Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Lathe of Heaven
    The Lathe of Heaven
    The Lathe of Heaven
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Lathe of Heaven

    Written by Ursula K. Le Guin

    Narrated by George Guidall

    4/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    A classic science fiction novel by one of the greatest writers of the genre, set in a future world where one man's dreams control the fate of humanity. In a future world racked by violence and environmental catastrophes, George Orr wakes up one day to discover that his dreams have the ability to alter reality. He seeks help from Dr. William Haber, a psychiatrist who immediately grasps the power George wields. Soon George must preserve reality itself as Dr. Haber becomes adept at manipulating George's dreams for his own purposes. The Lathe of Heaven is an eerily prescient novel from award-winning author Ursula K. Le Guin that masterfully addresses the dangers of power and humanity's self-destructiveness, questioning the nature of reality itself. It is a classic of the science fiction genre.

    Editor's Note

    A dystopian classic…

    The show-stopper at 2014’s National Book Awards was Ursula K. Le Guin, who was honored for her distinguished contribution to American Letters. Discover this dystopian classic from one of the genre’s legends.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateOct 28, 2016
    ISBN9781501931482
    Author

    Ursula K. Le Guin

    URSULA K. LE GUIN was born in Berkeley, California, in 1929, and passed away in Portland, Oregon, in 2018. She published over sixty books of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature, and translation. She was the recipient of a National Book Award, six Hugo and five Nebula awards, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.  

    More audiobooks from Ursula K. Le Guin

    Related to The Lathe of Heaven

    Related audiobooks

    Science Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Emergency

      Mar 19, 2022

      The Emergency
      17 min read

    • Article

      Jackpot

      Mar 8, 2022

      Jackpot
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Power of Touch

      Jul 1, 2018

      The Power of Touch
      7 min read

    • Article

      Dancing

      Sep 1, 2022

      Dancing
      14 min read

    • Article

      Sort of Polarity

      Jul 10, 2022

      I’m not a hypochondriac. Honestly, I’m not. That’s just a label others put on you because they don’t understand where you’re coming from. The reality is there are millions of microorganisms in my intestines and on my skin basically eating me alive, a

      8 min read

    • Article

      The Things I Would Never Do

      Dec 23, 2021

      The Things I Would Never Do
      12 min read

    • Article

      A Cardiologist’s 9/11 Story

      Sep 13, 2018

      The morgue was inside Brooks Brothers. I was standing at the corner of Church and Dey, right next to the rubble of the World Trade Center, when a policeman shouted that doctors were needed at the menswear emporium inside the building at One Liberty P

      14 min read

    • Article

      Pleasure Palace

      Sep 1, 2022

      Pleasure Palace
      15 min read

    • Article

      The Cruel Irony of Social Distancing When You’re Stuck in Solitary

      May 8, 2020

      To listen to my governor, Andrew Cuomo, hold his daily press conferences about COVID-19, I must sit on a cold, round metal stool inside a windowless 8-by-12-foot cell with a metal shower and toilet and an adjoining “rec pen” that feels like a caged,

      3 min read

    • Article

      Storyteller

      Nov 4, 2021

      Storyteller
      11 min read

    • Article

      Where There Is No Hospital

      Mar 8, 2022

      Where There Is No Hospital
      15 min read

    • Article

      The Never-Ending Drug Hustle Behind Bars

      Nov 8, 2019

      “While I went to high school with casual weed smokers, and worked at various jobs with weekend coke snorters, I was entirely unprepared for what I’ve seen in state prison.”

      6 min read

    • Article

      Covid-19 – Survival And Loss

      Jul 31, 2020

      When you’re admitted to hospital you feel it’s the end, that you’ll never leave the place. It’s lonely and scary. You think, “I’ll never see my loved ones again”. You look around and realise how quiet everyone is, because all that matters is where yo

      2 min read

    • Article

      Removing The Mask

      Apr 25, 2021

      Removing The Mask
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Dying Of The Light

      Dec 13, 2023

      The Dying Of The Light
      7 min read

    • Article

      What Coronavirus Quarantine Looks Like in Prison

      Mar 18, 2020

      “I cannot help but linger on the faces of the elderly prisoners and think about how they are unlikely to survive this.”

      8 min read

    • Article

      Gurp

      Jun 1, 2021

      Gurp
      4 min read

    • Article

      Faery Land

      Mar 24, 2020

      Faery Land
      8 min read

    • Article

      Exploring The Boundaries

      May 31, 2018

      The human body: a horse gliding through a field. A monkey skipping between branches. A comet hurtling through the black moors of space. The human body can be these things, or anything, without pain. Sontag famously declared that “everyone who is born

      16 min read

    • Article

      Editor’s Letter

      Aug 7, 2023

      I spent the last week or so watching grown men cry. I hadn’t tried to, it just worked out that way. I’ve been putting in a lot of time at the vet again. A lump had grown on the tail of Toastie, my springer. The only way to treat it was to cut it off

      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Lathe of Heaven

    4/5

    1,888 ratings98 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Fantastic! For anyone who likes stories about dreams or that play with time.
    • 4/5
      In richly poetic language, LeGuin’s dystopian novel explores philosophical/ethical issues that linger beyond the plot finale. Although written from a 1970s vantage point (reflected in some of the speculative technology, timelines, and social consciousness), the issues are contemporary - and more pressing than ever.
    • 5/5
      Excellently spun thought provoking story. George Guidall is, to my taste, the #1 narrator of English language fiction.
    • 5/5
      So cool! It reminded me of reading stuff by our boy Phillip k. Dizzle a bit too.
    • 3/5
      Fantastic book, but the recording skipped like there were some pieces missing at the end of some chapters.
    • 5/5
      Excellent and descriptive read- makes LeGuins language come alive. Great story about the shadows that exist between dreams and reality
    • 3/5
      Good sci-fi. novel about dreams and how they are able to control reality.
    • 4/5
      What if you could change the world by what you dream? What would you do? This idea is the premise for The Lathe of Heaven. Talk about the unintended consequences of wielding unlimited power. It's like having a genie grant a wish - it never quite works out as intended. Very philosophical and thought provoking.
    • 5/5
      Science fiction about a man, George Orr, whose “effective” dreams change the world’s reality. Published in 1971, it is set in Portland, Oregon, near the beginning of the 21st century. George has been taking drugs to suppress these dreams and has been sent to a Voluntary Treatment Program. George retains memories of prior “worlds” created by his dreams but there are only a few others that have this ability. Dr. Haber, a dream researcher, is one of them. He takes George as a patient and begins treatment using a machine he has invented. George believes Dr. Haber is trying to help him, and the doctor has good intentions, but his attempt to control George’s dreams leads to catastrophic results.

      The concepts in this book take precedence over characters or plot. They show how different philosophies of life manifest in behavior, and ultimately, impact the quality of an individual’s life. George exhibits a passive philosophy of non-interference, and a desire to do no harm with his dreams. He feels extreme guilt when his dreams cause havoc. Dr. Haber, on the other hand, is into power and control. His vanity, and ambition lead him to try to “right the wrongs” of society. He views George as “a means to an end,” is egotistical enough to think he knows what needs to be done, and believes he can control the outcome, so in essence he is “playing God.” Debating the ideas set forth in this novel, especially the tension between dominance and passivity, could lead to some very interesting book club discussions.

      I found the premise brilliantly conceived and extremely creative. LeGuin’s prose is magnificent, and enough science is included to make this fictional world seem plausible, or at least logical within the construct. I will be adding more of LeGuin’s works to my reading list.

      I found it extremely clever, quite entertaining, and thought-provoking, so if you enjoy science fiction, I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Short science fiction book written in 1971.

      Imagine if you could change anything you wanted using your dreams. What would you do?

      George Orr lives in dystopian Portland Oregon. The world is overpopulated, on the verge of nuclear war. But that's not what he changes - instead he wishes an unpleasant relative didn't live with him and his family. When he wakes up, what he dreamed came true - but not in the way he expected.

      Through the course of the book, the author examines human frailty, the use of unlimited power and the unintended consequences of wielding that power, good vs evil, right vs wrong. A wonderful book.

      I learned this afternoon the book was made into a movie in 1980. I may try to find and watch it, but a little afraid that watching the movie might break the spell of the book.
    • 1/5
      I should stop reading highly recommended sci-fi books especially ones from reddit.

      I did not enjoy this book and do not see what the big deal with it is. Dude dreams alternative realities into existence. His therapist screws with him. Dude doesn't like it but keeps coming back. Continue this until the end of the book.

      The main character is unlikable and no one acts like a normal human being (any of the three main characters). The plot is repetitive and seems light on description. The ending is pretty bleh but I was just glad it was over. The author has written Earthsea books which I hear is good but this book was not really that interesting or well written that stands out to me. it will be a forgettable book I'm glad I'm done with. Final Grade - F
    • 4/5
      A Book You Can Finish In A DayDespite not accomplishing that feat, it can be done and is well worth the effort. As I've said in other reviews, I'm not generally a fan of science fiction. With all the books on my To Read list, I'm reluctant to suffer the typically sub-par writing of the genre for what might prove an interesting story when I can have both. The Lathe of Heaven, however, is well-written and engaging.Ursula K. Le Guin's tale, published in 1971, centers on George Orr, a draftsman living in early 21st century Portland, Oregon, who discovers that his dreams change reality. George is the only person aware that the new reality has replaced the old — for everyone else, the new reality has always been reality. In the dystopian world George inhabits, all the worst predictions of the paranoid '70s have come true. The world is overpopulated, the climate has collapsed (the climate seems to always be collapsing - I remember reading that in the late 1800's it was predicted that London would be buried under sever feet of horse manure. Sage prognosticators didn't foresee the coming of the internal combustion engine), and an Orwellian government runs the country. George is caught fraudulently obtaining drugs using his friend's insurance card in a failed attempt to avoid dreaming, then forced to see a psychiatrist under a court-imposed Voluntary Therapeutic Treatment plan. When George dreams "effectively" with the assistance of Dr. Haber, the good doctor realizes the power of George's gift and begins manipulating reality through George's dreams.The constantly changing reality is revealed abruptly, the way George experiences it, through Le Guin's habit of jumping into the new reality without clarifying that a change has occurred, then slowly providing the details that allow the reader to absorb the change as though they themselves are waking up from the dream. I especially enjoyed Orr's inability to keep straight which reality was reality.I won't reveal the rest of the story, only say that Le Guin effectively recycles the adage that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
    • 4/5
      Like many LeGuin books I wasn't sold on the beginning; the psychiatrist stuff is quite dated and poorly done.

      However the book is excellent conceptually and many of the "dated" concepts can be explained away by the narrative functions existing in the novel (SPOILER: multiple realities).
    • 5/5
      I read this a long time ago and barely remember more than loving it.
    • 4/5
      An unusual but interesting short novel about the landscape of nightmares. The twists and turns of the story are cleverly plotted.
    • 4/5
      The premise of the book is the appearance in a near-dystopian future of a man whose dreams can alter reality, retroactively, even on a dramatic scale. Being a decent man, he is crushed by the responsibility, and has to seek help with a good but ambitious psychologist. Ethics, responsibility and dream are at the centre of this book, which reminds me of Zelazny's *The Dream Master*, published five years earlier. In my eyes, it shows that Le Guinn can write a story on this kind of conceptual premise as well as the grand masters of the genre, Zelazny being a case in point. Of course, she adds her personal touch, with more complex, human, ambiguous characters than is usual is the SciFi genre. Another distinctive trait in my opinion is the way she closes the story, neither with a complete obliteration, nor with a Tolkien-like eucatastrophe. Though I really liked the book, I found that the aliens addition was neither really necessary to the plot, nor a very successful attempt in the genre. The idea of physiologically very different aliens settling on Earth as managers and traders strikes me as odd, especially when communication with them appears to be a constant challenge. On the whole, a good and enjoyable read, but not her best work in my opinion.
    • 5/5
      Awkwardly shows its age in gender and race, but despite that this comes through really well. I'm really surprised this was written in 1971. Quite impressive sci-fi and a really good story over all.
    • 3/5
      This is a strange book, and one that I think would have been better (particular in terms of gender) if it had been written later in Le Guin's career.

      Reading a book set in the future when it was written, but in a time that is now the past, is a fascinating experience, particularly seeing what predictions Le Guin landed more or less correctly and where she was notably wrong. (Primarily, things aren't as bad as she predicted . . . yet.)
    • 4/5
      I've shelved this as science fiction, but what struck me as I was reading it is that it really comes across as a psychological horror. The protagonist, George Orr, has an ability that he considers a horrible curse: when he dreams, sometimes, he wakes up to find the dream has come true. Having got in legal trouble for misappropriating/misusing dream suppressants, he is sent to a psychiatrist, Dr Haber, who sees this ability as an enormous boon. He uses hypnotherapy to put George under and instruct him to dream all manner of things – which, then, become reality.

      The novel examines all kind of dystopian and apocalyptic scenarios: war against extraterrestrials, a pandemic that kills most of the world's population, volcanic eruptions, and above all a recurring theme of heavy-handed state control over people's lives (and life and death itself). And it does all this with a tone reminiscent of that kind of nightmare where you're dreaming horrible stuff, and you think you wake up, but then realise you're still trapped in the nightmare. Dr Haber represents a brilliant villain, outwardly effusively charming but coercively keeping George under his control. And, of course, like many a classic villain he has grandiose, noble ambitions – world peace! an end to overpopulation! full health for all! – but no real qualms about the sinister ways he would achieve them.

      Overall, a really good, dark little book, especially for those who enjoy the theme of creepy nightmares.
    • 5/5
      I can't pretend I understood this book. But it moved something inside me. And the writing was beautiful.
    • 4/5
      There are some amazing things in this book, and I valued them more in this read than I did decades ago when I first encountered it. But I still didn't really find it absorbing or enjoyable. Her use of language when Dr Haber is first introduces is like a spiked washing board giving vivid warning of his propensity for damage.
    • 5/5
      I couldn't put this book down. My Kindle was glued to my hand all evening.

      The best kind of book is the book where you have to stop every few pages just to think about all the implications of what you've just read. This is that kind of book.
    • 5/5
      -- LATHE OF HEAVEN was published in 1970. In the novel author Leguin mentions air pollution & overpopulation. In 2020 climate change is very much on people's minds. LATHE OF HEAVEN is set in Portland, Oregon. When a man is troubled with dreams & sleeps he visits a sleep scientist. The sleep scientist hypnotizes George Orr & makes suggestions while Orr is sleeping. The suggestions are manifested in real life. Orr consults an attorney because he doesn't approve of the scientist using him to improve the world. Orr realizes the "improvements" change the natural order of life. Plot sounds bizarre but in Leguin's capable hands it's believable. --
    • 4/5
      I wasn't sure at first that I was going to care for this science fiction book (despite the fact that I think Le Guin is one of the best sci fi/fantasy authors of our time). Unlike most of her books that I have read, this one is set here on Earth at a time contemporary (or nearly so) with ours. Overpopulation & climate change have made the quality of life much worse than that we (here in 'reality') have. But of course, Le Guin didn't let me down and the plot offers lots to think about. George Guidall does a marvelous narration.
    • 4/5
      Great book, with a strange atmosphere and story. The subject is on "what would happen if dreams influence reality?" and is exposed in a very distorted and fluid way - perfect fit with the main subject. The story is not very complex but its evolution and play with the subject makes it interesting. The story is about the main character's ability to have dreams that change reality in uncontrolled ways. This makes him desire to stop dreaming to avoid bad things happening. He ends up treated by a psychologist that has a machine that enhances his dream state under the doctor's influence. Then the doctor tries to fix the world - but there are always unintended consequences that makes you wonder if it was worthy. Keeping the characters somehow consistent through the changing world is done very well and gives the opportunity to the writer to show slightly different sides of the characters.
    • 3/5
      An interesting book to read before going to sleep. It's pretty standard science fiction, although you can totally see the Le Guin anthropological touches with the culture of the aliens and their concept of dreaming. (Perhaps influenced by "the dream-time" of Australian aboriginal people?) I like it, and I would recommend it to sci-fi and/or Le Guin fans -- it's just not particularly outstanding compared to some of her others.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful book. SciFi at its best. The plot and the characters rise above the details of the science and technology, so that after almost 50 years, the book remains readable and relevant - and enthralling. Sadly, so many other SciFi hits from that era have become anachronisms.
    • 4/5
      I love Le Guin's writing, and this short novel was just as powerful as many of her longer works. Revolving around the idea of what would come of a man who could ream things into being, the concept-driven novel is as interesting as it is packed with fear, curiosity, and wonder. Like some of Le Guin's other short novels which are driven by ideas just so much as plot or character, this is denser than some of her other works, but it's also rich and worthwhile.Recommended.
    • 4/5
      George Orr has a problem with his dreams. When he has what he terms an 'effective dream' it changes reality to match. What a cool ability to possess you might think? George's problem is that he has no control over what he dreams so he has tried all sorts of things to stop them from occurring. His current method is drugs but he's having to borrow other people's Pharmacy Card's so they're not all allocated to him and this leads to discovery and referral to a therapist as part of the Voluntary Therapeutic Treatment. Dr. William Haber, the psychiatrist Orr gets assigned to, soon realises that he can make use of this talent and improve the lot of mankind as well as helping himself along in the process. Unfortunately for Haber and the rest of the world, Orr doesn't always dream what Haber actually suggests and perceived results could have unforeseen consequences. Will the doctor find a way to get better results or perhaps even give his patient what he wants: to be cured of effective dreaming once and for all.Touching on many of the big questions such as the nature of humanity and with social and political themes abounding even touching on environmental concerns and over-population which, for 1971 when this work was first published, is quite something. The story never meanders though and stays fixed within its main tenets which means it's a fairly quick read weighing in at under 200 pages. In lesser hands this story could get terribly confusing but I'm glad to say that wasn't the case here. It's a really enjoyable read and I'll certainly be looking for more of her work having only read some of the Earthsea stories previously.
    • 5/5
      George Orr is a mild, unassuming man, a good draftsman, a man who has recently developed a mild drug abuse problem. This is discovered in part due to the pharmacy card that every citizen is issued. He's been making unauthorized use of other people's cards. It's not a very serious offense, at least at his level of abuse. Because he admits it, and another person admits to being one of his sources, he's only sent for Voluntary Therapeutic Treatment.By chance, the psychiatrist he's assigned to is Dr. Haber.This isn't the beginning of George's nightmare. George was using the drugs to suppress his dreams, and this is vital because some small percentage of George's dreams are what he calls "effective dreams." They change the world, and not just for him. He's the only one who even remembers that the world was ever different.He tells Dr. Haber the truth, and manages to convince him. Haber promises to help, but instead begins manipulating George's dreams, in pursuit of his own ideas of a "better" world.What follows is a strange, often dark, and fascinating adventure through alternating timelines, none of which work out exactly the way Haber intended. Haber grows increasingly frustrated; George grows increasingly alarmed--even as, along the way some positive and encouraging changes do happen. Yet even the good changes are often the result of horrific events that killed millions, and George feels responsible for those deaths.He needs friends, help, a way out of the trap.George is a very good man, with seemingly great power, who wants to do as little damage as possible. Haber is not really a bad man, and he is genuinely trying to make things better--but he does have a large ego and great personal ambition, too. They and the whole world are on a roller coaster ride through an unpredictably changing world.It's a fantastic, wonderful story. Highly recommended.I bought this audiobook.