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

OK story but odd storytelling at times

The draw is the description of the framework of the anarchist society, but this is sometimes thoughtful and sometimes incomplete. Storytelling is a long chain of sometimes laborious conversation with occasional brilliant descriptive writing. Frequently jolts the reader out of immersion with a not chronological flow, jumping around for no obvious reason. There is almost a philosophical science interest but in the end it is never really fleshed out. Worth reading due to award status, but not a sci fi classic.

A beautiful work

Any additional comments?

This novel was a sublime listen. The author fully imagines a futuristic anarchistic society and the man who lives it, loves it and sees it flaws. She explores the true cost and value of individual freedom. Much of the novel is the beautiful observations of the anarchistic society and some sometimes flat observations of a capitalist class-based society.

But much of the book is simply Shevek, the protagonist, sorting out his own existence. Miss Le Guin’s musings on marriage, friendship, love, parenting, professional work, sacrifice are poetic, honest, and universal.

All of this is of course in a sci-fi wrapper, but the story is never about the genre, but rather lets that limitless arena underscore her exploration of the Human Life.

The narrator is definitely up to the task, and what seems like a detached and naive tone at the beginning, builds into an intense empathic performance by the end. I could not recommend this novel more!

I’d also like to comment in response to a couple of other reviews. I have read Atlas Shrugged and Ayn Rand’s other works and loved them all. What I see that Miss Rand has in common with Miss Le Guin is the belief that individual freedom lies at the heart of all good, and thus, power over others, lies at the heart of all evil. While they see Freedom very differently, they both touched me deeply on that wavelength. But just to clarify, The Dispossessed is a true work of art concerning much more than a political statement, and even offering critique of its own politics. Atlas Shrugged, on the other hand, is a fully argued case for its author’s philosophy.

Fascinating and deeply beautiful and emotive

I bought and listened to this book with no expectations and will now count it among my favorites. This author has made an extremely admirable attempt to envision what a large scale stateless society might look like and the traps and faults that such a seeming utopia might still fall pray too. The author also creates a beautiful critique of not only capitalism but also the tyranny of government. All of this is done through a touching and stimulating narrative that results in a well paced page turner you won't want to put down despite lacking much in the way of suspense. It is as visionary a piece of science fiction as a Brave New World or 1984.

may be my new favourite!

the narrator was a perfect match to the text. I listened to every portion of it multiple times, because I enjoyed it and didn't want the bon to end too soon. she's a newly discovered author to me, do I'm excited

Magnificent, universal; exquisitely beautiful.

This book is so wonderfully complex, the characters so finely drawn that I’ve never tired of reading it again and again. Listening to it for the first time was as engrossing as reading the printed text. It is performed brilliantly, and lovingly; voiced as I’ve always heard it in my heart. I’ve read countless books in my lifetime, and this novel is, to me, unparalleled. It is among my favorite of all time, along with Le Gunn’s The Left Hand of Darkness (and as lovingly rendered in voice.). What can I say about this stunning work that hasn’t been said much better by others? Read it. Now.

Philosophical

What made the experience of listening to The Dispossessed the most enjoyable?

The 1st chapter may be hard to get through, but if you enjoy idea books this one is thoroughly enjoyable. The demonetization of capitalism reminds me of Brave New World, but the Marxist society is interesting in it's complexities. It is well written using a non-linear time scheme

Intellectual sci-fi

I jumped into The Dispossessed without any previous knowledge. I download audiobook based on Goodreads recommendation and just dived in. And it was a ride.
The book can be characterised more like an intellectual science-fiction. It uses sci-fi elements only to discuss the philosophical questions, in this case, it is a meeting of the different cultures.
I don’t think any words from me can comment on the book better than the book itself, which I highly recommend. The only reason why I don’t give full five stars is a little bit weaker narration in Audible audiobook version.

a sci-fi great by one of sci-fi's greatest

This is the kind of sci-fi story I always hope to read when I start a new book. if we view the genre as a lens through which to view our own lives, a good sci-fi story should speak volumes about how humans or societies function or might function given a different set of circumstances. This is exactly what Ursula Le Guin does with the Dispossessed. Some of the topics this book brings up are not necessarily new, like the idea of a utopian society, but her approach is so unique and thought-provoking. Is even a utopian society perfect? Of course not because people and their struggles are so unique that no one structure of society can fulfill everyone. Do yourself a favor and read this story, it transcends its genre, has amazing characters, fleshed out and plausible scenarios, and will have you thinking about human nature in a different light.

Great for insomniacs

This my be a great book. I’ll never know. The reader made my high school history teacher look like a great orator. I slept through all his classes also. I expected to hear Buler’s name called at any moment.

Le Guin is simply one of the greatest!

Great reading of a great book. The reader does great justice to the text, and clearly imparts the depth of the story.