The Dispossessed (Hainish Cycle)

by Ursula K. Le Guin
(1974 | 387 p)

The Dispossessed tells the story of a man called Shevek, a brilliant physicist and revolutionary who was born to the arid climes on the moon Anarres. His Anarres is a civilization of utopian anarchists who were displaced from their "archist" homeworld of Urras nearly 200 years ago. They have had much success as an anarchy, but the inhospitable planet that is now their home makes life a struggle. Shevek starts to notice the his brothers and sisters (everyone is a "brother" or "sister" in this anarchy) are beginning to revert to a state rule mentality. Horrified by this prospect Shevek makes an unprecedented trip to Urras in hopes of sparking a revolution and reuniting the two worlds.

This novel is one of the densest stories I've read in a while, I enjoyed it no end. Action is replaced with introspection, plot points are based on esoteric theories of physics and governmental philosophy. Le Guin really got me thinking about our cultural norms, which I think was her point. I'd definitely not recommend this book to everyone, but if you are a fan of science fiction or fantasy you should probably just buckle down and read everything Ursula K. Le Guin has ever written. She's one of the masters of both genres.