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A review by manatad
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
reflective
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
5.0
This was my third novel by Ursula K. Le Guin and I'm happy to say that my expectations have been exceeded once again; although, it is a bit different than the other two I had read previously (The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness). The shorter length of the novel made for characters with somewhat less development and depth, which is something that makes The Lathe of Heaven apparently a bit less popular with some fans of Le Guin's work, but did not bother me at all. It reads somewhat more like a typical science fiction novel of its time, more ideas-focused than character-focused, but still contains that wonderful touch of humanity and linguistic intrigue that is so characteristic of Le Guin's writing style.
I was immediately captivated at the beginning of the novel by the description of the dreamer drifting in the depths of his unconscious mind as a jellyfish drifting in the open ocean. I found the story's hook gripping and the events that unfolded afterward thrilling. Le Guin seems to reference Taoism as a central theme of this book, as she supposedly does in many of her works, a subject that I regrettably am almost entirely ignorant about. Being ignorant regarding many of the story's influences and references, I am incompetent to write an analysis here on the moral messages contained within it. Plenty of other reviewers have done so already. Suffice to say I understand that the central conflict of the story is between the Western "activist" way of interacting with the world and the Eastern "passivist" way. And, of course, the chaos that ensues when men try to play God.
It is a brilliant novel and one that I suspect will linger in my mind for days to come. I would recommend this short, accessible novel to all lovers of science fiction.
I was immediately captivated at the beginning of the novel by the description of the dreamer drifting in the depths of his unconscious mind as a jellyfish drifting in the open ocean. I found the story's hook gripping and the events that unfolded afterward thrilling. Le Guin seems to reference Taoism as a central theme of this book, as she supposedly does in many of her works, a subject that I regrettably am almost entirely ignorant about. Being ignorant regarding many of the story's influences and references, I am incompetent to write an analysis here on the moral messages contained within it. Plenty of other reviewers have done so already. Suffice to say I understand that the central conflict of the story is between the Western "activist" way of interacting with the world and the Eastern "passivist" way. And, of course, the chaos that ensues when men try to play God.
It is a brilliant novel and one that I suspect will linger in my mind for days to come. I would recommend this short, accessible novel to all lovers of science fiction.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, War