Anarchism in The Dispossessed and The Player of Games Ursula Le Guin's masterpiece, The Dispossessed, and Iain Bank's The Player of Games are both science fiction novels that exemplify the themes of anarchism. Anarchism is based on the idea that individuals are responsible for their own behavior; hierarchical authority is detrimental to maximum human potential (Jaeckle). The Dispossess shows an ideal model of anarchism through the functions of the planet Anarres. The dynamic masterpiece. Bank's novel, The Player of Games, is part of The Culture series. The series is a magnificent level of space opera. The Player of Games is set in a galaxy spanning an anarchic culture from the distant future; the novel features strong, authentic characters, difficult ethical dilemmas, and recurring dark humor. One of the most important aspects of the Culture is the fact that there are no laws, which indicates that it is a form of anarchy. Both Ursula Le Guin and Iain Banks imply that anarchism is the best social option through the comparison of an anarchist society with another society in their novels; Le Guin compares the anarchic society of Anarres to the capitalist society of Urras while Banks compares the anarchic society of Culture to the society of the Empire of Azad. Le Guin creates a traditional anarchist society on the planet Anarres. Many of his ideas derive from Bakunin and Kropotkin; Le Guin longs for a society without the three… middle of paper… the best way societies work. Azad is an empire; for the majority of society it is unfair and demanding (Lammi). The elite rule the people of Azad. The Cultural Society aspires to perfection. In The Dispossessed, Anarres is the protagonist society as well as Culture. Both Bank's and Le Guin provide the negative aspects of anarchist societies; however, they also make it clear that, compared to their counterparts, the anarchist society is preferable. Through the characters of Shevek and Jernau, they describe why anarchist societies would be preferable since life in Azad and Urras is nowhere near as attractive. The characters experience ethical struggles and oppression, which makes the preference obvious. Ursula Le Guin and Iain Banks promoted anarchist societies as the preferable choice to decidedly dystopian societies.