The Dispossessed

Audiobook

English language

Published Sept. 14, 2010 by HarperAudio.

ISBN:
978-0-06-202544-9
Copied ISBN!
Audible ASIN:
B0041PD25K

A bleak moon settled by utopian anarchists, Anarres has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras—a civilization of warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to reunite the two planets, which have been divided by centuries of distrust. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have kept them apart.

To visit Urras—to learn, to teach, to share—will require great sacrifice and risks, which Shevek willingly accepts. But the ambitious scientist's gift is soon seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.

62 editions

Denkanstoßend

Den Roman habe ich vor allem deshalb mit in den Urlaub genommen, weil er das "Leitbuch" dieser Bookwyrm-Instanz ist und ich herausfinden wollte, was denn dahinter steckt. Vielen Dank an die Admins für den Hinweis auf das Buch, sonst hätte ich es sicher nicht gefunden!

Als 3. Generation Ost habe ich das Buch zunächst als Reflexion des kalten Kriegs und als Vergleich zwischen Ostblock und westlichem Abendland gelesen. Vor allem haben mich die Probleme auf Anarres angeregt -- wie kommt es zu Machtstrukturen, obwohl Macht gerade nicht gewollt ist, wie kann eine solche Gesellschaft (Hungers)krisen überstehen, wie kann eine solche Gesellschaft mit anderen, aggressiveren Gesellschaft in Kontakt sein?

Neu für mich war in dem Buch der wiederholt auftauchende Begriff des Anarchosyndikalismus. Ich erinnerte mich vage an einen Essay von Noam Chomsky ("What is the Common Good?"), wo dieser über diesen Begriff sprach und dabei Rudolf Rocker zitierte, in …

Enjoyable and thought provoking

I'm have only read this once before and remember thinking it was heavy which - while not putting me off re-reading - meant it never floated to prominence on my to-read list. This time I found it, not "lighter" per se, but something, certainly. Overall, it meant that I really enjoyed it in ways I wasn't expecting.

Structurally, I liked the interweaving twin timelines (in a book about the physics of simultaneity and the past, present and future being present together was a nice touch). And this theme was interesting to see having just read The River Has Roots and its riddles relying on the acceptance of a past, present and future.

But so much to think on freedom.

My new favourite book

I wouldn't have described myself as an anarchist before this book; I would now. This book presents a form of society that has gripped me, and brought me hope. Truly excellent sci-fi.

Subjects

  • Anarchism
  • Anarquismo
  • Ciencia-ficción
  • Communal living
  • Ficción
  • Fiction
  • Fiction in English
  • Físicos
  • Hugo Award Winner
  • Life on other planets
  • Novela utópica
  • Physicists
  • Science fiction
  • Utopias
  • Vida comunal
  • Vida en otros planets
  • award:hugo_award=1975
  • award:hugo_award=novel
  • Long Now Manual for Civilization
  • Fiction, science fiction, general
  • American Science fiction
  • Interplanetary voyages