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samantasas's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
bopa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
5.0
Probably the most profound book I've ever read
flyingorcas's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
theboundlessbookchase's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.4⭐
jesustrespalacios's review against another edition
5.0
“Pero, de hecho, ¿no es ése el propósito del hombre en la Tierra? ¿Hacer cosas, cambiar las cosas, dirigirlas, construir un mundo mejor?
—¡No!
—¿Cuál es, entonces, su propósito?
—No lo sé. Las cosas no tienen propósitos, como si el universo fuese una máquina y cada una de sus partes tuviese una función útil. ¿Cuál es la función de la galaxia? No sé si nuestra vida tiene un propósito, y no veo que eso importe. Lo que importa es que somos una parte.”
—¡No!
—¿Cuál es, entonces, su propósito?
—No lo sé. Las cosas no tienen propósitos, como si el universo fuese una máquina y cada una de sus partes tuviese una función útil. ¿Cuál es la función de la galaxia? No sé si nuestra vida tiene un propósito, y no veo que eso importe. Lo que importa es que somos una parte.”
sydsnot71's review against another edition
2.0
George Orr dreams. But his dreams are effective. They warp and change the world. When the novel starts he has overdosed on pills trying to suppress his dreaming. The world Orr lives in is an overcrowded and environmentally exhausted one. Le Guin talks about the impact of CO2 and global warming in a book written in 1971.
"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." (p160)
It is a fine book but perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it. The central idea is pretty solid. Indeed, I think you could argue Le Guin is a writer of ideas. But I found the first part of it something of a slog. Lots of SF info-dumping.
If I was a DNF type I might have DNFed it at that point I'm glad I didn't. Once things get going there's much to enjoy here as he starts sessions with Dr William Haber. Haber's realisation that George has a real power he starts to exploit it. Or tries to. But Orr's dreams seem to work like the wishes of genies or agreements with the devil where your desire is not answered quite as straightforwardly as you want.
Hamer wants to change the world for the better. But at what cost?
I might come back to this at a later date. I think there's more to be found in it than perhaps I found in it on this read.
"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." (p160)
It is a fine book but perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it. The central idea is pretty solid. Indeed, I think you could argue Le Guin is a writer of ideas. But I found the first part of it something of a slog. Lots of SF info-dumping.
If I was a DNF type I might have DNFed it at that point I'm glad I didn't. Once things get going there's much to enjoy here as he starts sessions with Dr William Haber. Haber's realisation that George has a real power he starts to exploit it. Or tries to. But Orr's dreams seem to work like the wishes of genies or agreements with the devil where your desire is not answered quite as straightforwardly as you want.
Hamer wants to change the world for the better. But at what cost?
I might come back to this at a later date. I think there's more to be found in it than perhaps I found in it on this read.
dianna_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
blei's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
maggie6832's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What a fascinating book. I feel like I need to really spend some time unpacking this, possibly by writing an essay and finding sources. I really enjoyed seeing how this book progressed and the way it laid out for the argument for the end not justifying the means - the process is the product, you can’t just aim for a better world while skipping all the steps in the middle that get you there, that make it meaningful! And the idea of all the changes that Haber made not making the world better, just blander, and him imposing his will on the whole world without any of their consent or buy in or input, assuming he always knew best! And George’s sense of will, of self and serenity, and the aliens! And Heather, how different she was when she was no longer Black and her relationship with George, and the worldbuilding. I will be turning this book over in my mind for awhile.