Terra (Hainish cycle)
Encyclopedia
Terra or Earth plays a role in the Hainish Cycle of science fiction novels by Ursula K. Le Guin
. Humans are supposed to be descendents of colonists from a planet called Hain
. At some unspecified date, humans join the League of All Worlds
, which includes the Cetians and other peoples of Hainish descent.
In The Left Hand of Darkness
, it is said that 'Hainish Normal' people were placed among Terra's own 'proto-hominid autochthones
by the ancient Hainish 'Colonizers'. Modern humans are several times mentioned as being of Hainish descent. Whether the 'autochthones' were wiped out (perhaps Neanderthals) or interbred like the later Alterrans is not made clear.
After that initial contact with Hainish civilization, perhaps the beginning of human life on Terra, Le Guin's Earth experiences two more cycles of isolation followed by the restoration of extraterrestrial contact and community with other worlds. The books of the Hainish Cycle portray major changes in Terran social organization and culture as these cycles progress. The second period of contact with the interstellar Hainish community is the background for The Word for World is Forest
, in which people from Terra appear as aggressive settlers of other planets, The Dispossessed
, and Rocannon's World
. Some time later, City of Illusions
provides a detailed description of Terra in the depths of a third era of isolation. The story takes place across a large landmass, perhaps North America, which shows signs of an advanced, abandoned civilization under a rewilded landscape. A small number of humans live in tiny, isolated settlements, either farming or hunting and gathering, where they retain some technologies from the past, now handcrafted, but are completely cut off from any communication with neighboring regions or with other worlds; there is only one city where high technology and energy intensive construction have survived. The events of City of Illusions lead up to the third period of Terran contact with other worlds, during which The Left Hand of Darkness takes place.
In The Dispossessed, Cetians know Terra as a place with interestingly different ideas about physics. In that book, a Terran envoy describes the planet to the protagonist as barren, barely suitable for living due to severe exploitation of natural resources throughout history. The Telling
, taking place in either the second or third period of interstellar contact, describes a violent period of Terran history in which a repressive, theocratic regime briefly rules the planet before intervention from the Ekumen
leads to the gradual liberalization of its policies.
Various individuals from Earth play a part in other stories, like Genly Ai, a Terran representative of the Ekumen, in The Left Hand of Darkness. The Telling and Four Ways to Forgiveness
also feature Terrans working with the Ekumen on other planets. In The Telling, Earth's incorporation into the Ekumen is briefly explained.
Regarding other works by Ursula Le Guin set on Earth, she explains:
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin is an American author. She has written novels, poetry, children's books, essays, and short stories, notably in fantasy and science fiction...
. Humans are supposed to be descendents of colonists from a planet called Hain
Hain (planet)
Hain is a fictional planet that plays an important background role in the science fiction novels of Ursula K. Le Guin's Hainish Cycle. It is described more closely in some later short stories. It is the oldest culture in both the League of Worlds and later the Ekumen and is about 140 Light Years...
. At some unspecified date, humans join the League of All Worlds
League of All Worlds
The League of All Worlds is an alliance of planets, mostly descended from colonization efforts from the planet Hain, in the fictional Hainish Cycle universe created by the science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin. In the series, it is destroyed by aliens called the Shing who have the ability to lie...
, which includes the Cetians and other peoples of Hainish descent.
In The Left Hand of Darkness
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Left Hand of Darkness is a 1969 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is part of the Hainish Cycle, a series of books by Le Guin all set in the fictional Hainish universe....
, it is said that 'Hainish Normal' people were placed among Terra's own 'proto-hominid autochthones
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
by the ancient Hainish 'Colonizers'. Modern humans are several times mentioned as being of Hainish descent. Whether the 'autochthones' were wiped out (perhaps Neanderthals) or interbred like the later Alterrans is not made clear.
After that initial contact with Hainish civilization, perhaps the beginning of human life on Terra, Le Guin's Earth experiences two more cycles of isolation followed by the restoration of extraterrestrial contact and community with other worlds. The books of the Hainish Cycle portray major changes in Terran social organization and culture as these cycles progress. The second period of contact with the interstellar Hainish community is the background for The Word for World is Forest
The Word for World is Forest
The Word for World Is Forest is a science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, published in 1976 and based on her 1972 novella which was nominated for a Nebula Award.It is part of Le Guin's Hainish Cycle.-Setting:...
, in which people from Terra appear as aggressive settlers of other planets, The Dispossessed
The Dispossessed
The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia is a 1974 utopian science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, set in the same fictional universe as that of The Left Hand of Darkness . The book won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1974, both the Hugo and Locus Awards in 1975, and received a nomination for...
, and Rocannon's World
Rocannon's World
Rocannon's World is Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel. It was published in 1966 as an Ace Double, along with Avram Davidson's The Kar-Chee Reign, following the tête-bêche format. Though it is one of Le Guin's many works set in the universe of the technological Hainish Cycle, the story itself has many...
. Some time later, City of Illusions
City of Illusions
City of Illusions is a 1967 post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, set on Earth in the distant future in her Hainish Cycle. City of Illusions is significant because it lays the foundation for the Hainish cycle, a fictional world in which the majority of Ursula K...
provides a detailed description of Terra in the depths of a third era of isolation. The story takes place across a large landmass, perhaps North America, which shows signs of an advanced, abandoned civilization under a rewilded landscape. A small number of humans live in tiny, isolated settlements, either farming or hunting and gathering, where they retain some technologies from the past, now handcrafted, but are completely cut off from any communication with neighboring regions or with other worlds; there is only one city where high technology and energy intensive construction have survived. The events of City of Illusions lead up to the third period of Terran contact with other worlds, during which The Left Hand of Darkness takes place.
In The Dispossessed, Cetians know Terra as a place with interestingly different ideas about physics. In that book, a Terran envoy describes the planet to the protagonist as barren, barely suitable for living due to severe exploitation of natural resources throughout history. The Telling
The Telling
The Telling is a 2000 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin set in her fictional universe of Hainish Cycle. The Telling is Le Guin's first follow-up novel set in the Hainish Cycle since her 1974 novel The Dispossessed...
, taking place in either the second or third period of interstellar contact, describes a violent period of Terran history in which a repressive, theocratic regime briefly rules the planet before intervention from the Ekumen
Ekumen
The Hainish Cycle consists of a number of science fiction novels and stories of Ursula K. Le Guin. Most of them are not set on the planet Hain, but have it as a distant background...
leads to the gradual liberalization of its policies.
Various individuals from Earth play a part in other stories, like Genly Ai, a Terran representative of the Ekumen, in The Left Hand of Darkness. The Telling and Four Ways to Forgiveness
Four Ways to Forgiveness
Four Ways to Forgiveness is a collection of four short stories or novellas by Ursula K. Le Guin. All four stories are set in the future and deal with the planets Yeowe and Werel, both members of the Ekumen, a collective of planets used by Le Guin as part of the background for many novels and short...
also feature Terrans working with the Ekumen on other planets. In The Telling, Earth's incorporation into the Ekumen is briefly explained.
Regarding other works by Ursula Le Guin set on Earth, she explains:
- The Eye of the HeronThe Eye of the HeronThe Eye of the Heron is a 1978 science fiction novel by U.S. author Ursula K. Le Guin which was first published in the science fiction anthology Millennial Women.-Plot introduction:...
may or may not be set in the Hainish universe; it really doesn't matter. As for The Lathe of HeavenThe Lathe of HeavenThe Lathe of Heaven is a 1971 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. The plot revolves around a character whose dreams alter reality. The story was first serialized in the American science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. The novel received nominations for the 1972 Hugo and the 1971 Nebula...
and Always Coming HomeAlways Coming HomeAlways Coming Home is a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin published in 1985. This novel is about a cultural group of humans—the Kesh—who "might be going to have lived a long, long time from now in Northern California." Always Coming Home is a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin published in 1985. This novel is...
, my Terran science fiction novels, they definitely don't exist in the same universe as the Hainish or Ekumenical books.