The Dispossessed

A Novel

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Don Leslie

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have isolated his planet of anarchists from the rest of the civilized universe. To do this dangerous task will mean giving up his family and possibly his life. Shevek must make the unprecedented journey to the utopian mother planet, Anarres, to challenge the complex structures of life and living, and ignite the fires of change.

©1974 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1975
• Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1974

Everything changes

It started out a little slow, but I enjoyed the non-linear storyline. it slowly made everything come together nicely. I loved the ideas about government (or lack thereof) and how custom and tradition is sometimes stronger than law. It also touches on the idea about people set in their ways, in all situations.

Starts slow but gets good

At first I thought I wouldn't be able to get through this. All the weird names of people, places, and languages were difficult in the audio format. But I kept listening and eventually got used to the terminology. After the initial "scene" I started understanding the main character, and the story became compelling.

Don't wait as long as I did.

The Dispossessed is quite good. Following the tribulations of an anarcho-syndicalist theoretical physicist (say that 3 times fast), the book might be Atlas Shrugged for socialists. It might be, but it's not. Filled with challenging ideas but completely without pretense, LeGuin's art takes the reader worlds away and never leaves home. 10/10.

Part of a larger tapestry

This is a somewhat atypical science fiction novel, focused exclusively on contemplative meditations in the socio-economics of both anarchy and to a lesser extent colonialism. Do not expect a lot of plot.

This strikes me as a great book to read while still in college and embedded in the kind of coursework that can shine a richer light on the philosophy and socialism described in the book. Le Guin builds her world based on some themes that were very popular in the socially precarious 1970s, so there's a definite tone that comes across in her writing that I would not describe as "dated" but certainty "dates" her storytelling. If not embedded in that tapestry of time and compendium source material, the book may fall flat.

Without also reading some of her philosophical source material (dostoevsky, taoism, etc.) you will run the risk of interpreting the narrative as a kind of propaganda. And for the protagonist it absolutely is, but for Le Guin I dont think that's what was intended. It is not passing judgement on society as an author as much as exploring a world view from the eyes of a character who is primed to introspect and project while in a foreign land.

Overall it is a well-crafted work, but it deserves to be categorized on the same bookshelf as Plato's dialogues but not the same shelf as Earthsea. Dont misunderstand, there are some great examples of novels in science fiction that balance philosophy and storytelling, but this is not one of them. The quality of craftsmanship here is much more in the concept and idea that she is exploring than in the novelization of a good story.

Excellent

A beautiful novel of ideas — subtle, wise, compelling — it has the feel of a classic. Although written in 1974, the issues it raises are timeless. They are especially relevant today. Excellent.

Beautiful, perfect

As I read, the confusing narrative slowly became clearer and the story haunts. Told in asynchronous time-line, the picture completes. I've never read a better analysis and composition about all the various societies which can be experienced by different human tribes... Both in how they might come to be, as well as how they decay.

Im equally impressed how the author made this a standalone work which does not require the reader to continue the series of 6 books. Though, most certainly I will continue reading.

An all time great book

A fantastic book which asks questions deeply relevant to our present moment in history. Alive with the flames of revolution.

A Vision

This story is full of thoughts about freedom, furniture, monogamy, suffering, academia, motivation, parenthood and more. You should read it.

Not As Strong

Le Guin's books in this series, up until this one, have maintained a fanciful nature about them. As they go, they get a bit more introspective, a bit more political, and a bit more well rounded, filling in with deep, meaningful characters. This book has all those things, but has all but lost the fanciful play.

To make matters worse, it doesn't tell the story (if one can even use that word) in a linear fashion. Instead, it starts in the middle, jumps back in time, and then flip-flops back and forth between the two, before ending at a point that was, for me, very unsatisfying. I don't see how the non-linear storytelling adds anything at all. It's just a detraction of what's happening.

I know almost everything I've said is very negative, but please keep in mind that I did give it 3 stars. I was just expecting so much more. I'm actually questioning if I want to continue reading this series.

Meh

I didn’t know what to expect when I chose this book. I never got a feeling for any of the characters or their beliefs. The language is pretty but rather pointless. The narrator was very, very good.