Dr. William Huber is a psychiatrist working in Portland, Oregon in a crowded, polluted, and hot future.
George Orr is a man with bad dreams, and he believes the dreams affect reality. George has been using more than his allotment of pharmaceuticals, so he is sent to Obligatory Therapy under Dr. William Huber.
While George is in Dr. Huber’s care, Dr. Huber is able to see the world change during George’s dreams. He tries to use the ability to manipulate reality. It isn’t clear what is goals are, nor if or even how he should be stopped.
The book was written in 1971 and set in the early 21st century. It doesn’t use much technology, but explores the relationship between Dr. Huber and George Orr. It seemed to be an allegory for the silver bullet that technology is always promising. In this way, Dr. Huber keeps trying to create his version of Utopia, but cannot succeed, as he encounters problems, getting closer at each attempt.
The book is sprinkled with allusions to 1984. It is clear the initial setting is strongly influenced by this work. It was fun watching for what might appear.
The Lathe of Heaven is a short and fairly quick read that can be quite thought provoking.