The Lathe of Heaven - Ursula K. LeGuin Book Review

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Review Summary

George Orr, a perfect cipher, the ultimately average man, has effective dreams - dreams that change reality. This is a nightmare; these are real dreams - he does not control them or their content, and they answer his unconscious and subconscious desires, not his waking wishes. Orr lives in terror of his dreams. His efforts to stop them send him into the care of Dr. Haber, a psychiatrist who has a machine that can monitor and guide dreams, and who has no compunction at all about altering reality. It becomes a battle of wills - the overbearing doctor against the meek dreamer - in which Orr is incredibly overmatched. He does, however, have a secret, one that he can use to save himself and the world, if he can understand it in time.
Ivy, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Lathe of Heaven

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 50%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - doctor
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an above average amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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