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The Dispossessed

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The Dispossessed

By: Ursula K. Le Guin
Narrated by: Roddy Doyle, Tim Treloar
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About this listen

 One of the very best must-read novels of all time - with a new introduction by Roddy Doyle

'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.

Featuring a new introduction written and read by Roddy Doyle

(p) The Orion Publishing Group Ltd 2019 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Metaphysical & Visionary Political Science Fiction

Critic Reviews

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)
The Dispossessed paints a hopeful; and complex portrait of a society rooted in collectivism (Naomi Klein)
An extraordinary work ... [Le Guin] created a working society in exquisite detail ... a fully realised hypothetical culture [as well as] living breathing characters who are inevitable products of that culture
This remains a challenging and urgent book
A well told tale signifying a good deal; one to be read again and again
Le Guin's book ... is so persuasive that it ought to put a stop to the writing of prescriptive Utopias for at least 10 years
Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power
A seamless creation: everything is made up, nothing seems arbitrary
[Le Guin had] the heart of a poet who knew all too well the difference between miracle and eureka, revelation and revolution
One of our finest projectionists of brave old and other worlds
One of the great American political novels . . . Full of intrigue and drama
Written with thought, care - even love
Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be
The Dispossessed is still one of Sci-Fi's' smartest books . . . Remains a thoughtful exploration of politics and economics nearly 50 years later
A deeply imagined work of art
Dystopia and utopia are entwined in Le Guin's story of hierarchy-bound Urras and its anarchist neighbour planet Anarres. With stylish prose and intellectual rigour, Le Guin charts the journey of young physicist Shevek, whose theories cause upheaval on both planets, as he struggles to survive, falls in love and contemplates human society (Sophie Mackintosh)
All stars
Most relevant
Le Guin's ideas are fantastic, it's ending paired with copyright declarations provide the perfect juxtaposition

Never owners, never owned

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I wasn't sure what to make of this one. The ideas and the world were really interesting and painted vividly, but I struggled with the story structure. After reflecting I've given it 4 stars because it does keep you thinking, and the themes are still relevant today.

A novel of interesting ideas

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Timeless classic as relevant today as when first published in 1974. Gripping central dilemma of a science genius outcast in his own ‘anarchist-socialist’ ‘utopian’ society and unsafe on the capitalist home world - how does the extremely principled and likeable Shivek get his breakthrough to those who need it?

Lives up to its brilliant reputation

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condemning our earth as propertarian was a master stroke. love Ursula Let Guin! capitalism downfall

space anarchism with a heart

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Suggested by my book club and what a book.
A great mirror of the world which everybody should read

A master work that should be on your list

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