Worlds of Exile and Illusion by Ursula K. Le Guin

The peoples of the various worlds in Le Guin's space fiction are descendants of ancient settlements from Hain. Their appearance in a southward migration signals the coming of Winter. Stormbringer Taloned, pure white birds with silver eyes and a wingspan larger than a man's height. They are quick, deadly, and hunt in packs. They possess short but powerful clawed forearms and large snapping mouths lined with sharp teeth. Snowghoul Tall, thin, white-furred creatures with long necks that sway from side-to-side. Native fauna Hann Sheep-like animals that are domesticated to provide food and clothing for the Tevarans and the citizens of Landin. He is a wise, willful, and misogynistic tribal elder in the city of Tevar. Wattock An Alterran bone-setter who works alongside Rolery to tend to those injured in battle. Umaksuman One of Wold's spring-born sons who enjoys war and battle. He ambushes Jakob Agat but is later killed in a duel with Umaksuman. Ukwet One of Wold's grandsons who happens to be older than Umaksuman. She is a middle-aged, delicate and nervous woman. Seiko Esmit The last member of a great family line who lives in Landin. Like the natives of Tevar, she is light-skinned with golden eyes. She has a precocious and independent spirit, and remains single, largely as a consequence of being born out of season. Rolery The protagonist of the story and a native of the planet. He is a middle-aged, wise man, who, like all colonists, has bluish-black skin. Jakob Agat Alterra The de facto leader of the Council in Landin. They share a common language with the Tevarans. The Gaal Nomadic native tribes who migrate south during the harsh Winter. She is a frail elder but wise and sharp-witted. Main characters Alla Pasfal A member in the Council of the colonist city of Landin. It is the visit of curious young Rolery to the colony of Earth humans that becomes a sign that things are changing.

However, with the approaching dangers of winter and the group of the Gaal, they need to cooperate to save their people. The relationship between the two groups has long been tense and characterized by limited interaction. The genetic difference is significant enough to prevent interbreeding. The people do not accept the other group as humans, and they refer to it in several conversations during the book. Jakob Agat is a young man from a dwindling colony of Earth humans that have been effectively marooned on the planet. The main characters belong to one of two major groups: Wold and his daughter Rolery are members of the Tevarans, a tribe of humanoids indigenous to the planet. The planet has an orbital period of 60 Earth years, and is approaching its correspondingly long winter. The story is set on Werel, the third planet of the Gamma Draconis system.

Worlds of Exile and Illusion by Ursula K. Le Guin