Planet of Exile
Cover of first edition (softcover)
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| Author | Ursula K. Le Guin |
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| Cover artist | Jerome Podwil |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Hainish Cycle |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
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Publication date
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1966 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 113 |
| OCLC | 3224206 |
| Preceded by | Rocannon's World (1966) |
| Followed by | City of Illusions (1967) |
Planet of Exile is a 1966 science fiction novel by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin, part of her Hainish Cycle. It was first published as an Ace Double following the tête-bêche format, bundled with Mankind Under the Leash by Thomas M. Disch. In 2017, the rights for a movie have been acquired by Los Angeles Media Fund.
The story is set on Werel, the third planet of the Gamma Draconis system. The planet has an orbital period of 60 Earth years, and is approaching its correspondingly long winter. The main characters belong to one of two major groups: Wold and his daughter Rolery are members of the Tevarans, a tribe of humanoid extraterrestrial indigenous to the planet. Jakob Agat is a young man from a dwindling colony of Earth humans that have been effectively marooned on the planet. Although both populations share a common genetic heritage in the Hainish people, the difference is significant enough to prevent interbreeding.
The relationship between the two groups has long been tense and characterized by limited interaction. However, with the approaching dangers of winter and marauders, the visit of curious young Rolery to the colony becomes a sign of coming changes.
The peoples of the various worlds in Le Guin's space fiction are descendants of an ancient settlement from Hain. The Gethenians of The Left Hand of Darkness are believed to have been genetically engineered, as are several other peoples, but the Alterrans are not mentioned in this context.
Descendants of the earth human/Tevarian mix would eventually rescue Earth from alien conquerors who could mind lie - which they used to conquer the telepathic League of All Worlds. This is the 'backstory' to City of Illusions. The reunification is mentioned in The Left Hand of Darkness, though no story has yet given us any details.
The planet called Werel in Four Ways to Forgiveness is a completely different world from the planet of the Alterrans.
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Wikipedia