The Lathe of Heaven

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Adam Sims

George Orr is a mild and unremarkable man who finds the world a less than pleasant place to live: seven billion people jostle for living space and food. But George dreams dreams which do in fact change reality - and he has no means of controlling this extraordinary power.

Psychiatrist Dr William Haber offers to help. At first sceptical of George's powers, he comes to astonished belief. When he allows ambition to get the better of ethics, George finds himself caught up in a situation of alarming peril.

©2020 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2020 Orion Publishing Group

A story I’ve experienced 4 times

I have been fascinated by this story since I first saw it on film in 1980. I think I saw it twice and read the book and now the audiobook. I think it’s one of my favorite stories of all times the unbound imagination of the author. It’s been over 20 years since the last time I read this book and I find it amazing that the author way back in the 70s predicted the global warming event that we are all living through now in the way this is her imagination become reality like George’s dreams. I can’t recommend this book enough. I’m sure I will read it again.

Good ideas, blunt execution

The underlying idea is intriguing and the of the world-building well thought out. Unfortunately the book lacks subtlety. Most points are conveyed in a very obvious, borderline cheesy way. The main character is unbearably annoying, while the psychiatrist is cliche but entertaining. All in all recommended as far as you are not looking for a masterpiece