From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia

Ursula K. Le Guin

Start date: February 15, 2024

Finish date: March 1, 2024

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Discussion leader: Gertie

Why we're reading this: Our March 2024 book. Read anytime by March 1st, when the discussion opens.

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
By Gertie · 65 posts · 217 views

last updated Oct 18, 2025 05:31PM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
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last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Jul 07, 2013 Cecily marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Possibly give Le Guin another chance, after reading Manny's passionate review. She describes a "credible anarchist utopia" and the alien science has "just the right amount of background that it feels credible, but not so much that you're tempted to nit-pick". It subtly analyses freedom and promises - and changed Manny's life! ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2017 Mitchell Friedman rated it really liked it

Shelves: philosophy, fiction, political, bc-powellssfgroup, own, science-fiction, nebula-winner, hugo-winner, liked-reviews, four-star-science-fiction

A re-read for the Powells SF Book group. I read this one a long time ago, maybe 20 years ago. I remember being excited over this book being essentially about the invention of the ansible. And being irritated at the chapters being out of order. Well the chapters aren't exactly out of order - they are in two threads and basically the last chapter of the older time period ends with the first chapter of the newer time period. This book could have been completely in order and I think that would have ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2023 Alexander Veee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, read-2023, books-i-own, science-fiction, political-movements, anarchism

"I'm afraid of life! There are times I-I am very frightened. Any happiness seems trivial. And yet, I wonder if it isn't all a misunderstanding-this grasping after happiness, this fear of pain.... If instead of fearing it and running from it, one could... get through it, go beyond it. There is something beyond it. It's the self that suffers, and there's a place where the self-ceases. I don't know how to say it. But I believe that the reality, the truth which I recognise in suffering as I don't in

...more

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May 28, 2011 Judy rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, hugo-award-winner, female-author

Some really creative stories about people in different futuristic and faraway situations. I always marvel at Le Guin's creativity. ...more

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Feb 16, 2019 Jennifer rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Re-read for course. didn't like it any better than last time. Too long, too boring and trying to be too damn technical to try and sound smart. ...more

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Oct 12, 2015 Jennifer rated it it was ok

Don't get the love for this book at all. Horribly written, dry, boring characters, at least 50 pages too long. I had to force myself to finish this book, it just seems to drag on, probably due to the horrible writing. ...more

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