meets up with his ex-kemmering Ashe.
I am being exiled so am being cut off from you and all my friends and family. Please sell all my things for our sons.
I will. I love you and wish we could be together.
(Ch 6) Estraven arrives in Mishnory and works as a fish-packer. He speaks to officials in this country about Genly and his offer.
I miss being important in Gethen.
Pack me!
Hmm...how weird
( Ch 8) Genly has been at Gethen all summer noting what has been happening.
Important Info for all Gethenians: King is Pregnant!
Maybe in Orgoreyn they will listen!
Ch8: Genly asks permission to go to Orgoreyn
Ofcourse
Can you please give Estraven this money? I miss him and love him so much! *SAD*
Ch 8: Just before Genly leaves Ashe (Estraven's ex) visits him
Ch 8: Genly goes to Orgoreyn and when he arrives his passport is taken, to be returned to him in the morning
Argh!! Scary! I'm leaving!
Ch 8: Karhide attacks Orgoreyn that night so Genly must immediately flee to Mishonry, another city in Orgoreyn
Ch 8: Genly goes to Mishonry and has dinner with the Commensals and notices Estraven is there
I hope you're enjoying your dinner
Everyone is so nice here!
Orgoreyn is not all it seems to be. Be careful
Ch 10: Estraven visits Genly to get the money Ashe sent him.
I'm not gong to listen to your advice, because you were said to be a traitor.
Open trade is really what I’m here to try to set up. Trade not only goods, of course, but in knowledge, technologies, ideas, philosophies, art, medicine, science, theory
Ch 10: Genly has lunch with the Commensals of Orgoreyn and they learn the King's Baby has died. He tells the Commensals about the star ship.
I am not going to listen to your advice again.
You should get your Starship and go home! It is not safe here.
Ch 11: Genly is to give a speech to all of Orgoreyn but no one turns up and it is not broadcast. He begins to be very worried.
Maybe I should have listened to Estraven's warnings???
Ch13: Genly is arrested and taken to a prison camp
Ch 14: Estraven rescues Genly from the prison camp farm he is sent to. Genly and Estraven trek to Karhide.
“I am the only man in all Gethen that has trusted you entirely, and I am the only man in Gethen that you have refused to trust.”
As I am in kemmer I would find it easier to ignore Ai’s presence, but this is difficult in a two-man tent. The trouble is ofcourse that he is, in his curious fashion, also in kemmer; always in kemmer.”
Ch 16: Genly and Estraven's trip. Estraven directly mentions the text title here. Estraven goes into Kemmering and things get a bit awkward in the tent.
Ch 19: Estraven and Genly finally enter Karhide again. They travel to a small town and Genly goes into town overnight to get his Starship
Ch 19: Estraven is killed whilst Genly is off getting his ship.
Oh no!!
Ch 20: Genly is jailed again, but tells his story about how his broadcast was not done and he was falsely imprisoned in Orgoreyn. As Estraven predicted, the Commensals' lie is revealed, and a change in government results in both Orgoreyn and Karhide.
Sad. I might go to his home town and remember him.
Can you clear Estraven's name as well? He's not a traitor?
Ch 20: The King now accepts Genly's offer.
Wow! I love your Star ship- let's make a deal!
Nope.
Woah! Check it out men AND women, not just nuetered people!! Weird!
So excited to check this place out!
Ch 20: The Starship lands with more humans, which Genly finds strange to see again.
Can you please tell me how my Daddy died and also about other worlds?
Ch 20: Genly goes to meet with Estraven's father, older brother and son.