In Russia, a science fiction novel first published back in the 90s is being withdrawn from sale

The novel "The Left Hand of Darkness" by the American writer, classic of science fiction and fantasy Ursula Le Guin began to be withdrawn from sale in Russian bookstores. This is reported by the telegram channel "Caution, news".

In a number of regions, police officers came to bookstores demanding that the book be removed from sale. In some cases, protocols were drawn up for stores, another option is registration as a control purchase.

The ABC publishing house reported receiving information from the Chitai-Gorod chain of stores in Nalchik, Ulyanovsk and Chita, which law enforcement agencies contacted about the book. According to law enforcement officers, the FSB materials, including expert opinions, became the basis for removing the book from the shelves.

The publishing house recalled that the novel "The Left Hand of Darkness" was awarded the most important awards in the field of fiction — the highest awards of the genre "Nebula" (1969) and "Hugo" (1970), and in Russian it was first published in the USSR.

"We really hope that this misunderstanding will be resolved soon. Moreover, this incident is unpleasant against the background of the fact that the state pays great attention to the popularization and development of the science fiction genre," ABC stressed.

In addition, the publishing house clarified that Ursula Le Guin in 1975 refused the honorary Nebula award, awarded by the American Association of Science Fiction Writers, in protest against the deprivation of Stanislav Lem honorary membership on charges of collaboration with the Soviet special services.

The novel "The Left Hand of Darkness" tells about the inhabitants of the planet Winter or Gethen, who are hermaphrodites. A representative of the Ekumen, an association of many planets, arrives on the planet with a goodwill mission. The purpose of the representative is to promote the inclusion of the planet Gethen in this association.