Welcome to the future! For those of us coming out of the sixties, this dystopian future was a shock. Hopefully you'll like LeGuin's other stories better, as good as tLoH was, she does get better as a writer. PS: You weren't supposed to like George at first, and the character was supposed to grow. You're getting the experience right.
It's interesting to consider how we react to dystopian futures across decades. Sadly my reaction at the moment was really influenced by how saturated current fiction is with gloomy futures! The future seems bleak... The point of the story has been a slow burn since I've reread it, so I do like it more now. Rereading The Dispossessed will be very interesting now, since it's the only Le Guin novel I truly disliked. But I know SO much more as an adult about what she's really talking about in it.
+Kevin Burgess I haven't read the book, but I saw the 1970s (or 80s) movie with Bruce Davidson. I remember not liking either the characters or the story much at the beginning, but by the end I was really into it
Metal Monkey That dislike for the protagonists and certain characters was part of the shock factor that made this a seminal story. Her writing has only improved since then, but it's good to know where we come from. It's been a long trip.
I'm currently reading this. I've been wanting to read some Le Guin for a while and am honestly a little underwhelmed by this one. What other Le Guin works would you recommend?
Hi Ceri! Yes, I'd agree, I've found all the other works I've read by Le Guin to be more powerful than Lathe of Heaven. The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed are my top SF picks by her, and Powers from one of her fantasy series is also great.
Oh wow, I'm not the only one! I recently got into Le Guin, fell in love with the first two Earthsea books and the Left Hand of Darkness, but this is my least favorite from her so far. I didn't like Haber but I think he's written well: he captures a common archetype of an intellectual 'fixer' who believes he knows what is best for others without ever considering their viewpoint. I lost interest towards the end: the world changed so many times that it started to feel like a mirage, and it felt like whatever happened in the world didn't actually matter because it would be gone in a day. I agree, LoH is a classic story that should be read, but her writing here doesn't have the same compassion or subtlety as it does elsewhere.
Nice review of a book . . . . .with a not-so-nice story line. Have never read this author, but did see the PBS version of her book on UT just tonite. Reminds one of Rand's style of writing, or Kubrick's movies (what's that one with HAL?) Control over others seems to be the overriding theme in all this. Aside from the futuristic (and by today's standards) somewhat hokey SFX, I liked the portrayals here, the acting, and yes, even Haber's, although I, too, found his character's personal (professional?) plunge into self-made hell a lesson for us all. Leaders everywhere, take note.
+William Larson Oo, thanks for the perspective from watching the movie version! I really would like to see it, I didn't know any of Le Guin's work had been successfully adapted, but this Lathe of Heaven adaptation seems like it's really good. (Apparently Le Guin thought it was the best adaptation of her work ever made.) I hope I can find it somewhere if they're still showing it occasionally.
+Kalanadi If by "I really would like to see it", you mean, you really would like to see the book's adaptation in a movie theater (today). Well, good luck with that. U-tube is it, far as I know. I don't usually follow SFX (science fiction?), but have seen 'A Clockwork Orange', etc, etc. 'Star Wars' was OK, saw that when it first came out (yes, I'm that old), though I really couldn't feel the 'Force' in that one. But 2001's Hal really unnerved me. But back to the book you reviewed --- well, I liked your review and the movie's premise, you know, along the lines that we really can change the world just by WANTING things, as in dreaming, and then maybe doing something about it. But dreams, alone? Well, maybe not, but then again, some dreams do come true. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, or maybe I should just say, 'May the Force Be With You.' Chou . . .
sorry im so late lol but totally agree. i do love the 1980 movie version its even better than the book. its very trippy one of my fav scifi movies. skip the recent remake.
first read it in the 70’s..
I have gotten rid of many books over the years but always kept this one!
I liked Earthsea by her when i was little. The film Lathe of Heaen is on youtube.
Welcome to the future! For those of us coming out of the sixties, this dystopian future was a shock.
Hopefully you'll like LeGuin's other stories better, as good as tLoH was, she does get better as a writer.
PS: You weren't supposed to like George at first, and the character was supposed to grow. You're getting the experience right.
It's interesting to consider how we react to dystopian futures across decades. Sadly my reaction at the moment was really influenced by how saturated current fiction is with gloomy futures! The future seems bleak... The point of the story has been a slow burn since I've reread it, so I do like it more now. Rereading The Dispossessed will be very interesting now, since it's the only Le Guin novel I truly disliked. But I know SO much more as an adult about what she's really talking about in it.
+Kevin Burgess I haven't read the book, but I saw the 1970s (or 80s) movie with Bruce Davidson. I remember not liking either the characters or the story much at the beginning, but by the end I was really into it
Metal Monkey That dislike for the protagonists and certain characters was part of the shock factor that made this a seminal story.
Her writing has only improved since then, but it's good to know where we come from. It's been a long trip.
I'm currently reading this. I've been wanting to read some Le Guin for a while and am honestly a little underwhelmed by this one. What other Le Guin works would you recommend?
Hi Ceri! Yes, I'd agree, I've found all the other works I've read by Le Guin to be more powerful than Lathe of Heaven. The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed are my top SF picks by her, and Powers from one of her fantasy series is also great.
I thught Lathe was excellent (finished it last week). Dispossessed was also great.
“Do by not doing.” “Be careful what you wish for.” These are the things I’m thinking about.
A fantastic exploration of how choices affect others. Very depressing story in places but I think it was fitting for the story it was trying to tell.
+Let's Read Indeed. I have to agree that the depressing setting suited the story, even if I didn't like it so much!
was hoping you would review this
maybe you dont change the world for others, but for your self and that is the authority we have....hmmmm? what do you think?
Oh wow, I'm not the only one! I recently got into Le Guin, fell in love with the first two Earthsea books and the Left Hand of Darkness, but this is my least favorite from her so far. I didn't like Haber but I think he's written well: he captures a common archetype of an intellectual 'fixer' who believes he knows what is best for others without ever considering their viewpoint.
I lost interest towards the end: the world changed so many times that it started to feel like a mirage, and it felt like whatever happened in the world didn't actually matter because it would be gone in a day.
I agree, LoH is a classic story that should be read, but her writing here doesn't have the same compassion or subtlety as it does elsewhere.
Brilliant book...Brilliant author
Nice review of a book . . . . .with a not-so-nice story line. Have never read this author, but did see the PBS version of her book on UT just tonite. Reminds one of Rand's style of writing, or Kubrick's movies (what's that one with HAL?) Control over others seems to be the overriding theme in all this. Aside from the futuristic (and by today's standards) somewhat hokey SFX, I liked the portrayals here, the acting, and yes, even Haber's, although I, too, found his character's personal (professional?) plunge into self-made hell a lesson for us all. Leaders everywhere, take note.
+William Larson Oo, thanks for the perspective from watching the movie version! I really would like to see it, I didn't know any of Le Guin's work had been successfully adapted, but this Lathe of Heaven adaptation seems like it's really good. (Apparently Le Guin thought it was the best adaptation of her work ever made.) I hope I can find it somewhere if they're still showing it occasionally.
+Kalanadi If by "I really would like to see it", you mean, you really would like to see the book's adaptation in a movie theater (today). Well, good luck with that. U-tube is it, far as I know. I don't usually follow SFX (science fiction?), but have seen 'A Clockwork Orange', etc, etc. 'Star Wars' was OK, saw that when it first came out (yes, I'm that old), though I really couldn't feel the 'Force' in that one. But 2001's Hal really unnerved me. But back to the book you reviewed --- well, I liked your review and the movie's premise, you know, along the lines that we really can change the world just by WANTING things, as in dreaming, and then maybe doing something about it. But dreams, alone? Well, maybe not, but then again, some dreams do come true. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, or maybe I should just say, 'May the Force Be With You.' Chou . . .
sorry im so late lol but totally agree. i do love the 1980 movie version its even better than the book. its very trippy one of my fav scifi movies. skip the recent remake.
Read 30 pages of this book and it did not pull me in at all. Couldn’t continue it.