I really have a hard time with "anarchist" political theory books set in the future -- they are very much a product of their time, and too often try to cover all the angles while hitting you with the polemic mallet.
The Dispossessed falls into this trap way too often -- Shevek, the protagonist, doesn't ever seem to have fun unless he's debating with someone, is caught in a diabolical conspiracy caused by Lust For Power, or is discussing temporal mechanics (although, of course, without any kind of technical backing or Greg Egan like mathspeak).
It's just... too much talk. Too little action. It reminds me of Floating Worlds.
Reviews and Comments
I like books.
This link opens in a pop-up window
Will Sargent rated Concurrent Programming in Java(TM): 4 stars
Will Sargent rated Happiness: 3 stars
Happiness by Matthieu Ricard
A molecular biologist turned Buddhist monk, described by scientists as "the happiest man alive," demonstrates how to develop the inner …
Will Sargent rated Perfect State: 3 stars
Will Sargent reviewed The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, …
Review of 'The Dispossessed' on 'Storygraph'
2 stars
Will Sargent rated Loosely Coupled: 3 stars
Will Sargent rated Logistics and fulfillment for e-business: 4 stars
Will Sargent rated Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: 4 stars
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1 by G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel, #1)
"Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City -- until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly …
Will Sargent reviewed Strange flesh by Michael Olson
Review of 'Strange flesh' on 'Storygraph'
2 stars
The writer clearly knows his computers, but there is just no way you can mix teledildonics with detective noir and have it be sexy.
Will Sargent reviewed Something Coming Through by Paul McAuley
Review of 'Something Coming Through' on 'Storygraph'
2 stars
Meh.
Will Sargent rated Dead Reign: 3 stars
Dead Reign by Tim Pratt
Death has come calling, and one womanhas what he wants most of all...As chief sorcerer of Felport, Marla Mason thought …
Will Sargent rated Empowered Unchained Volume 1: 5 stars
Will Sargent rated Avogadro Corp (Singularity #1): 3 stars
Avogadro Corp (Singularity #1) by William Hertling
David Ryan is the designer of ELOPe, an email language optimization program, that if successful, will make his career. But …
Will Sargent rated A.I. Apocalypse: 3 stars
A.I. Apocalypse by William Hertling
Leon Tsarev is a high school student set on getting into a great college program, until his uncle, a member …
Will Sargent rated On Writing Well: 3 stars
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
In addition to exploring the techniques of nonfiction writing, Zinsser discusses sexism in writing, jargon, and psychological writing blocks.