The Lathe of Heaven

About “The Lathe of Heaven”

"The Lathe of Heaven" is a 1971 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. The story follows George Orr, who has the ability to change reality through his dreams. He experiences multiple sets of memories, but others only perceive the current reality. To control his power, Orr takes drugs but is eventually sent to a psychotherapist, Dr. William Haber, who uses an electronic machine called the Augmentor to record his brain patterns during sleep. As Haber manipulates Orr's ability for his own ends, the world changes in ways that are both positive and dangerous. Orr seeks help from a civil rights lawyer, Heather Lelache, who witnesses the transformations firsthand. In an attempt to undo Haber's actions, Heather puts Orr into a dream state, leading to the unexpected arrival of aliens on Earth. These aliens seem to understand Orr's gift. Haber attempts to impose his own brain patterns on Orr to control the changes globally, but Orr turns off the Augmentor, restoring the world to April 1998.