The Broken Binding Sci-Fi Sub #4: June 2025
Because the April edition of The Broken Binding’s Sci-Fi Sub contained only a single book instead of a series of two or more, the announcement for the next box set followed quite quickly. To my slight surprise, it turned out to be a standalone this time as well. I found this a bit annoying with the previous announcement, because their skip policy isn’t really geared towards that: you’re allowed to skip one series per year, usually consisting of three books. But with standalone books, you’re kind of stuck. You can skip that one book, but if a series you really don’t want comes out later in the year, your only skip option is already used up.
In April, I thought that was a bit unfair, especially since I’d never heard of the author or the book. This time it was different: the new title came from an author I had heard a lot of good things about – although mainly about her fantasy work – and that made me curious to read something by her.
The author in question is Ursula K. Le Guin with the forthcoming book The Left Hand of Darkness, a science fiction classic known for its profound themes, original worldbuilding, and innovative take on gender and culture.
Two people, until recently strangers, find themselves on a long, tortuous and dangerous journey across the ice. One is an outcast, forced to leave his beloved homeland; the other is fleeing from a different kind of persecution. What they have in common is curiosity, about others and themselves, and an almost unshakeable belief that the world can be a better place.
As they journey for over 800 miles, across the harshest, most inhospitable landscape, they discover the true meaning of friendship, and of love.
The package arrived in mid-July. As always, the packaging was meticulously crafted, but what immediately struck me this time was that the book was surprisingly thin. I have no idea why, but with classics, I always expect hefty volumes. This copy, however, looks very manageable, which only makes me more eager to start reading it.
The Broken Binding presents another brand-new cover illustration, this time by @eason_art. I’m a fan. The image exudes an almost impressionistic atmosphere, even though it doesn’t literally fall within that art movement. I think that feeling comes mainly from the use of colour: soft and misty, yet with strong contrasts that give the whole strength and depth. That combination seems to me, without having read the story, to fit the setting of the book — a world called Winter — perfectly.
The hardcover features a silver foil illustration, designed by @claymorecovers. On the front, the design clearly nods to the classic SF Masterworks edition, with the yin-yang symbol as the central element. At the same time, it alludes to the harsh winter world in which the story takes place.
The back cover repeats the elegant border of the illustration, but this time it frames a beautiful quote. This paragraph only increases my interest in the story. I have a feeling this is going to be an intense, layered, and impactful story!
The sprayed edges don’t add any new illustrative details, but that doesn’t make them any less successful in my opinion. Quite the opposite! Using a fragment from the cover illustration creates a beautiful, continuous effect, giving the whole a strong sense of uniformity. And since I was already in love with the misty, high-contrast atmosphere of the cover, it goes without saying that I’m also a huge fan of that same atmosphere on the book’s edges.
Inside, on the endpapers, we discover two additional illustrations, again by @eason_art. These confirm that I’m a fan of this illustrator’s style: not razor-sharp in detail, but precise enough to convey the scene clearly, with a beautiful use of colour, light, and shadow.
In conclusion, I’m once again thrilled to have picked up this edition of the Sci-Fi Sub. The Left Hand of Darkness feels like a title I not only need to read, but also one I’m truly looking forward to diving into. The design, as I’ve come to expect from The Broken Binding, is meticulously crafted: a beautiful new cover, atmospheric sprayed edges, an elegant hardcover with meaningful details, and endpapers that subtly yet powerfully evoke the world of the story.
The whole thing exudes quality and a love for the book trade. Even without reading a single page, I can already feel this has the potential to be a special reading experience. Now all I need is to find the time to actually open it… but that’s a luxury problem I’m happy to face.
Cheers,
Charlotte
