Book Review~ The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin – A Quiet Revolution in Sci-Fi

Hello everyone, I am currently reading a great classic speculative fiction novel: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is not just a science fiction novel it is a deep and profound story about the idea of living ethically in a world where society, freedom, and ideals are not ideal. When you like books that are not just for entertainment but also make you think you will fall in love with this one.

In The Dispossessed, Shevek is a brilliant physicist who lives on a planet called Anares which is ruled by anarchists who muster the courage to visit its twin planet Uras which is the complete opposite, capitalist and highly hierarchical. Although the society of Anares is based on a social experiment of complete freedom and cooperation, Shevek begins to notice the monotonous conformity and necessity in his own society.

She travels to Uras to present her theories on revolutionary times and physics, intending to provide a means of communication between the two worlds. But what she discovers is a world filled with luxury, power, social hierarchy imbalances, and political exploitation. While Anarese and Uras claim to set an example for each other, they do not fulfill their desires one way or the other.

The book follows Shevek's life alternately on the two planets, but the stories are surprisingly similar and yet different. It is a highly philosophical story, questioning the concepts of freedom, individuality, gender, government and science as a path to liberation and control.

The Dispossessed was both educational and thought provoking. Le Guin did not give any easy answers, but rather gave the reader two incomplete systems and let the reader struggle through their complexities. My favorite subject was Shevek himself: an intellectual and ethical explorer who never questions himself.

It’s a perfect world building. Even in the barren deserts of Anarese, and despite the lack of resources, there is a sense of survival, social life and consciousness. Uras is a stunning place, but there are ugly things underneath. Le Guin is smart enough to avoid black and white imagery, she shows how even paradise is at risk of destruction, and how imperfect societies can be aesthetic and innovative.

This is not a book to read for work, no - not at all - it is a novel of concepts. It requires perseverance, but it will give you a broad understanding of human nature and social structure. I would recommend it to anyone interested in political philosophy, science fiction, or even literature in general, which will stay in your head long after you finish reading it. That's it for today.