Platovos

Platovos is a fictional astronomical object that appears in the works of science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin. Within her Hainish Cycle, Platovos is described as a moon orbiting the planet Gethen. Gethen itself is a planet with a dual-gendered humanoid species and a complex socio-political landscape. Platovos is not a central element of the narrative in most of Le Guin's Gethenian novels, such as "The Left Hand of Darkness," but it is mentioned as part of the celestial backdrop of this alien world. Its presence serves to further establish the unique and distant nature of Gethen, contributing to the sense of alienness that is a hallmark of Le Guin's writing. The specific characteristics or scientific details of Platovos are not extensively elaborated upon, as the focus of the stories is typically on the inhabitants and their culture and society, rather than detailed planetary science. It functions more as a literary device to enhance the world-building and reinforce the exotic setting of the Hainish Cycle.