The Dispossessed is the spellbinding story of anarchist Shevek, the 'galactically famous scientist,' who single-handedly attempts to reunite two planets cut off from each other by centuries of distrust.
Anarres, Shevek's homeland, is a bleak moon settled by an anarchic utopian civilization, where there is no government, and everyone, at least nominally, is a revolutionary. It has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras - defined by warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to unify the two civilizations. In the face of great hostility, outright threats, and the pain of separation from his family, he makes an unprecedented trip to Urras. Greater than any concern for his own wellbeing is the belief that the walls of hatred, distrust, and philosophic division between his planet and the rest of the civilized universe must be torn down. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and explore differences in customs and cultures, determined to tear down the walls of hatred that have kept them apart.
To visit Urras - to learn, to teach, to share - will require great sacrifice and risks, which Shevek willingly accepts. Almost immediately upon his arrival, he finds not the egotistical philistines he expected, but an intelligent, complex people who warmly welcome him. But soon the ambitious scientist and his gift is seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.
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The Dispossessed is the spellbinding story of anarchist Shevek, the 'galactically famous scientist,' who single-handedly attempts to reunite two planets cut off from each other by centuries of distrust.
Anarres, Shevek's homeland, is a bleak moon settled by an anarchic utopian civilization, where there is no government, and everyone, at least nominally, is a revolutionary. It has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras - defined by warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to unify the two civilizations. In the face of great hostility, outright threats, and the pain of separation from his family, he makes an unprecedented trip to Urras. Greater than any concern for his own wellbeing is the belief that the walls of hatred, distrust, and philosophic division between his planet and the rest of the civilized universe must be torn down. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and explore differences in customs and cultures, determined to tear down the walls of hatred that have kept them apart.
To visit Urras - to learn, to teach, to share - will require great sacrifice and risks, which Shevek willingly accepts. Almost immediately upon his arrival, he finds not the egotistical philistines he expected, but an intelligent, complex people who warmly welcome him. But soon the ambitious scientist and his gift is seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.
Outstanding book, the relationship stuff is somewhat outdated by new data, but some interesting thought experiments around economics and human interaction. LeGuins writing is superb and always worth your time.
I read this book coming in completely cold a few years ago. I don't think the characters are particularly interesting (see Left Hand of Darkness for that!) but this is an absolute tour-de-force in world building. UKL creates a flawed, worthwhile and believable utopia that lets the reader explore what a truly anarchic society might look like, what it would cost and why it would be worth it. I haven't read all of the Hainish cycle yet, but The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed are definitely my favourites so far!
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Outstanding book, the relationship stuff is somewhat outdated by new data, but some interesting thought experiments around economics and human interaction. LeGuins writing is superb and always worth your time.
I read this book coming in completely cold a few years ago. I don't think the characters are particularly interesting (see Left Hand of Darkness for that!) but this is an absolute tour-de-force in world building. UKL creates a flawed, worthwhile and believable utopia that lets the reader explore what a truly anarchic society might look like, what it would cost and why it would be worth it. I haven't read all of the Hainish cycle yet, but The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed are definitely my favourites so far!
Le Guin is pretty unique in how much her sci-fi is based on pushing the science of sociology to its limits. Sure, it's set on alien worlds, but it's more about how different humanity could be if we took a different path. A lot of great, topical lessons in this one about socialist anarchism, colonialism and inequality
I read this book coming in completely cold a few years ago. I don't think the characters are particularly interesting (see Left Hand of Darkness for that!) but this is an absolute tour-de-force in world building. UKL creates a flawed, worthwhile and believable utopia that lets the reader explore what a truly anarchic society might look like, what it would cost and why it would be worth it. I haven't read all of the Hainish cycle yet, but The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed are definitely my favourites so far!
I'm actually in the middle of reading this right now and agree completely. The story itself is a bit flat, but the descriptions of how a functional anarchic society could work is fascinating. It almost reads more like a nonfiction book about sociology than sci fi.
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