Reviews

I can see why this is a classic the the sci-fi and dystopian future genres. George Orr has the ability to affect reality through his dreams (called Effective Dreaming). He wrestles with his responsibility to humanity with this power and it leads him to drugs to try to stop dreaming. He shares this with his psychiatrist, Dr Haber, who offers to help, but end up using George to change reality for himself (making Haber the head of the top government run psychological institute).

Le Guin uses these two characters to look at different type of utopian societies and the unintended consequences that happen, either from a top down approach (Haber) or a for-the-benefit-of-all (Orr).

laerugo's review against another edition

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4.0

not my favorite scifi book, but definitely one that'll stick with me for a while. it's a really unique idea and the first thing that struck me was how believable and reliable the characters were (not as people, but as characters) throughout all of the different realities. there are some really disturbing ideas in here that resonated with me and i loved how she explored them: not being able to trust your own mind, not being able to trust your doctor/psychiatrist, knowing you're being manipulated but having no way to escape it, having power out of your own control, knowing what needs to be done to save high stakes but knowing you aren't strong enough to do it. one of the most haunting scenes in here was when george talked about his memory of april 1998 and how he lay dying of radiation poisoning, fantasizing about somehow finding the energy and rising to keep walking, but coming to himself and realizing he hadn't moved an inch.

if i had any reservations about this book it's probably just the very ending; i didn't enjoy the payoff as much as i thought i would. the buildup and climax were really well done but for some reason i felt just disappointed by the ending, or wondering if i just missed something (entirely possible, though i reread the ending a few times trying to figure it out).

kylegach's review against another edition

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challenging dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Incredibly inventive sci-fi!

lunargiraffe's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

tregina's review against another edition

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4.0

This is one of a number of books that I always meant to read, but hesitated because I've been so often let down by works of classic science fiction that were a lot more forward thinking about technology than about social issues. In general, I was very pleased to discover this was not one of those. I want to go back and read what reams of scholarship must exist because there is so very much to unpack and explore, beneath the surface of what is a compelling speculative tale.

oyangfaye's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced

4.0

freja_johansen's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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