I loved both the book & the movie. The idea of a man that could change the world was unique the way she presented it. The few characters were perfect to drive her point home. Tremendous power that was so powerless. Unforeseen consequences mixed into a chaotic theory that defied harnessing.

The understated humor that ran through out the book was just perfect! It wasn't a funny book, but had it's moments, enough to lighten the overall depressing world & main character.

It was an eclectic blend of elements that made for a wild ride. ( )

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K Le Guin is science fiction, but it's a science fiction of ideas, of what if's, not of technology and alien planets. There are aliens and technology in the novel, but they are beside the point really. This is a fable, like so many episodes of The Twilight Zone, a story about the improbable designed to tell us something about the every day.

In The Lathe of Heaven, George Orr has dreams that come true. His dreams come true, and he is the only one who notices the changes they make in the world around him. To stop his dreams he has been taking overdoses of various drugs which is a crime punishable by forced visits to a psychiatrist in Le Guin's anti-utopian future. The bulk of the novel is made up of Orr's sessions with Dr. Haber.

Dr. Haber does not try to cure Orr. Instead he tries to use his power to improve the world, to clean up pollution, reverse global warming, stop war. These all sound like good ideas, but it never works out that way in fiction, not for long. Soon Dr. Haber is creating a stifling, controlled society, where the individual is sacrificed for the greater good. George Orr tries to rebel but how can he when Dr. Haber has gained control of his dreams.

I found The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin to be entertaining and surprisingly pertinent to today's world. Considering the book was written in 1971 this is not exactly good news, but it is a very good book. Even if you're not a fan of science fiction there is much to enjoy in The Lathe of Heaven. I'm giving it five out of five stars. ( )

I've always enjoyed Le Guin's work for both her unique writing style and her incredibly creative imagination, and I wasn't disappointed here. It was refreshing to read a book set on Earth, albeit a dystopian future Earth.

As the main character and his psychiatrist slowly repair the world using the power of his dreams, the story carries us through a fascinating exploration of the nature of reality. Worked into this framework are a few cautionary tales about where current society might end up if we're not careful, but also a few cautions about wishing things were too different - because even in reshaping reality, the rules of reality still apply. In other words, be careful what you wish for.

Le Guin's own imagination is displayed in full force here, and the result is very enjoyable. This is not her best book, but it is very good. ( )

George Orr is referred to a psychologist named Doctor Haber, having been found to consume prescription drugs to deprive himself of deep sleep. George Orr's reasons for this is that he believes that his dreams can influence the past, changing reality to conform to his dreams. Haber, initially skeptical, tests Orr's claims, and finds that this is actually the case. What follows is Haber's earnest attempts to use Orr's dreaming to change the world for the better, with quite mixed results.

There's quite a lot that I like about this story. LeGuin does an excellent job of sketching the multiple realities that Orr manages to conjure up, and the changes in personality for the two supporting characters, quickly, efficiently, and without LeGuin lecturing to her readers. There are a lot of ideas here to mull over, from how dreams work to the vast differences in Haber's and Orr's views of how they should fit into the world - Haber desires to shape the world to how he sees it should be, while Orr merely seeks to exist within the world, changing it only when required.

I also enjoyed how LeGuin managed to keep Haber, the psychologist, as a realistic character, and not simply paint him as a caricartured villian. Haber, although intoxicated with the power he wields through Orr, is a character motivated to do good, even though his results are not always overly beneficial.

Original, thoughtful, and well-written - Philip K Dick, but with realistic characters and settings. Highly recommended. ( )

Superb imagining. Deep-sea, misty, heady. Stick with it till it grabs you good. ( )