The Lathe of Heaven

The Lathe of Heaven, by U. K. le Guin.

Re-read again, and something really caught my eye this time. Dr. Haber's perspectives are typical scientist attitudes -- in particular, the desire to stand outside of a system and observe/manipulate it fully, which is completely impossible -- and thus his failures and frustrations are those quintessential scientist failures and frustrations. Where do the ends justify the means, if ever? Nothing ever is neat and orderly, dammit! Life never starts over, fresh. If-only, if-only, if-only.

The Dancers of Arun

"In which a scholar learns the twin arts of love and war."

The Dancers of Arun, by Elizabeth A. Lynn.

I have an old copy, and for no reason just had to haul out and read it Sunday. I think I always identified with Kerris, who was the fantasy novel equivalent, in many ways, of a Total Geek™ DoA is the second book in a trilogy that isn't really a trilogy. It' s not a sequel, just set in the same universe, a few generations later.