Happy St Patrick’s Day!   Pot Luck Lunch(1pm): LTD provides corn beef and cabbage + Irish Music to enjoy it by.  Bring healthy side dishes and desserts to share.

We note the passing this year of Ursula K. Le Guin, aged 88.  Ms. Le Guin was a highly respected author who changed the nature of science fiction and fantasy, blurring the boundary between them, through her innovative exploration of human (and nonhuman) nature in extraordinary settings.

Her story, A Fisherman of the Inland Sea, found in the collection of the same title, describes a world where most marriages are a “sedoretu” of two couples, which may be expanded to include up to 8 participants.  There are rules about who in a marriage is expected to have sex with whom, and who may not, as society is divided into two halves (“moieties”) to prevent inbreeding. This is clearly a form of polyamory, although with additional restrictions.

The Left Hand of Darkness is one of Ms. Le Guin’s best known works, which influenced the conversation and direction of feminism when it was published.  It is set in a cold world where the population is ambisexual: most days of the month an individual is essentially sexless, but for a few days a month a person may become & mate as either female or male.  Thus, a person can be both a father and a mother; gender roles are fluid.  The story has been criticized as overly masculine, a position to which Ms. Le Guin eventually conceded, leading her to write the stories “Winter’s King” and “Coming of Age in Karhide” as more feminized counterpoints.

“The Matter of Seggri”, winner of the James Tiptree Jr. Award in 1994, explores a world in which women are plentiful and males are rare.  In this society, gender roles are very different than those of our current, Western world.

The study of these stories is a worthwhile exploration of the author’s vision of alternative lifestyles and genders.  The study of the study of these stories is a worthwhile exploration of our society’s changing views on gender and sex.

2-4 pm Socialize in the clothing optional Hot tub. Bring sandals and a towel.