The Lathe of Heaven

Locations
Call Number: Adult Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Classic / Le Guin, Ursula, Science Fiction / Le Guin, Ursula
On Shelf At: Pittsfield Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Classic / Le Guin, Ursula	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Science Fiction / Le Guin, Ursula	4-week checkout	Due 05-02-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Classic / Le Guin, Ursula	4-week checkout	Due 05-10-2024
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Classic / Le Guin, Ursula	4-week checkout	Due 05-02-2024
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Classic / Le Guin, Ursula	4-week checkout	Due 04-07-2024

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Classic! submitted by MetaMara on June 22, 2015, 12:37pm A classic example of sci fi at its best.

What a way to dream. submitted by brady.emmett on August 20, 2018, 9:45am This novel is odd and sublime and oh my gosh how can you keep track of everything that is or has happened?!? It's like a fever dream, but then again, that might be the point.

A classic for a reason submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on June 24, 2019, 8:55pm I read this once long, long ago… so long ago that I remembered only a few images and snippets. It was a book club read this month, well liked by the group (though clearly not universally loved), and definitely sparked some interesting discussion.

I really like what LeGuin invites us to think about with _Lathe of Heaven_, which is not only the question of whether we can change the world, but whether we should. The main character George has the ability to change the history of the world through his dreams, and when he gets “help” for this, an apparently well-intentioned but clearly unethical doctor manipulates George’s dreams to change the world as he (the doctor) sees fit. But George’s dreams change things in their own way, and nearly always make things (global and personal) “better” by softening the edges… sharp people become gentle (losing their uniqueness), sharp colors bleed to gray, huge problems resolve (but at what cost). I think LeGuin is inviting us to ask whether this is actually an improvement.

There is a lot of explanation in the book, although mostly it is well framed in logical ways that fit the storyline. Still, there were sections that felt like more tell than show, and that decreased my overall enjoyment. Overall, a classic for a reason, and an excellent read.

Interesting concept, not Le Guin's best writing submitted by nemiller on July 27, 2022, 9:45am I thought the concept was really interesting, but I didn't think it was Le Guin's best writing. There's a lot of kind of clumsy exposition - how often does a doctor tell their patient the whole political history of a medical procedure, right before performing that procedure? It's kind of dated, too, but of course it was written 50 years ago so that's to be expected.

I'd say it's more interesting to read in a historical context - what did science fiction look like in the 70s? - rather than for pure enjoyment.

Part of my Sci Fi Award Winners / Nominees - Hugo/Nebula Nominees & Locus Award Best Novel 1972 submitted by Kitty4777 on June 20, 2023, 10:40am The best thing about Ursula is that she has so much depth as a writer. Her styles and tones can shift between series, but have a way of coming together at the end into something satisfying overall. If you don't like one of her books, check out a separate one, as it may have been the content not the author which you disliked.

I really liked how simple this ended up being and it expanded in interesting ways. Good sci fi—- not that I ever doubt Ursula.