Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. he will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have isolated his planet of anarchists from the rest of the civilized universe. To do this dangerous task will mean giving up his family and possibly his life. Shevek must make the unprecedented journey to the utopian mother planet, Anarres, to challenge the complex structures of life and living, and ignite the fires of change.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Outstanding Utopian Work of Freedom and Liberty:
Science fiction has often described libertarian societies and ideals. Think of such works as Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land," Russell's ". . .and Then There Were None," and Williamson's "The Equalizer," among others. One of the most explicit of science fiction works on a society characterized by freedom is Ursula LeGuin's "The Dispossessed." At one point in the history of the planet Urras, a feisty woman named Odo led a movement for freedom, for liberty, for anarchism. Finally, Urras ceded the... more info
But which is the better world?:
Two inhabited worlds, each with a claim at being a perfect utopia: Urras is a wealthy planet, full of haves and have-nots, warring nations and vast resources and Anarres is its almost barren moon. Anarres is populated by anarchist rebels who fled Urras generations ago to try to create a perfect society where everything is shared. This is the story of a brilliant physicist, Shevek, born on Anarres. He grows up with the political ideals of his society, but it seems as if his own culture and people have... more info
Overall, solid:
Overall, a good book. The book isn't action pack but it does bring up a lot of questions about morality, humanity, and the idealist vs realistic forms of government.
Turgid, ideological and pedantic:
A novel beginning with anarchists on one planet, 'archists' on its twin. That is, the planets are astronomical twins; the anarchists' planet is only marginally habitable while that of their seeming bete noir is quite earth-like. Very earth-like, in fact, replete with capitalists and modified communists (the novel is a cold war artifact). The author attempts to explore what happens in societies, how people lose their freedom. The anarchists become somewhat bureaucratic and terribly provincial in the... more info
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