The Dispossessed

The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin is a tale of future worlds. One is Anarres and clearly labelled “anarchist”. The other, Urras, is less clearly described as “propertarian” and “archist”. The plot is briefly but dramatically outlined in the blurb.

“Shevek, a brilliant physicist. . . single-handedly attempts to re-unite 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; Urras, the mother planet, is a world very similar to Earth, with its warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Shevek risks everything in a courageous visit to Urras  to learn, to teach, to share. But his gift becomes a threat. . . and in the profound conflict which ensues, Shevek must re-examine his philosophy of life.”

The book’s thirteen chapters alternate between Anarres and Urras.

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