Average Bufph Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Ursula K. Le Guin
2015-09-30
One of the very best must-read novels of all time - with a new introduction by Roddy Doyle
'A well told tale signifying a good deal; one to be read again and again' THE TIMES
'The book I wish I had written ... It's so far away from my own imagination, I'd love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin' Roddy Doyle
'Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power' OBSERVER
'There was a wall. It did not look important - even a child could climb it. But the idea was real. Like all walls it was ambiguous, two-faced. What was inside it and what was outside it depended upon which side of it you were on...'
Shevek is brilliant scientist who is attempting to find a new theory of time - but there are those who are jealous of his work, and will do anything to block him. So he leaves his homeland, hoping to find a place of more liberty and tolerance. Initially feted, Shevek soon finds himself being used as a pawn in a deadly political game.
With powerful themes of freedom, society and the natural world's influence on competition and co-operation, THE DISPOSSESSED is a true classic of the 20th century.
Le Guin's exploration of anarchist principles within a science fiction framework offers a compelling intellectual challenge. The novel's structure, with its alternating perspectives between two contrasting societies, provides a rigorous examination of political ideologies and their impact on human relationships. The philosophical depth and the ethical dilemmas presented are reminiscent of classic hard science fiction, yet they are grounded in a plausible socio-political context. The narrative, though occasionally dense, rewards the reader with profound insights into the nature of freedom and community.
The narrative's intricate world-building and philosophical depth resonated with my engineering mindset, offering a nuanced perspective on social structures and human nature. While the pacing occasionally felt deliberate, the intellectual stimulation and ethical considerations presented throughout the book made it a rewarding experience.
