175 pages
English language
Published Nov. 7, 1973 by Avon.
“The Lathe of Heaven” ; 1971 ( Ursula Le Guin received the 1973 Locus Award for this story) George Orr has a gift – he is an effective dreamer: his dreams become reality when he wakes up. He is aware of his past and present, two or more sets of memories, although the people around him are only aware of the current reality. This science fiction story is set in Portland, Oregon, in/around the late 1990s - early 2000s. Orr begins to take drugs to suppress dreams but eventually he is sent to a psychotherapist, Dr. William Haber, who has developed an electronic machine, the Augmentor, which records the brain patterns of a person as they dream. When Haber realizes that he can use Orr's unique ability to change their world, the consequences are both beneficial and frightening, both locally and globally. Orr seeks out the help of a civil …
“The Lathe of Heaven” ; 1971 ( Ursula Le Guin received the 1973 Locus Award for this story) George Orr has a gift – he is an effective dreamer: his dreams become reality when he wakes up. He is aware of his past and present, two or more sets of memories, although the people around him are only aware of the current reality. This science fiction story is set in Portland, Oregon, in/around the late 1990s - early 2000s. Orr begins to take drugs to suppress dreams but eventually he is sent to a psychotherapist, Dr. William Haber, who has developed an electronic machine, the Augmentor, which records the brain patterns of a person as they dream. When Haber realizes that he can use Orr's unique ability to change their world, the consequences are both beneficial and frightening, both locally and globally. Orr seeks out the help of a civil rights lawyer, Heather Lelache, who attends a treatment session, and sees Portland change before her very eyes as Orr awakens. In a strange turn of events, Heather helps Orr by putting him in a dream state where Orr can undo some of Haber's actions. The result – Aliens on the Moon land on Earth ! A special affinity exists between George Orr and the Aliens, who seem to understand his unique gift. Ultimately Haber decides to impose Orr's brain patterns on his own, so that he can bring about world-wide changes. Orr and Heather feel the chaos and a sense of a void as Haber dreams. Orr rushes back to Haber's office and turns off the Augmentor. The world returns to April 1998.
Awkwardly shows its age in gender and race, but despite that this comes through really well. I'm really surprised this was written in 1971. Quite impressive sci-fi and a really good story over all.
This brilliant, beautiful little novel imaginatively explores the subjective nature of reality, its interdependence on perception. Le Guin masterfully constructs a narrative with only a few characters, settings, and pages whose number belies the philosophical and emotional heft conveyed therein.
One of my all-time classics.
There's a lot to like here. The language is great - some of the imagery is really fantastic, and there are some spots of cute wordplay. The plot is interesting and zips along, but it doesn't dominate the book. I found it easy to identify with both George and Dr. Haber, which is a nice trick that helps me think about the central conflict between them. I thought the contrast between "use this power for good!" and "don't use this power at all!" was fresh and very relevant to me as a tech worker.
There's a lot more to think about, but I haven't thought it yet! This is definitely one to reread.
Reminiscent of H.G. Wells’ Time Machine in its form and language. Felt, to me, like a short story lengthened into a slim novel.
Best part for me in terms of writing is in chapter ten where the writing gets poetic:
“In bed, they made love. Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” P. 159
And on p.165, Le Guin describes leather as “the intermediate surface between a cow and the universe.” Nice.
As for the story itself, it’s an interesting premise. I think about my own dreams and how entirely disjointed reality would be with them as a blueprint.
I hate to say I found an Ursula Le Guin novel boring... but I did.
L'idée de départ de ce court roman est excellente : un homme consulte un thérapeute car ses rêves deviennent réalité, au sens littérale puisque la réalité se transforme véritablement en fonction des rêves qu'il fait. Dommage que l'exécution ne soit pas tout à fait à la hauteur, avec un récit brouillon qui ne m'a pas totalement convaincu.
Really makes me think about the whole idea of progress.
Mostly satisfying novella about self and self-made reality, power and relationships.
I feel wretched about rating only three stars; but I just can’t bring myself to say I “really liked” Lathe of Heaven. It felt kind of clumsy; preachy, too. Not the voice I know as Le Guin. But it's Le Guin, dammit, so the fault is clearly mine.
Just bloody fantastic. That is all.
My favorite sci-fi book!
