what is the plot of the story, the characters, and the setting, and how do they connect to themes in the class?

Plot:

-Shevek grows up feeling like an outcast on Anarres. He wants to study physics but his theories are too advanced for Anarres, so he is transferred to a university where he can communicate with scientists on Urras via Ansible (basically a radio). His theories become too radical for Urras and he is disconnected from communication with them. Shevek later reunites with a childhood acquaintance, Takver, and they partner up and have a child together. Later, he is separated from Takver and their baby to do a manual labor job away from home, and does not come back until four years later.

-The story revolves around a physicist named Shevek, whose life mission is to complete a General Temporal Theory. He cannot complete it in his home of Anarres, so he visits Urras in an attempt to find the answers to his theory by experiencing the culture.

-Once Shevek arrives in the nation of A-lo in Urras, he initially finds good hospitality among the people as well as renowned physicists of Urras. He is taken to many places, becomes a professor at leu Bun university, and tries to assimilate to the culture. As time goes on, Shevek finds it hard to assimilate to the culture as he finds many contradictions to his initial perceptions of Urras as a haven or a perfect world. It is rather a corrupt society with many flaws such as the females in the society to not work, or not being economical of their rich resources. And Shevek later realizes that his fellow physicists were not interested in helping him to finish his theory, but simply to steal it for their own gain.

-Shevek flees the nation of A-lo with the help of his servant, Efor. Shevek ends up in Joking Lane where he is greeted by people from Terra (another planet in the universe) as well as people from Hain, who are the oldest known human species in the universe. In the end, Shevek comes to conclusion of sharing his theory to all of Urras so that no one person can exploit his theories for their own commercial good. Shevek then returns to Annares with a renewed hope for appreciating his culture and fixing it.

Characters: -Shevek: Protagonist. Goal is to develop General Temporal Theory.

-Takver: “Partner” of Shevek. (no formal marriage on Annares)

-Sabul: Shevek’s rival; works to stop Shevek’s findings from being published

-Bedap: Shevek’s childhood friend

-Saio Pae: a fellow Urras physicist

-Chifoilisk: a Thuvian physicist on Urras

-Atro: the leading Urrasti physicist who Shevek works with

-Oiie: a Urrasti physicist

-Sadik: Daughter of Shevek and Takver.

Setting:

-Anarres: Odd numbered chapters set on Anarres (besides the first and last chapter which includes both). An anarchist philosopher named Odo seeked an alternative society from the corruption of Urras and established an utopian society on Anarres.

-Urras: Even numbered chapters set on Urras (besides the first and last chapter which includes both). Divided into several states which are dominated by two large states: A-lo and Thu.

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how is information communicated between affinities, in communities? or between enemies? does the form change depending on who is communicating?

-Information is communicated between Urras and Annares through a communication device or radio (ansible). (“On the second day of the voyage he was in the communications room, talking with Anarres on the radio, first on the PDC wave length and now with the Syndicate of Initiative.”)

-On Anarres, information is communicated through postings.

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what does information do in your story? how does it function? ie. is it embodied, digital, ethereal, etc., is it free, contingent, secret, or used for power-over?

-information’s function is to be a source of power in Urras (ex: Shevek’s theories?)

-embodied on paper

-ethereal (in Shevek’s mind)

-Information holds a lot of power in the story. It is the central problem. Precious information can lead to technological advancement in the universe. (Shevek’s General Temporal Theory)

does the configuration of technology and info match popular or dominant ideologies or views? describe if yes or no.

-Anarres: technology progresses very slowly, thus Shevek’s information is perceived to be not important although it can lead to technological advancement.

-Urras: advances in technology quickly, they have resources to create ships and other technologies Anarres does not have. Also, Urras always seeks newer technologies.

-It seems with the advance of technology there is a loss of humanity and equality.

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how is technology understood? how does it work with the singular physical body or between collective bodies? is technology hard? soft? wet?

-Soft technology: Shevek’s physics theories and knowledge are soft technology. His theories are too advanced for Anarres, too radical for Urras (while he is still on Anarres). However, when he goes to Urras he finds out he is wanted there so his knowledge can be used to advance Urras’ space travel, which would allow them to dominate not only their world, but many others as well.

-Hard technology: Basically what Urras is obsessed with and wants to advance in? They bring Shevek to their society so they can advance in hard technology

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what is the role of human or alien bodies? are physical bodies foregrounded or diminished? mundane, exoticized or disgusting?

-Women of Urras vs women of Anarres: Urras women were shaved/made up. The people of Urras cared more about their appearance versus the People of Anarress. For example the women care about their appearance on Urras by being made up and the women on Annarres don't.

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who benefits and who suffers in the story and why?

Benefits

-Shevek: gets to pursue his passion, even if it sacrifices other parts of his life

Suffers

-Shevek: Isolated from his family and his homeland (not clearly said but hinted at?); learns his theories were to be used on Urras for personal gain;

-Takver: Was separated from Shevek

-Sadik: She suffers from the torment from her peers for being associated to Shevek, who was deemed a traitor for wanting to go to Urras.

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how does class, race, gender and sexuality figure in the story in relation to technology?

-on Anarres, women and men are treated equally

-Women should not have to reshape and decorate themselves (removing body hair, for instance) to be accepted and loved.

-Homosexuality and bisexuality should be just as socially acceptable as heterosexuality--as should celibacy.

-Urras: women are possessed and looked down upon, cannot receive a lot of job positions

-good example quote for Urras: “Where are other women?”

“Oh, no difficulty at all there, sir,” Pae said promptly. “Just tell us your preferences, and nothing could be simpler to provide.” …Shevek had no idea what they were talking about. He scratched his head. “Are all scientists here men then?” “Scientists?” Oiie asked, incredulous. Pae coughed. “Scientists. Oh, yes, certainly, they’re all men. There are some female teachers in the girls’ schools, of course. But they never get past Certificate level… Cant do the maths; no head for abstract thought; don’t belong. You know how it is, what women call thinking is done with the uterus! Of course, there’s always a few exceptions, God-awful brainy women with vaginal atrophy.” …Shevek saw that he had touched an impersonal animosity in these men which went very deep… They knew no relation but possession. They were possessed.