Shevek

Shevek, a physicist who studies time. Tall, lean, and long-haired, Shevek is a citizen of Anarres, a world populated seven generations earlier by the followers of Odo, a woman who developed and organized a syndicalist anarchist movement. Shevek, as a genius in a society that has become increasingly conformist to a collective will, has difficulty pursuing and publishing his work, a General Temporal Theory that promises to open possibilities for faster-than-light communication and travel. Against the objections of his society, he travels to the sister planet of Urras, from which the Odonians emigrated, hoping to find there the freedom to present his discoveries. On Urras, however, major discoveries become military secrets to be used to acquire and hold national power. He finally evades the restrictions of both planets by broadcasting his discovery to all the known worlds, making possible instantaneous communication between distant planets. He is nearing the age of forty when he returns to Anarres.

Takver

Takver, a fish geneticist. She is tall, dark, intelligent, and not very pretty. Marriage does not exist on Anarres, but she becomes Shevek’s permanent sexual partner. Although their work and the social needs of Anarres often separate them, they have children and support each other in their careers. She encourages him to compromise with the conservative scientific establishment to have his works published off-planet. Later, she helps him form a group to support the sharing of knowledge with other worlds.

Vea

Vea, a wealthy and attractive socialite on Urras. In private visits with her, Shevek learns to understand the spiritual inner workings of Urras society, especially with regard to the relations between the sexes and the psychological and social effects of the private accumulation of power and wealth.

Rulag

Rulag, an engineer. Although Shevek rarely sees her, Rulag is his mother. When he proposes opening communication with and then traveling to Urras, from which Odonians have separated themselves as if from a source of infection, she becomes the leader of his political opposition.

Sabul

Sabul, a physicist. He dominates the practice of physics on Anarres, even though it is supposed to be controlled by a syndicate of all physicists. Playing on fear of “infection” by anti-Odonian thought, he achieves power and status by regulating scientific communication between Anarres and Urras. When Shevek produces a major treatise on time, he must publish it off-world under his and Sabul’s names.

Dr. Atro

Dr. Atro, a Urras physicist. The aged Atro, the founder of modern physics, recognizes the importance of Shevek’s work and invites him to Urras. Shevek finds him to be a genial old genius but caught up in nationalist, propertarian, and sexist attitudes that restrict the freedom of his thought.

Efor

Efor, Shevek’s servant in his Urras quarters. By observing Efor, Shevek learns about attitudes of the working classes. Efor eventually provides the contacts that put Shevek in touch with revolutionary forces on Urras and that take him to the Earth embassy from which he broadcasts his theory.

Shevek serves as the central character, offering a cohesive perspective throughout the narrative. He is portrayed as an idealized physicist—brilliant yet committed to the welfare of humanity. His tender and vulnerable side is evident in his heartfelt relationship with his partner, Takvar. She is also an engaging character, ready to sacrifice for her loved ones, spirited, vibrant, and steadfast. A fish geneticist by profession, she is deeply connected to organic life, feeling a kinship not only with her fish but with all living creatures.

Some critics argue that Shevek is somewhat passive as a protagonist, while others appreciate him as an effective mix of innocence and intellect, with a mind open to new experiences. As a highly talented individual, Shevek finds himself out of place on Anarres, yet he also feels estranged by the opulent lifestyle on Urras. He perceives himself as doubly exiled from both worlds. As an interplanetary traveler, he is curious and open to change, with a confidence grounded in his understanding of his own strengths and weaknesses.

While Shevek and Takvar are well-developed characters, some of the minor characters, including Shevek's colleagues, are less thoroughly portrayed and often symbolize different political viewpoints.