The Dispossessed

A Novel

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Don Leslie

“One of the greats….Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon.” – Stephen King

From the brilliant and award-winning author Ursula K. Le Guin comes a classic tale of two planets torn apart by conflict and mistrust — and the man who risks everything to reunite them.

A bleak moon settled by utopian anarchists, Anarres has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras—a civilization of warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to reunite the two planets, which have been divided by centuries of distrust. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt 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. But the ambitious scientist's gift is soon seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.

One of my favorite books of all time

This book follows the struggles of Shevek at two different times in his life (the switching back and forth actually confused me for a few chapters). We get to see his struggle to fit in with two very different societies, one Anarchistic and another more like our own.

The author's writing is superb and the character of Shevek is deep and easy to empathize with. The narrator does a great job and has a very pleasant voice.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. It's absolutely one of the best science fiction books of all time.

Thoughtful, but laborious.

It is obvious that the author is an extremely intelligent, thoughtful person. The story itself is a bit too slow for my taste, with too many preachy monologues. Remind me of Ayn Rand's style, while extolling the converse idealogied of Rand. A thoughtful piece of literature. I wish the other books which also take place with this cosmos were more interconnected like a saga.

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.

A Vision

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