The Dispossessed – Ursula K. Le Guin (1974)
A groundbreaking work of political science fiction, The Dispossessed follows Shevek, a physicist from the anarchist moon colony of Anarres, as he travels to its capitalist twin planet, Urras. Through Shevek’s journey, Le Guin explores the tensions between utopian ideals and human nature, contrasting communal anarchism with hierarchical exploitation. The novel’s nuanced portrayal of revolution, time (via Shevek’s temporal physics), and the cost of dissent earned it the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards, solidifying its status as a visionary critique of power and solidarity.
If You Appreciated This, Try:
- The Left Hand of Darkness (Le Guin, 1969) – Another Hainish novel interrogating gender and politics.
- Walkaway (Cory Doctorow, 2017) – A modern take on post-capitalist utopias and resistance.
- Red Mars (Kim Stanley Robinson, 1992) – Hard sci-fi with similarly deep societal worldbuilding.
