The Dispossessed

The Dispossessed follows Shevek, a theoretical physicist on Anarres, a moon of the Hainish universe where society operates on anarchist principles of communal ownership and mutual aid. After a breakthrough in physics that could enable instantaneous communication, Shevek is invited to Urras, the planet's twin, which is a stratified, capitalist society. His journey becomes a profound exploration of the tensions between these two systems, as he navigates the complexities of freedom, property, and social structure in both worlds. Le Guin uses the narrative to examine the practical and philosophical implications of anarchism, contrasting the austere, egalitarian life of Anarres with the material abundance and social rigidity of Urras.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.