Reviews

3.5.
So Orr is a passive, neutral guy whose dreams sometimes warp reality and he can't control his dreams. He is sent to a psych and when the dr realizes what's happening, he uses Orr to shape the world in ways that he thinks are better. What a great concept for a short sci fi novel. I think it was generally successful.
The book is very thought provoking and interesting if a bit stiff. The characters were pretty good, although some of the dialogue was kinda bad and cringe. At one point, when two characters who have only had a couple of interactions with each other, the lone woman character, who is a lawyer, explains her racial background. It was pretty abrupt. This character's arc is also one that I found a little irritating. She's a fun character, very bold and assertive, but

Spoiler

when Orr changes the world via dreams as directed by his dr, he ends up making her disappear, then reappear as his submissive wife who is no longer a lawyer. The reality changes again, and in her final iteration she is back to relatively normal, semi aggressive but just works at a law office, isn't a lawyer again. I get why she was changed during the middle iteration, it is related to the actual story, but I don't get why she wasn't in the final one. Anyways, not the biggest issue, I probably just missed something in there.

While I think this was generally good, it also felt a bit YA. Like this could have been taught in HS alongside some of the other classic sci-fi books that have something to say about human nature/society etc. It def feels like a book of its time in the writing style, which I didn't love, but didn't hate either.
I guess this sort of redeems Le Guin for me a bit, it's far better than the other two books I read, deeper and better written.

tatt_mucker's review

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5.0

A magnificent work of imagination and compassion for humanity. One of my favorite reading experiences in recent memory. To drone on too long about it would be contrary to the spirit of such a brief and unique story, so I won't.

jannyslibrary's review

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5.0

There's a reason Ursula Le Guin has her own stamp! She's phenomenal. I read the lil blurb for this book and was like, oh yeah, that sounds cool and yup, neat sci fi + philosophical questions from '71 that are relevant today.

Also, it's fun to read a book about dreams changing reality right before going to dreamland yourself

robertrivasplata's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

LeGuin's novel about dreams, utopia, & Portland. Perhaps the most Portland book by her that I've read. Likens projects remaking the world to controlling a person's dreams. Not sure if the 70s-style depiction of what a 7 billion population world would look like is another example of the 70s sci-fi overpopulation hobbyhorse, or is meant to lampoon it. Either way, Lathe of Heaven seems to deal with the population issue in a much more mature way than the likes of Harry Harrison or Larry Niven. I liked the depictions of the different versions of Portland, even though they date from well before the Portland that I came to know existed. Perhaps the Portland of today or the one that I knew in the early 2000s are from Orr's dreams.

aliciagw's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Entertaining and though provoking science fiction about a man who can change the world with his dreams, and a doctor who takes advantage of his abilities. For the most part very good. There was a chapter or two in the middle where it seemed to drag a slight bit, but it really is a short book so it was right back on track in no time at all.

cindy_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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