One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels
“One of the greats. . . . Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon.” —Stephen King
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, HarperCollins is proud to present this library of American classics drawn from our storied catalog. The Dispossessed is Ursula K. Le Guin’s Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award–winning classic, a masterful, thought-provoking tale of anarchism and capitalism, individualism and collectivism, and one ambitious man’s quest to bridge the ideological chasm separating two worlds.
It’s the spellbinding story of anarchist Shevek, the galactically famous physicist from the severely isolationist and anarchic Anarres. In the face of great hostility, outright threats, and the pain of separation from his family, Shevek makes an unprecedented trip to the rich mother planet, Urras, defined by warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Greater than any concern for his own well-being is the belief that the walls of hatred, distrust, and philosophic division between his planet and the rest of the civilized universe must be torn down.
Upon his arrival, he finds not the egotistical philistines he expected, but an intelligent, complex people who warmly welcome him. But soon Shevek and his work are seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.
