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lorenzadlung's review against another edition
4.0
The book was recommended by a friend, and I wanted to read it before watching the movie: https://youtu.be/M8VRbaVNvSA. It's a science-fiction novel centred around George Orr, a draftsman from Portland, Oregon. Orr has the capability to alter past and presence through his dreams. Suffering from this condition of multiple realities (i.e. the one before the dream, which only witnesses of the dream can remember, and the altered reality after the dream), he's seeking help of the psychiatrist William Haber. Haber's using his patient to establish his machine called the "Augmentor", with which he tries to manipulate Orr's dreams and thus reality for the better of his own reputation, his patient well-being, and mankind as such. Despite these noble motives, Harber's not really succeeding, the world gets worse and worse every time Orr's called to wake up.
Details of the dreams won't be spoiled here. But in general, Le Guin made me curious to always ask myself: "What's next?", as the dreams start from subtle alterations to global catastrophes. Written in 1971, the story is told chronologically from the year 2002. Every chapter starts with a dream-related quote, like this one from Lao Tse: "When the Great Way is lost, we get benevolence and righteousness." Le Guin's descriptions are very brief and factual. It seemed to me she didn't care so much about the emotions of her characters. Her language is very concise and allowed me a fast reading pace. Some smart side remarks were elegantly embedded in the story, e.g. the following one on climate change: "In fact it was, the endless warm drizzle of spring-the ice of Antarctica, falling softly on the heads of the children of those responsible for melting it."
I must admit I'm not an experienced reader of science-fiction novels, I prefer sci-fi short stories like those: https://www.nature.com/collections/swmfrlfmcn. Still, reading "The Lathe of Heaven" triggered some thinking processes, which made it an enjoyable read. Given the idea for the plot, I think there was much more potential, but it's definitely recommended for some weird-but-pleasing trains of thoughts in actual boring train rides.
Details of the dreams won't be spoiled here. But in general, Le Guin made me curious to always ask myself: "What's next?", as the dreams start from subtle alterations to global catastrophes. Written in 1971, the story is told chronologically from the year 2002. Every chapter starts with a dream-related quote, like this one from Lao Tse: "When the Great Way is lost, we get benevolence and righteousness." Le Guin's descriptions are very brief and factual. It seemed to me she didn't care so much about the emotions of her characters. Her language is very concise and allowed me a fast reading pace. Some smart side remarks were elegantly embedded in the story, e.g. the following one on climate change: "In fact it was, the endless warm drizzle of spring-the ice of Antarctica, falling softly on the heads of the children of those responsible for melting it."
I must admit I'm not an experienced reader of science-fiction novels, I prefer sci-fi short stories like those: https://www.nature.com/collections/swmfrlfmcn. Still, reading "The Lathe of Heaven" triggered some thinking processes, which made it an enjoyable read. Given the idea for the plot, I think there was much more potential, but it's definitely recommended for some weird-but-pleasing trains of thoughts in actual boring train rides.
imaginary_space's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
What if your dreams could change reality?
It will probably make you and everyone around you miserable.
It will probably make you and everyone around you miserable.
"Isn't that man's very purpose on earth - to do things, change things, run things, make a better world?"
"No!"
"What is his purpose, then?"
From the protagonist
Le Guin has crafted a deeply moving and layered story about helplessness, the corruption of power, paths to hell that are paved with good intentions, the consequences of our actions and the connectedness of our personal life and the state of the world.
Her writing is masterful and to the point, no sentence wasted.
We see the story unfold through the protagonist's eyes and discover the feeling of utter helplessness when he wakes up with a complete new life and new set of memories competing with his existing ones. Because each new reality is the new normal, Le Guin does not point us to all of the changes. Instead, they are often treated as if they had always been there and we, just like our protagonist George, have to do the work ourselves.
Each time he wakes up after a dream, the feeling of dread is more pressing. Every new iteration confronts us with more moral questions. Who gets to define the "Greater Good"? Is one person's utopia always another's dystopia? Will humans always find new ways to struggle? Do we need suffering?
"The end justifies the means. But what if there never is an end? All we have is means."
I would love to impress on the majority of people who currently express their political opinions publicly, be they politicians of civilians, the importance of thinking through the consequences their seemingly easy solutions would have. The world would be better off for it.
Additionally, Le Guin wrote about climate change in the 70s. So there are really no excuses left. Stop pretending, humanity!
Yes, it is dystopian. Yes, it is depressing. Because the world is depressing.
But it also tells us that every one of us can change the world. That we should be very careful what we do with this power. And that we should choose wisely who we entrust with our power.
"I don't know if our life has a purpose and I don't see that it matters. What does matter is that we're a part. Like a thread in a cloth or a grass-blade in a field. It is and we are. What we do is like wind blowing on the grass."
7ft_rat's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I want to say I like this book, because I did! Ursula K. Le Guin has magnificent prose and there were many vivid and thoughtful moments. Uh. However. I can't really tell you what was going on and I'm not sure what I'll be taking from this other then "Well, weird." I'll reread this eventually.
thatguyscout's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
4.0
A pillar of contemporary sci-fi. a very simple concept executed in a very interesting way. Feels like it belongs in the same conversation as 1984 and other touchstone sci-fis in terms of its themes of power corrupting, but likely not as the scenario itself is so fantastical by comparison.
lydiamarie19's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
malynn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
exorcismemily's review against another edition
3.0
I'm still not entirely sure what this book was about. I think I liked it though haha
empoi's review against another edition
4.0
What if your dreams could change reality?
A psychiatrist who with good intentions uses hypnosis to treat the patient, then to use the patient to do good, then to his own advantage.
It is eerie to wake up and not know what has changed in the world. To have reality constantly shifting beneath you can make anyone go crazy.
It is eerie to wake up and not know what has changed in the world. To have reality constantly shifting beneath you can make anyone go crazy.
shimmery's review against another edition
4.0
George Orr is a dreamer unlike any other. When he wakes up after certain sleeps, he finds reality has altered to match what he has dreamed. His dreams change the world and the things that happen in it — but nobody else is able to remember things any other way. For them, the new reality is the only one they have ever known.
Tormented by his unique power and competing memories, Orr begins abusing pharmaceuticals in order to suppress his dreams. This has him referred to Doctor Haber, who, on becoming aware of what George can do, begins to harness his dream powers to change the world almost beyond recognition.
This was a really interesting story, one with a lot of moral questions that will be fun to explore in the book group I read it for. Who gets to decide what is for the greater good? What are the limits of our imagination? Does human nature necessitate a world always at war or in difficulty? Is the difference between a utopia and a dystopia always only a matter of opinion? What might be the point of suffering, or why does it exist?
I found Le Guin’s writing style beautiful and the story captivating, which I listened to on audio book over a few long train rides.
Tormented by his unique power and competing memories, Orr begins abusing pharmaceuticals in order to suppress his dreams. This has him referred to Doctor Haber, who, on becoming aware of what George can do, begins to harness his dream powers to change the world almost beyond recognition.
This was a really interesting story, one with a lot of moral questions that will be fun to explore in the book group I read it for. Who gets to decide what is for the greater good? What are the limits of our imagination? Does human nature necessitate a world always at war or in difficulty? Is the difference between a utopia and a dystopia always only a matter of opinion? What might be the point of suffering, or why does it exist?
I found Le Guin’s writing style beautiful and the story captivating, which I listened to on audio book over a few long train rides.