Related Recs

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The left hand of darkness by Ursula k. Le guin

I imagine you’re gonna have a lot of Le Guin on this ask! This is her sci-fi classic. It is a truly brilliant book, and I absolutely adored it, even as someone who tends to prefer grounded sci-fi. It manages to contain such lush writing alongside astute political and anthropological understanding. Some sentences in it literally took my breath away. The world building is astounding, and the use of gender was entirely groundbreaking.

@mouse

May 2, 2024

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The left hand of Darkness by ursula k leguinne

for cogent commentary on gender, nationalism, politics, platonic love, and much more through the lens of beautiful science fiction

@royallmonarch

Oct 5, 2024

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the left hand of darkness

ursula le guin just generally eats but the way she constructed Gethenian mores,,, so interesting to see how the environment shaped norms / how she interprets the formation of cultures. myths and legends of Gethen are interspersed to deepen the worldbuilding while also providing context to specific character beats chapters later; it's really satisfying to piece together. since it's le guin, you've gotta expect some really artful political commentary, and this book just nails it. the development of nationalism, despotism, and (fascistic) bureaucracy in this world,, goddamn. god damn. one beautiful passage about the complete illogic of the nation-state and i'm crying. le guin struggles a bit with her own premise (for a book about a genderfluid society it follows remarkably conventional gender and sexual norms) but regardless i found it thought-provoking to see what i liked, where i immediately found issues, and where i had to work a bit harder to figure out what the fuck i thought. also!! reading this in a particularly snowy winter made the oppressive cold of the planet hit so much harder. def recommend for a winter read

@solitarytea

Feb 21, 2025

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Top Recs from @erikrikrika

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Asking for help

for some reason I have gone most of my life acting like I’m the only person on earth who’s not allowed to ask for help… and also feeling evil whenever I ask someone to do/not do something…. and lately I’m realizing that actually it’s okay if I ask. Most people are cool and will say “yes no problem”

@erikrikrika

Mar 24, 2025

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Ins and outs - 2025

I encourage you to rip into me if you disagree because shying away from disagreement is what??👂 OUT! IN • Reading books • Folk-rock and folk-country • Doing stuff on the computer and not your phone like god intended (social media, online shopping, etc.) • Clothes-wise: colored tights, mini skirts, scarves • Being late to work • Talking to strangers, in the same vein: making new friends • Writing • Taking the bus and the train • Saying what you need to say and doing so succinctly • Unionizing your workplace OUT • Boring convos with coworkers • Wearing clothes you don’t really like • Minnesota nice (see also: being nice is not always the same as being kind) • VAPING OHHH MY GOD. WRAP IT UP!!! • Caring about makeup, unless you’re a drag queen or a goth. Like you get 15 minutes max • Shying away from disagreement • Fast casual chain restaurants - go eat local and sit down for a while • Paw Patrol (copaganda) • Ass kissing • Being under 25

@erikrikrika

Dec 23, 2024

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Feeling the feeling

Even though it hurts like hell. Even though it’s wildly inconvenient. Even though you feel stupid or embarrassed for feeling it. Even though you’ve psychoanalyzed yourself to death and traced the issue all the way back to your childhood mistreatment. The only way out is through here.

@erikrikrika

Oct 20, 2024