The Dispossessed: A Novel

Name: The Dispossessed: A Novel
Rating: 7.77 (221 reviews)
ISBN: 9780060512750

By Ursula K. Le Guin

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One of The Atlantic's Great American Novels

"One of the greats. . . . Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon." --Stephen King

"Engrossing . . . Ursula Le Guin is more than just a writer of adult fantasy and science fiction . . . she is a philosopher; an explorer in the landscapes of the mind." -- Cincinnati Enquirer

Ursula K. Le Guin's Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award-winning classic, a profound and thoughtful tale of anarchism and capitalism, individualism and collectivism, and one ambitious man's quest to bridge the ideological chasm separating two worlds.

The Dispossessed is the spellbinding story of anarchist Shevek, the "galactically famous scientist," who single-handedly attempts to reunite two planets cut off from each other by centuries of distrust.

Anarres, Shevek's homeland, is a bleak moon settled by an anarchic utopian civilization, where there is no government, and everyone, at least nominally, is a revolutionary. It has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras--defined by warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to unify the two civilizations. In the face of great hostility, outright threats, and the pain of separation from his family, he makes an unprecedented trip to Urras. Greater than any concern for his own wellbeing is the belief that the walls of hatred, distrust, and philosophic division between his planet and the rest of the civilized universe must be torn down. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and explore differences in customs and cultures, determined 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. Almost immediately upon his arrival, he finds not the egotistical philistines he expected, but an intelligent, complex people who warmly welcome him. But soon the ambitious scientist and his gift is seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.

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Published Jun 10, 2014

Average rating: 7.77

221 RATINGS

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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Dispossessed* is a profound, thought-provoking exploration of political systems and human nature, set in richly detailed worlds. Revi...

jhwarren

Jul 09, 2025

6/10 stars

At the end, it felt like it tied itself together to show a beautiful expression of a difficult but triumphant life. Otherwise, I found it kind of rambling, and challenging because it’s constrained to Shevek’s perspective. Great character development, good writing, but lacking any driving plot, and without identifiable climax. I could have done without the non consensual attempt at sex, that was my only real emotional spike while reading the book, and not in a good way. Glad I read it, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.

rea-koff

Jun 05, 2026

9/10 stars

This book took me on a journey. Every couple of chapters I would get the impression that I knew where the story was going, and suddenly we’d change direction. There are so many characters I could relate to, not in the fullness of their arc, but in the individual feelings and internal turmoil happening at one point or another. This is a very human book, in the way that the human experience is so often described but never understood until it is felt. I was able to feel the characters’ fears, their anguish, their rage, their confusion, their pain, and their defeats. The writing style was pretty Orwellian, with a bigger focus on navigating through the complicated ideals rather than introducing novel technological gadgets. The sparse physics discussions made for a wonderfully creative approach to uncover perspectives on space and time. If you’re the kind of person that likes to ruffle feathers and have made the mistake of ruffling a few with the wrong people… this will be a fun read for you.

richardbakare

Jan 18, 2026

4/10 stars

“The Dispossessed” by Ursula K. Le Guin is a celebrated science fiction novel that wrestles with some of the most complex topics. The philosophical and political insights in the book, while compelling and thoughtful, left the book feeling very bloated for me. Combined with the alternating timelines, it left me uninterested early and often. Le Guin’s style in some parts reads like an anarchist and bohemian blend that interprets a future in space that still grapples with the same gender, class, equality, and nationalistic issues of today. The most interesting thing for me was her exploration of the politics that manipulate scientific discovery. The author wants us to understand that it is not about the discovery but who makes it and ultimately controls it. The problem is that much of the gems of insight get muffled by the rambling dialogue that, at long stretches, leaves you wondering if all the characters are caricatures that skew not relatable and diminish the book. Le Guin also has an overtly weird obsession with free love/sex lifestyle that seems forced in this book. I appreciate that when it was released, the book earned a lot of recognition, but it did nothing for me.

Vishwam Gurudas

Nov 19, 2024

10/10 stars

Our group found this book fascinating to read and discuss. We may return to it again and read it in smaller sections as the whole book contains so very much! This was the sixth or seventh time I've read the book and find more and more wisdom each time I read it.

JollyJay

Aug 17, 2024

8/10 stars

The book was thought provoking and subversive. Two worlds in the book Anarres and Urras are obvious analogy of US and Soviet Union during the Cold War. In the book, there is a quote "If you found a pack of explosive caps in the street, would you ‘share’ them with every kid that went by? Those books are explosives." when referring to one of the book that one of the character was trying to censor. This quote may be applied to this book itself. I noticed that this book was not translated into Korean until 2002, even though it was published in the height of the Cold War. There is reason for that.