Hiarians

The Hiarians are a fictional species featured in the science fiction novel "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin. They are the inhabitants of the planet Gethen, also known as Winter. The most distinctive biological trait of the Hiarians is their ambisexuality. They are androgynous for most of their lives, possessing no fixed sex. During a period known as kemmer, which occurs roughly once every twenty-six Earth months, a Hiarian can choose to adopt either a male or female sexual role and become fertile. This choice is influenced by social and biological factors and is unique to each kemmering cycle.

This biological characteristic profoundly shapes Hiarian society. Concepts of gender as understood by humans are absent or significantly different. Social structures are not built around traditional gender roles. Hiarian society is characterized by a high degree of empathy and a focus on communal responsibility. They are a stoic and pragmatic people, accustomed to their planet's harsh, icy climate. Their technological development is advanced but appears to have prioritized efficiency and sustainability over rapid expansion or aggressive conquest. The novel explores the complexities of cross-cultural understanding and the impact of biology on social and political systems through the interactions between a human envoy and the Hiarian people.