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.
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The uncomfortably gifted George Orr is desperately drugging himself to avoid sleep, because he knows his dreams can change the world. Psychiatrist Dr Haber begins with good intentions of curing Orr, but when he finds he can shape Orr's "effective dreams" and force his own wishes into reality, the lure of power is too much. Though Haber believes he wants only to do good, he's also quick to upgrade himself from obscurity in a windowless office to Director of the prestigious Oregon Oneirological Institute.
During his flawed attempts to create an earthly paradise, we see that each sweeping change makes matters worse. Let's fix over-population: suddenly there's a new past in which humanity was almost destroyed by plague, billions of people are written out of existence, and Haber drinks a toast--"to a better world". Let's fix war: the hapless Orr's dreaming mind can only imagine and create a new threat that unites Earth against outside foes. Let's fix racism: the result is even more painful. As Orr broods:
The end justifies the means. But what if there never is an end? All we have is means.
In this mad round of poisoned wishes, it becomes necessary to stop. But power-crazed Haber refuses to stop....
Beautifully written, jolting in its moral force, The Lathe of Heaven is one of Le Guin's finest SF excursions. --David Langford
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. George Orr is in most respects 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 has an ability with which he can transform the world around him: for George dreams dreams which do in fact change reality. He has no way of controlling this extraordinary power, and his psychiatrist is at first sceptical. When Dr Haber sees the effects of George's power, he cannot resist using it: at first just to advance his own career, but then, gaining confidence, to try to change their overcrowded world into a more attractive place. Through his dreams, George Orr can make alternate realities real. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781857989519
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Book Description Condition: New. 2001. New Ed. Paperback. Through his dreams, George Orr can make alternate realities real Series: S.F. Masterworks. Num Pages: 192 pages. BIC Classification: FL. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 198 x 129 x 15. Weight in Grams: 188. . . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9781857989519