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A review by rossbm
The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin
4.0
(read as e-book)
I originally read this book back when I was 14 or so. I remembered enjoying it at the time, and I'm glad I reread The Dispossessed. I don't reread many books, but this one stuck with me. The description of an anarchistic society of exiles scraping out an impoverished existence on their world's moon is very striking. This moon is called Annares and the exiles originally came from the planet Urras about 150 years before the story starts. Several nations with “traditional” forms of government continue to inhabit Urras, which is lush compared to the inhospitable yet life supporting Anarres. While the Annarian society continues to uphold and cherish the ideals upon which it was founded, it is a flawed society, as hinted by the subtitle: "An Ambiguous Utopia”
The story is told from the perspective of Shevek, a brilliant physicist from Anarres who runs up against the constraints of his supposedly egalitarian society. There are two timelines that the chapters alternate in following, with one timeline following Shevek as he grows up on Anarres, while the other takes place when Shevek is about 30 and is visiting Urras.
The chapters that take place in the earlier timeline are fascinating, as they introduce us to the Anarrian society and describe a modern world in which there is no formal government. Mutual aid is prioritized, and formal laws do not exist. The closest things to law are the conventions that govern relations between Anarres and Urras, since Anarrians are still wary of the mother planet from which they fled. The exact circumstances that prompt Shevek to become the first Anarrian to visit Urras are only revealed towards the end of these chapters, while the other set of chapters start with Shevek’s departure.
While the description of Annarian society is thought provoking, the story does drag a bit and the prose can be wordy at times. Still, worth a read and maybe I’ll even reread a second time in 20 years :)
I originally read this book back when I was 14 or so. I remembered enjoying it at the time, and I'm glad I reread The Dispossessed. I don't reread many books, but this one stuck with me. The description of an anarchistic society of exiles scraping out an impoverished existence on their world's moon is very striking. This moon is called Annares and the exiles originally came from the planet Urras about 150 years before the story starts. Several nations with “traditional” forms of government continue to inhabit Urras, which is lush compared to the inhospitable yet life supporting Anarres. While the Annarian society continues to uphold and cherish the ideals upon which it was founded, it is a flawed society, as hinted by the subtitle: "An Ambiguous Utopia”
The story is told from the perspective of Shevek, a brilliant physicist from Anarres who runs up against the constraints of his supposedly egalitarian society. There are two timelines that the chapters alternate in following, with one timeline following Shevek as he grows up on Anarres, while the other takes place when Shevek is about 30 and is visiting Urras.
The chapters that take place in the earlier timeline are fascinating, as they introduce us to the Anarrian society and describe a modern world in which there is no formal government. Mutual aid is prioritized, and formal laws do not exist. The closest things to law are the conventions that govern relations between Anarres and Urras, since Anarrians are still wary of the mother planet from which they fled. The exact circumstances that prompt Shevek to become the first Anarrian to visit Urras are only revealed towards the end of these chapters, while the other set of chapters start with Shevek’s departure.
While the description of Annarian society is thought provoking, the story does drag a bit and the prose can be wordy at times. Still, worth a read and maybe I’ll even reread a second time in 20 years :)