Rating: 
Summary: Book wonderful, but audiocassette annoying
Review: The Lathe of Heaven is one of my favorite books, I give it to friends to read ("you HAVE to read this! "), but the audiobook version read by Susan O'Malley is a serious disappointment, and as much as I love the book, I couldn't stand to listen to this version.Besides being a wonderful book about dreams and futures and ethics and Taoism and love and everything, it's also a book that's set in Portland, Oregon, and for anyone like me who's lived in Portland, there's the fun of all the Portland streets and landmarks getting referred to. But Susan O'Malley can't pronounce Oregon right! She can't pronounce Willamette right! It's or-e-guhn, not or-e-GON, and wil-LA-mette, not WILL-a-mette. She can't get the state and the main river right, plus other street names... someone didn't give her a pronounciation guide, and it left me cringing. Also annoying is that she reads it too fast -- goes straight from one section to another without any pause. It's not that kind of book, you can't do that. Friends of mine I loaned the audio version to, who hadn't already read it, loved it anyway despite the poor reading, but anyone who's already read the book should skip this audio version.
Rating:
Summary: Strength, Essence, Spirit and the Soul of Dreams
Review: An excellent book. (Oprah missed this one.) Ms. Le Guin has given sci-fi a new language of the heart. She courageously challenges the tragic mistakes of a frail humanity and places the essence, spirit and soul of strength in a meek man named George Orr. Ms. Le Guin skillfully commands the brilliant mind of Orr to defy the common, canned definition of love and life then, takes it to a new level. The impact this book had on me is that I came away feeling that love is a priviledge and that human exsistence, no matter what the space in time, is important, has meaning and is truly unique. Loved it.
Rating:
Summary: physician heal thyself
Review: the movie version of the book was shown on a local pbs station and i would love to get support enough to get it aired again.bruce davison was a strong choice to play jorjor...and when the alien gave george the beatles' tune "i get by with a little help from my friends" sung by ringo (who reflects a nature similar to georges own) i nearly cried with the subtleness of the selection... wonderfully thought out eastern themes...it is a powerful book and a provocative film...do yourself a big favor and enrichen your own experience.....
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Summary: A wonderful book about a sensitive man in a world gone mad!
Review: This my favourite book! (and I am not a science fiction fan) I read it in grade eight and now I usually read it every five years so that I never forget its beauty. Many readers like the science fiction aspects but I think what is the real beauty of the novel is to be found in the wonderful relationship that develops between the sensitive main character, George Orr, and the super type A personality lawyer, Miss Lelache. I find the novel to be timeless and not a "70's novel." And if anyone knows the meaning of the alien's term "iahklu" which they associate with George Orr then please e-mail me and advise.
Rating:
Summary: very thought provoking
Review: This story reflects the belief of many religous people. George or isn't the common person at all but part of the Universe's self control system. The doc is trully helping George but doesn't relize the Universe has it's own plans! So when the universe dissipears it's George to the rescue!
Rating: 
Summary: quirky and refreshing
Review: I really liked the book. It was interesting and different, and Haber and Orr were awesome characters. The end was a little too confusing and preachy, though.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely worthwhile
Review: I was a little hesitant when I first picked up this book. Seeing that there aren't many other novels on dreams (or none that I've found) "The Lathe Of Heaven" was my only option for an english project. I was quickly drawn into it. The beginning was great - halfway through, although I was still somewhat interested - the plot got slightly dull and confusing. Too much stuff about aliens. However, it still made sense and I wasn't completely lost. Good ending; a very interesting perspective on reality. This was my first LeGuin read, and I'm sure there'll be more in the future.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best sci-fi works of the 70s
Review: I was reminded of "The Lathe of Heaven" when I saw a preview of "Matrix". The idea of an unreal reality is very close to the Hindu and Buddhist concept of the universe as maya, illusion; and perhaps also close to the Aboriginal idea of Dreamtime. I consider this book one of the best sci-fi books of recent times, and the film, although lacking in star value, is among the better sci-fi flicks in years, although not in the same league as "2001", "Blade Runner" or "Brazil"
Rating:
Summary: Old classic returns and returns
Review: If you like "The Matrix" you'll probably enjoy "The Lathe of Heaven" for its unique view of reality as a non real dream world. Le Guin touches the ancient philosophical reflection about what we see and how we interpret it. Certainly more artful than "Matrix" her work never-the-less held this reader with a fine edge of suspense.
Rating:
Summary: Delicious
Review: This delicious little 60,000 word read is definitely hard not to like. I disagree with calling it sci-fi. It is more like a Taoist fantasy of the (then) future (the 1990s), for people who wish they lived in a 'better world', but don't realize that every change has implications. It is for people who hate sci-fi, actually. Ursula Kroeger Le Guin, from a family of anthropologists, brings a refinement to the table that is likely to make you want to read it twice. Not a feminist book, its one lapse is in not imagining a world of sexual equality 'for fun', along with a world where everybody is gray, to end racial inequality, for example. Citizens arrest and summary euthanasia for cancer or defective genes -- that made me laugh. If you're looking for a delicious, nutritious read, buy this jewel.
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