Technology and character development in science fiction: Lord of Light, The Left Hand of Darkness, and Wild Seed

Science Fiction

Technology in Lord of Light is used by the ruling few to gain godlike power over others. These powerful persons are earthlings from a ship whose technology enables them to assume power. Sam is one of them, but believes that such use of power to deceive is wrong. While Sam then uses his own inner strengths as well as the paradigm of religion to develop, technology is the fundamental premise to the plot itself. Technology in this novel is therefore central to Sam's development. In Left Hand of Darkness Genly enters a new society, where the main issue of growth towards understanding is gender differences. Technology, while serving to adequately identify the setting as futuristic, here however does not play an integral role in character development. Rather, human interaction has the greatest influence on the main character.

For Doro in Wild Seed, the "technology" of the novel is part of his very being and absolutely integral to his development. While he is evil, his human side emerges when he falls in love with Anwanyu, an immortal shape-shifter. His attraction to her is dictated by his own immortal loneliness and the fact that she has sufficient power to destroy him. The danger in her thus calls to the danger in himself.