Reviews

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

ethanmcc's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, certainly the best and most complete story under 200 pages that I’ve ever read. Its resonated with me in ways that I don’t really understand fully. 

I love nihilistic stories about the human experience and ones where nothing sorta happens. This book, ending with him taking heather out on a coffee date, managed to end a sci-fi multiverse-based story in such an innocuous relatable way that I think hit a lot harder than if it had ended with some sort of battle with dr haber over control of the device or some ruined world as a cautionary tale allegorical to nukes or something like that

Oh one thing though is that Heathers depiction at times, yikes, definitely written 50+ years ago 

karathagan's review against another edition

4.0

Ursula K. LeGuin is usually thought provoking and this does not disappoint. A man in the future is taking drugs to avoid sleeping. He is arrested and explains he is not an addict, he's just really trying to not dream. Because he used other people's PharmCards, he is sentenced to therapy to fix his fear of dreaming. The doctor is testing out a special new machine that maps brainwaves and can influence dreams, says he'll get rid of nightmares. Our MC explains that the dreams themselves aren't scary, but he somehow is able to change reality with some dreams and has no way of controlling it. Though skeptical, the doctor sees it happen - he refuses to admit or acknowledge it, but slowly begins to manipulate our MC to get himself a better office, title, reputation, etc. 

Only people with the MC at the time of the dream can tell that reality is different. Eventually the doctor is changing things at a global, even interplanetary level. Like the proverbial monkey's paw, there's always a devastating side effect and unintended consequences. A lot of ethical concerns here that highlight what must be lost if we progress, even if on a slower scale with full awareness. Identity and humanity are also up for debate and the conclusion is not a perfect world - but we've seen enough to be scared of trying for anything more. 

darthval's review against another edition

4.0

I had almost given up trying to read classic SciFi, having thus far found it to be dry and tedious. I am so glad that I stuck in there to read The Lathe of Heaven.

This book is interesting, being short and light and tone. However, it tackles some rather deep topics that incite further reflection: poverty, over-population, race, power, manipulation, and more. The story almost has surreal dream-like quality, which is a perfect fit given the subject matter.

This book is quite enjoyable.

pzorgngtaon's review against another edition

5.0

I liked it. At times I thought it was a Philip K Dick novel.

tanyatwombly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

sierra21's review against another edition

3.0

premise was super interesting, thought it was well executed, some really fantastic passages. really didn't like the way Heather was characterized. will be thinking about this a lot.

melodypage's review against another edition

5.0

My first Ursula Le Guin. Definitely ready to read more of her. Moving on to the famous Left Hand of Darkness

scottcurtis10's review against another edition

4.0

This book presents a different take on the "dreams influencing reality" theme - what if a person's dreams not only affected future reality, but resulted in a "continuum change" that retroactively changed the past as well? What are the implications? George Orr is the "average man" who is afflicted with this problem, and becomes a drug abuser to sedate himself to the point of not dreaming at all. Dr. William Haber is Orr's assigned psychologist for his Voluntary Therapeutic Treatment to avoid the insane asylum. Once Haber finds out that Orr's talent is real, he uses hypnotism to manipulate Orr's dream state to try to eliminate problems of the human condition, like overpopulation, racial strife, cancer, and war. Haber's work has disastrous consequences for the world, while enabling his ego. I found the book by turns engaging and challenging. Particularly challenging were the shifts in reality upon Orr awaking from a dream, and his communication with the Aliens from Aldebaran. Ultimately, I found the book a satisfying meditation on the limits of the human condition.

sgonk's review against another edition

5.0

Great! Almost as good as The Left Hand Of Darkness.

anyberg's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Quote somewhere about why she fell in love with him that resonated really deeply. Maybe one of the better entry points for Le Guin