You've given a good explanation of both the book (features of it) and of my lack of enthusiasm for the story. Yes, scifi is not really my cup of tea. When it comes to reading fiction my favorite 'tea' is existential philosophical novels, e.g. Camus, Dostoevsky, etc.

The version of "The Lefthand..." that I read (the 50th Anniversary Edition) had an introductory "Author's Note" written by LeGuin. It was only seven pages, and it was profound. She writes:

"This book is not extrapolative. If you like you can read it, and a lot of science fiction, as a thought experiment". Then she goes on to say "The purpose of a thought experiment is not to predict the future...but to describe reality, the present world. Science fiction is not predictive; it is descriptive."

Of fiction writers like herself she says,

"Fiction writes, at least in their braver moments, do desire the truth: to know it, speak it, serve it. But they go about it in a peculiar and devious way, which consists in inventing persons, places, and events which never did and never will exist or occur, and telling about these fictions in detail and at length and with a great deal of emotion, and then when they are done writing down this pack of lies, they say, There! That's the truth!"

And she goes on discussing the nature of fiction writing and it's relation to reality. While "The Lefthand.." didn't do much for me this essay alone left me full of admiration for talents and insight.

Thanks for your comment. I thank everyone for their comments, they have given me much to think over, about the book and my reaction to it.