The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. LeGuinn is probably the most highly acclaimed work of science fiction and deals with a man that has something he refers to as "effective dreams" which are dreams that make what he is dreaming happen. If that isn't bad enough (like the time he accidentally killed his flirtatious Aunt) he comes under the care of a Mad Scientist of a psychiatrist that decides to use him to change the world! I didn't know what "lathe" meant when I rented the movie so I looked it up. It means a turning wheel. For instance the ones potters and machinists use to shape clay, wood or metal into any object they choose. The quote above was spoken by an advanced extraterrestial.