Title: The Dispossesssed
Author: Ursula K. LeGuin
ISBN: 0061054887
Location: 1A
Keywords: science fiction, utopia, dystopia, anarchism, capitalism, society, freedom, individualism, collectivism, philosophy, space travel, ethics, duality, isolation, politics, economics, rebellion, social structure, identity, intellectual freedom, idealism, physics, alienation, existentialism
Synopsis: In The Dispossessed, Ursula K. Le Guin explores the lives of people on two contrasting worlds: the capitalist planet Urras and the anarchist, collectivist moon Anarres. The story follows Shevek, a brilliant physicist from Anarres who seeks to bridge the divide between the two societies and complete his groundbreaking theory of simultaneity, which could allow for instantaneous communication across space.
Living in a world based on egalitarian principles, Shevek begins to feel constrained by the rigid conformity and unwritten hierarchies within his society. Seeking intellectual freedom and hoping to advance his work, he travels to Urras, where he finds a world teeming with wealth, privilege, and individual freedom—yet rife with inequality, oppression, and political machinations. As he navigates the challenges and seductions of this foreign world, Shevek confronts profound questions about freedom, morality, and the nature of human connection.
Through the lens of Shevek’s journey, The Dispossessed presents a deep, nuanced examination of contrasting social ideals and the compromises inherent in each. Le Guin’s masterful storytelling and philosophical insight provide a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be free and the sacrifices necessary to build a better world. It is a tale of hope, disillusionment, and the courage to pursue one’s ideals, no matter the cost.
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