The Lathe of Heaven

This was a short read, but very high intensity.

I read it years ago when I guess I was about 13, what I got then was an adventure story about a man called George whose dreams literally change reality [he's going slowly mad and is sent into therapy]. He meets up with a scientist [actually, his psychotherapist] who hypnotises him so that they can change anything they want. Pretty cool!

As a slightly older individual I got a whole different side to the story, a unsettling story that asks big questions as to our responsibility to others and the consequences of our actions. In the novel the therapist forces George to dream more and more utopian dreams in an effort to improve the world. George soon realises that every utopia has a price and questions his right to change things, while the doctor argues that those with the power to help others have no right to withhold that aid.

A short, thought provoking read from a great writer.