[Home]History of Ursula K. Le Guin/The Dispossessed

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Revision 14 . . (edit) November 28, 2001 3:53 am by (logged).191.188.xxx
Revision 13 . . (edit) November 28, 2001 3:49 am by (logged).191.188.xxx
Revision 12 . . (edit) November 28, 2001 3:48 am by (logged).191.188.xxx
Revision 11 . . (edit) November 28, 2001 3:47 am by (logged).191.188.xxx
Revision 10 . . (edit) November 14, 2001 2:29 am by (logged).191.188.xxx
Revision 9 . . (edit) October 15, 2001 9:52 pm by (logged).255.83.xxx
Revision 2 . . (edit) October 1, 2001 5:56 pm by (logged).29.241.xxx [fixing name of book]
  

Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1,6c1,11
The Dispossesed is a novel exploring anarchism. It is set
on a moon-planet system similar to ours, except that the
moon is heavy enough to hold atmosphere. As the aftermath of
an anarchist revolution, the anarchists were exiled to the moon.
An anarchist physicist develops a theory for faster-than-light travel,
but the theory is rejected on his moon. The book explores his struggles
The Dispossesed is a science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, set in the same universe as that of The Left Hand of Darkness (The Ekumen universe.)

It takes place in a double planet system similar to the Earth and its moon, except that the moon is massive enough to hold an atmosphere. As the aftermath of a failed anarchist revolution, the rebels were exiled to the moon about two hundred years prior to the events of the story.

The protagonist Shevek is an anarchist physicist/philosopher attempting to develop a theory which will allow the construction of an ansible, a faster-than-light
communications device, but his efforts are blocked by parochial and xenophobic attitudes in his home society.

He therefore embarks on the risky journey to the original planet seeking the conversation with other mathematicians and physicists which will bring his theory to fruition.


The plot explores his struggles

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to the original planet. It is considered by many anarchists to be a
good description of the mechanisms that would be developed by an anarchist
society. It is set in the same universe as that of
The Left Hand of Darkness
to the original planet.

The Dispossessed is considered by many anarchists to be a
good description of the mechanisms that would be developed by an anarchist society.

The work is sometimes said to represent one of the few modern revivals of the utopian genre, though it is notable that one of the major themes of the work is the ambiguity of different notions of utopia.

The book won the Hugo and Nebula awards.


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