Marcus Gipps, an editor at large at Gollancz, worked with Ursula K. Le Guin in the final months of her life. Le Guin is one of the most highly regarded writers in science fiction and fantasy; her central work, The Dispossessed, is often in the conversation for the greatest sci-fi novel, having won the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards for best novel. The book contrasts Urras, a lush, wealthy, capitalist world, with Anarres, a harsh, resource-scarce moon settled by anarchists. It touches on themes of capitalism, utopian ideals and freedom. Alongside Gipps, our columnist and science fiction enthusiast Bethan Ackerley explores why this novel has stood the test of time.
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