01/12/2023
This is a double header! First, The Dispossessed. An excellent Le Guin novel, which all the social and gender awareness and commentary that you’d expect. It takes place on Tau Ceti and Tau Ceti’s moon. The moon, Annares, has a completely different society, founded on the ideas of Odo (more on this), and settled by folks who were sick of capitalism and inequality on Urras (Tau Ceti). The main character, Shevek, ends up traveling to Urras to do physics (the physics, btw, is well-presented and in keeping with the time. The book was published in 1974). Much of the book contrasts the two societies, and later Earth and another alien race appear. It’s an interesting read, and very much in line with 70s sci-fi, very brainy and philosophical (which I rather dig). But Le Guin’s focus on social issues makes her stand out (although it’s weird, as was pointed out in book club, that for all her talk of women being equal, they don’t do much or appear much in this book.) Now, the bonus. The teachings of Odo, which form the foundation of the moon’s society, are an awful lot like the Tao Te Ching, and I remembered she had done an interpretation of it. So I re-read it (it’s good! Highly recommend!) and yeah, it’s a definite influence, I think. Sonic you want extra fun, check that out too! Will I read the whole Hainish cycle? Probably. But this was a great entry point if you like philosophical sci-fi (remember folks, I LOVE God Emperor of Dune, so proceed accordingly). 👏😊
