On the planet Gethen, a unique civilization of androgynes has formed—sexually neutral beings who, in special periods, by whim of chance, become either “male” or “female.” Gethenians are unique in many other respects, for example: they possess the gift of prediction. And now, on the planet, appears Genly Ai, a messenger of the League of Worlds, whose task is to establish contact with the androgynes. And who could help him better than the local statesman Estraven—friend and comrade of Genly? Or maybe his lover?