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A review by sweetearlgrey
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
5.0
Before reading this novel, if someone were to ask me what my least favourite genre might be, I would likely answer that it is science-fiction. I have so often read about grim characters living in absolutely miserable and undeniably evil societies, while the author projects their own grievances by magnifying existing social issues tenfold, and in the process loses out on a lot of nuance. However, I had enjoyed The One Who Walked Away From Omelas a few summers ago, and thought that giving Ursula Le Guin a chance might prove interesting. Little did I know that I was about to stumble upon one of my favourite books ever!
From what I have read about Ursula, she seems to be an anthropologist at heart, which in my opinion is knowledge that transfers extremely well to the sci-fi genre. After reading The Dispossessed I fully realised what those other sci-fi novels had been missing, and that is a true understanding of humanity. The world here is one in which so many elements and possibilities have been meticulously considered. We are presented with two opposing worlds, with different economic and social structures, yet none of it is too far-fetched. The story also steers away from the typical good vs. evil plot, as all of the characters in this novel, regardless of the planet that they are from, are capable of immoral actions. What's interesting about this is how the difference in societal programming affects what each character believes to be 'moral', leading us to question how much of morality is learned. Furthermore, the idea of a utopia, which is often ridiculed by politicians today, is considered with great care. While the anarchist people of Annas have not formed a 'perfect' society, they are motivated by the desire to improve their world for the good of all as they only have each other, and that is a truly wonderful thing to see in a genre that often represents human nature as purely egotistical.
From what I have read about Ursula, she seems to be an anthropologist at heart, which in my opinion is knowledge that transfers extremely well to the sci-fi genre. After reading The Dispossessed I fully realised what those other sci-fi novels had been missing, and that is a true understanding of humanity. The world here is one in which so many elements and possibilities have been meticulously considered. We are presented with two opposing worlds, with different economic and social structures, yet none of it is too far-fetched. The story also steers away from the typical good vs. evil plot, as all of the characters in this novel, regardless of the planet that they are from, are capable of immoral actions. What's interesting about this is how the difference in societal programming affects what each character believes to be 'moral', leading us to question how much of morality is learned. Furthermore, the idea of a utopia, which is often ridiculed by politicians today, is considered with great care. While the anarchist people of Annas have not formed a 'perfect' society, they are motivated by the desire to improve their world for the good of all as they only have each other, and that is a truly wonderful thing to see in a genre that often represents human nature as purely egotistical.