Book reviews

The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia
Ursula K. LeGuin Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Ursula K. LeGuin Books
New book search
Ursula K. LeGuin Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia
"Shevek, a young man with a great gift for physics, is born on the moon, Annares. He is born among the anarchists which settled that world one-hundred-seventy year before from Urras after social revolution broke out there. He wants to share his theory of time with all, Anarresti and Urrasti alike. And he wants, more than anything, to see humanity reunited.

He comes to realize, at the goading of his friend Bedap, that his society is degenerating. It is slipping away from anarchy towards democracy. People no longer act for themselves, but defer to the needs of society. Instead of autonomy, the Anarresti are moving backwards, to the rule of the many. And so, he travels to Urras to share and to learn above the protests of his fellow countrymen."

Matthew Thomas, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%




Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one human from different culture of other humans
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - scientist
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Star of Gypsies by Robert Silverberg
Snare by Katharine Kerr
Zelerod's Doom by Jacqueline Lichtenberg
Horizon Storms by Kevin J. Anderson


Click here for more information about this book


Ursula K. LeGuin Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David Loftus  

SCHOLARS:
irina  Michael JR Jose  Che Monro  Matthew Thomas  Brian R. Hughes  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer 12:17:36 PM
Michael Gerber 9:39:20 AM
Terry Goodkind 7:22:26 AM
Isobelle Carmody 5:19:11 AM
Norah Lofts 12:26:00 AM
Diana Gabaldon 10:32:23 PM
Ivan Cat 9:23:05 PM
Scott Westerfield 9:20:54 PM
General Discussion (All Topics) 7:10:00 PM
Jude Deveraux 5:56:12 PM
George W. Bush 4:34:34 PM
Ray Bradbury 4:27:50 PM
Karen Armstrong 2:13:10 PM
Karen Armstrong 12:58:19 PM
Lana Wood 6:06:13 AM
Lynn and Gilbert Morris 12:20:20 AM
David Pelzer 10:32:56 PM
Max Shulman 8:44:04 PM
Kate Brian 5:25:02 PM
Ruth Minsky Sender 3:34:26 PM

More message boards