The DispossessedThe Dispossessed
Score Classic
What it's about
Shevek is a brilliant physicist from Anarres, a barren moon settled two centuries earlier by revolutionaries who built a society with no government, no property and no money. When his work stalls because of his own society's hidden pressures, he becomes the first person in generations to travel to Urras, the wealthy, unequal planet his people left, where his discoveries are prized and his ideals are put to the test.
Why it's worth reading
It's a thoughtful, humane novel of ideas about freedom, society and what makes a good life, and it won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. It's science fiction for people who like big questions more than spaceships.
You'll love it if you liked
The Left Hand of Darkness
Dune
1984Good to know
Chapters alternate between Shevek's past on Anarres and his present on Urras, which takes a little getting used to. It's more philosophical than action-packed.
By the numbers
- Readers86 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics80 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #15 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #18 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #36 of the 762 classics we rank
- #126 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking, Moving
More by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness
A Wizard of Earthsea
Powers
Always Coming HomeIf you like this, read next
Gormenghast
Cat's Eye
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Anathem
Babel
Cloud AtlasExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Dispossessed worth reading?
Yes. It's a thoughtful, humane novel of ideas about freedom, society and what makes a good life, and it won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. It ranks #126 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 85.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Dispossessed about?
Shevek is a brilliant physicist from Anarres, a barren moon settled two centuries earlier by revolutionaries who built a society with no government, no property and no money. When his work stalls because of his own society's hidden pressures, he becomes the first person in generations to travel to Urras, the wealthy, unequal planet his people left, where his discoveries are prized and his ideals are put to the test.
How long does it take to read The Dispossessed?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Dispossessed won?
Hugo Award winner (1975); Nebula Award winner (1974).
What should I read after The Dispossessed?
If you liked it, try The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, Dune by Frank Herbert or 1984 by George Orwell.