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ksfinnerty's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
laerugo's review against another edition
3.0
this is a 3.5 star book for me. like all of ursula's novels, i'm left feeling thoughtful and slightly unhinged after finishing this. this book has a lot more theory than the others i've read — while TLHOD dealt with gender and nationalism, TLOH with the nature of reality — the dispossessed deals with class, society, and time, even, cause and effect, etc.
but also like her other books, i found myself frustrated by its protagonists; i'm still not sure what to make of shevek, what i am supposed to believe of him. i have to keep reminding myself that ursula's works are often meant as a mirror to hold up to our society, not like a reflection of what she thinks we necessarily should be. i didn't particularly like urras or annares, but you didnt need to convince me to dislike urras, i was already there from the beginning. what made me sad, though, was this idea by the end that it was almost unsalvageable, or at least that shevek wanted no more to do with it, which was his right, but also somewhat disappointing.
a lot of annares's flaws come from the fact that they colonized a barren planet, and so problems come with food, and the idea of "necessity": anything "unnecessary" is worthless. this unnerves me somewhat — but what unnerved me the most was the idea that art that didn't reach social approval was subject to such severe bullying that could allow the creator to be forced into an asylum/serious counseling (yes, i am aware of the hypocrisy of me criticizing public figures who make quote-unquote "problematic" media, but i think that so long as art isn't hurting anyone, in particular if it's not punching down, it should be allowed to be shared; including and ESPECIALLY if it is "revolutionary" to the times). what also rankles me was this idea of how "egoizing" and "profiteering" (really just a word for owning something) were the biggest insults you could give someone. for the most part i'm fascinated by annaresti society, the lack of money, the supposed "equality" of every individual without sacrificing individuality, but i stutter over the idea that having a decent opinion of yourself or wanting to own things for yourself are equal to treason.
that made this book a difficult read—i didn't see myself on annares, didn't want to live on urras, and by the end of hearing what had happened to earth, felt a bit like all societal possibilities, everywhere, were hopeless, especially after hearing the hainish man say that his people had tried practically all of them over the years and still hadn't found something that works for everyone. is that just the truth of it? there is no perfect society so long as people will be people? power will still exist in a powerless society. even in a society without government, there is still a "government"; people in certain positions will still make decisions for hundreds and thousands of others; when they leave their positions, someone will always replace them; and when that power isn't in effect, the social power rules over all because the social power IS political power.
so i struggled a lot in the dispossessed: i often wondering where is the good? does shevek even see it? does he even think it's worth fighting for, or does he just move around to avoid what is worst for him in the moment? does his life amount to doing physics and philosophizing and coming home to a wife and kids? i'm not sure. i'm still chewing over this. i don't like that this book sort of feels like it "gives up" on urras, on terra — on us, basically. i don't know if i'll reread it. yet it has many admirable things about it that will linger in my head, rent-free, i'm sure.
but also like her other books, i found myself frustrated by its protagonists; i'm still not sure what to make of shevek, what i am supposed to believe of him. i have to keep reminding myself that ursula's works are often meant as a mirror to hold up to our society, not like a reflection of what she thinks we necessarily should be. i didn't particularly like urras or annares, but you didnt need to convince me to dislike urras, i was already there from the beginning. what made me sad, though, was this idea by the end that it was almost unsalvageable, or at least that shevek wanted no more to do with it, which was his right, but also somewhat disappointing.
a lot of annares's flaws come from the fact that they colonized a barren planet, and so problems come with food, and the idea of "necessity": anything "unnecessary" is worthless. this unnerves me somewhat — but what unnerved me the most was the idea that art that didn't reach social approval was subject to such severe bullying that could allow the creator to be forced into an asylum/serious counseling (yes, i am aware of the hypocrisy of me criticizing public figures who make quote-unquote "problematic" media, but i think that so long as art isn't hurting anyone, in particular if it's not punching down, it should be allowed to be shared; including and ESPECIALLY if it is "revolutionary" to the times). what also rankles me was this idea of how "egoizing" and "profiteering" (really just a word for owning something) were the biggest insults you could give someone. for the most part i'm fascinated by annaresti society, the lack of money, the supposed "equality" of every individual without sacrificing individuality, but i stutter over the idea that having a decent opinion of yourself or wanting to own things for yourself are equal to treason.
that made this book a difficult read—i didn't see myself on annares, didn't want to live on urras, and by the end of hearing what had happened to earth, felt a bit like all societal possibilities, everywhere, were hopeless, especially after hearing the hainish man say that his people had tried practically all of them over the years and still hadn't found something that works for everyone. is that just the truth of it? there is no perfect society so long as people will be people? power will still exist in a powerless society. even in a society without government, there is still a "government"; people in certain positions will still make decisions for hundreds and thousands of others; when they leave their positions, someone will always replace them; and when that power isn't in effect, the social power rules over all because the social power IS political power.
so i struggled a lot in the dispossessed: i often wondering where is the good? does shevek even see it? does he even think it's worth fighting for, or does he just move around to avoid what is worst for him in the moment? does his life amount to doing physics and philosophizing and coming home to a wife and kids? i'm not sure. i'm still chewing over this. i don't like that this book sort of feels like it "gives up" on urras, on terra — on us, basically. i don't know if i'll reread it. yet it has many admirable things about it that will linger in my head, rent-free, i'm sure.
thebiblioklept's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
noahoha's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mrmeowmeow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
katebird's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
justinreadsalot's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
haroonsherjan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dveliseev's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Dispossessed is a reminder that we come into and leave this world with empty hands, which are good at unbuilding walls. We have nothing except each other and our strengths are in what we share; all from “the handkerchief I use”; partnership; and the ultimate agency of the ansible. Great sci fi is about people, technology is the least important part. Le Guin as always captured the most touching human instinct to care for each other, big picture and on the personal level, in incredible beauty and economy
h0llace's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5