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It was interesting to read a utopia, since these days dystopia is all the rage. I liked The Left Hand of Darkness and was expecting something similar, but Shevek's journey was very different.
I agree with caleb72 that ambiguity was what made this book work. The sacrifices in the book highlighted the differences in the two systems, on Urras entire peoples were sacrificed and on Anarres every person sacrificed parts of themselves. Of course, rewards were distributed the same way. Pick your poison.
I believe that there is usually more than one solution to any problem and this book showed how that can work. Within any political or economic system, if there is enough flexibility then there will be optimization and accommodations with similar results even if the systems are very different. Humans are very adaptable creatures.
Since both worlds were extreme I wouldn't want to live on either, but if forced to choose I'd have to take Anarres, since odds are against me being in the privileged class on Urras and equality would be preferable to servitude. I feel very lucky to have been born in this time and place and am aware of how different my life would be if I was born in Afghanistan or centuries ago.
All in all, an enlightening read, although I do admit some of the science gobbledygook and political speeches did drag.
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