By the time
The Dispossessed,
a novel in the Hainish cycle of stories, emerged in 1974, Ursula K. Le Guin had already established herself as a literary heavyweight of speculative fiction. Her Earthsea trilogy (1968-1972) cemented her reputation as a master of children’s fantasy, but her breakthrough in science fiction came with
The Left Hand of Darkness(1969), which garnered instant critical acclaim and, like
The Dispossessed,won both a Hugo and a Nebula Award, SF’s two highest honors. Still, what set
The Dispossessedapart, beyond the effectiveness and power of its narrative, was how the novel revived—almost single-handed—the genre of utopian literature. Although various utopian novels had appeared sporadically in the decades prior, including
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress,a…
2591 words
Citation: Wise, Dennis Wilson. "The Dispossessed". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 October 2019 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=11789, accessed 19 April 2024.]
