A-Io (fictional state)
A-Io is a fictitious nation state on the planet Urras created by the author Ursula K. Le Guin in her Hainish Cycle of science fiction novels.
A-Io is a crescent shaped country on a large subcontinent protruding from the main body of the eastern continent of the planet Urras. It has only one terrestrial boarder, that being with the main rival state of Thu. 1
The physical environment is described as wealthy and relatively pristine. Indeed, with the exception of the poorer areas in the larger cities, A-Io is described as a beautiful place, home to rich historical architecture and vast tracts of unspoilt natural and agricultural land. 2
A number of cities in A-Io are described, including the capital, Nio Esseia. This city, a complex and large metropolis, located on the nations main river is home to some five million inhabitants. The city is characterised by a variety of districts with much of the built form mirroring larger urban centres of North America.
A number of animals described in the book as being native to A-Io are also found on Earth.These include sheep, donkeys and otters.
The culture of A-Io is described in Le Guin's writings as being an industrialised, capitalist republic of a type analogous with the USA, and possessing slightly patriarchal family structures.
The nation of A-Io is has impressive wealth, and great cultural and scientific achievements.3 Examples include the ability to construct interstellar space craft and construction of "the largest dome in all the worlds settled by man." 4
The book describes A-Io as having a diverse and rich economic base and an extensive history dating back eight millennium.
The language spoken in A-Io is the fictitious Iotic. The full geographic distribution of Iotic on Urras is unknown.
The university at Ieu Eun outside Nio Esseia is described in detail being the location of where the character Shevek went after arriving from the planet Anarres.