The Dispossessed : A Novel

Synopsis

On the barren moon of Anarres, physicist Shevek has devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge in a society built on anarchist ideals of equality and collective responsibility. Frustrated by intellectual stagnation and determined to share his revolutionary theories, he makes the unprecedented journey to Urras—the wealthy planet from which Anarres was once settled. There, he encounters dazzling abundance alongside profound inequality, forcing him to question the assumptions of both worlds.

Winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards, The Dispossessed is one of Ursula K. Le Guin's most celebrated novels and a landmark of literary science fiction. More than a story of distant planets, it is a deeply human exploration of freedom, power, capitalism, anarchism, love, and the pursuit of a more just society. Fifty years after its original publication, it remains one of the most thoughtful and enduring novels ever written about politics and the possibilities of human community. This anniversary edition includes a new foreword by Karen Joy Fowler.

About the Author

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) was one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. The author of more than twenty novels, numerous story collections, essays, poetry, and works for children, she transformed science fiction and fantasy into vehicles for philosophical, political, and literary inquiry. Her many honours include the National Book Award, the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, eight Hugo Awards, six Nebula Awards, and the title of Grand Master from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Publisher

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Publication Date

November 19, 2024

Format

Paperback

Pages

384

Subjects

Science Fiction · Literary Fiction · Political Fiction · Utopian Fiction · Modern Classics

ISBN

9780063382930