REMEMBERING URSULA K. LE GUIN - "THE LATHE OF HEAVEN"

From the Los Angeles Times:

Acclaimed science-fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin died Monday in her hometown of Portland, Ore., her agent confirmed. Le Guin was 88.

Although best known for her science fiction — particularly the Earthsea series — Le Guin was a creative, curious writer whose more than two dozen books encompassed fiction, poetry, essays, criticism, children's books, works of translation, fantasy and even blogging.

Le Guin was born Oct. 21, 1929, [and] raised in Berkeley.  [She] got her undergraduate degree at Radcliffe followed by a master's degree at Columbia in French and Italian literature and then earned a Fulbright scholarship that took her to France. It was there that she met her husband, Charles Le Guin. Together they settled in Portland, Ore. 

Le Guin published her first book, "Rocannon's World," in 1966. It was followed in 1968 by "A Wizard of Earthsea," a fantasy novel that cemented her reputation and launched her most famous series, which ultimately included six books.

"I love concrete facts, whether they're real or invented," she told The Times in 1985. "Part of the grip of fantasy is the day-to-day realism of the story."

Le Guin was awarded the 1972 National Book Award for children's literature for "The Farthest Shore." In her speech, given at the 1973 award ceremony, she used her time to emphasize the seriousness of science fiction and fantasy. "Sophisticated readers are accepting the fact that an improbable and unmanageable world is going to produce an improbable and hypothetical art," she said. "At this point, realism is perhaps the least adequate means of understanding or portraying the incredible realities of our existence."

(Edited from the obituary by Carolyn Kellogg)

Ms. Le Guin died just thirteen days after the 38th anniversary of the TV premiere of the adaptation of one of her most famous books, "The Lathe of Heaven." It was on PBS and showed the cheapjack production values inherent in the fictional programs they cobbled together in the past.  

It was wonderful.

From the IMDb:
George Orr, a man whose dreams can change waking reality, tries to suppress this unpredictable gift with drugs. Dr. Haber, an assigned psychiatrist, discovers the gift to be real and hypnotically induces Mr. Orr to change reality for the benefit of mankind --- with bizarre and frightening results.
- Will Briggsh

Because of their limited resources, desperation and imagination combined forces to bring that world created in George Orr’s mind to life.  But what really sold its believability were the top-knotch performances of the two leads.  Bruce Davison was almost angelic with his simple nature, while Kevin Conway displayed a devilish glee in trying to make a more perfect world through “Jorjor”.

There was a later adaptation in 2002. Higher production values.  High-powered cast.  And still the earlier production exceeds it.  If you're interested in seeing that, it is currently available on YouTube.  But I'm showcasing the 1980 version as I feel it most closely adheres to what Ms. Le Guin had envisioned.

We’ll begin with the trailer:

And now… for the main event:

Jorjor and Dr. Haber are two literary characters whom I’d like to have seen interact with the Doctor.  How would the Time Lord have handled the chaos which manifested in George’s mind?  Probably he’d have to go back to the beginning and stop the problem from happening in the first place.  And where’s the sport in that?

No, I think this TV adaptation has to take place in its own Toobworld, like so many episodes of ‘The Twilight Zone’.  And it would have to be a world in which there is no incarnation of the Doctor.

Thank you, Ursula K. Le Guin, for creating that world of wonder and sharing it with us.  Good night and may Ged bless…..