Iahklu’ is a word in the language spoken by the Aldebaranian Aliens Orr creates with one of his effective dreams. Iahklu’ has no direct English translation but seems to refer to the act of effective dreaming. Orr first encounters the word in one of his effective dreams, when an Alien gives him cryptic advice about what to do when his effective dreams become dangerous. Orr later asks an Alien named Tiua’k Ennbe Ennbe to define iahklu’ for him, but Tiua’k Ennbe Ennbe explains that the word is “incommunicable” and offers Orr the Beatles record “With a Little Help from My Friends” in an attempt to convey the essence of iahklu’ without language. That Tiua’k Ennbe Ennbe tries to teach Orr about iahklu’ with a song about friendship, love, and unity suggests that iahklu’ has something to do with beliefs about interconnectedness, universal balance, and compassion, which are essential to the Aliens’ philosophy of life on Earth and in the dream world.
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Iahklu’ Term Timeline in The Lathe of Heaven
The timeline below shows where the term Iahklu’ appears in The Lathe of Heaven. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8
...and compliments his EEG machine, speculating that the device might convey that “the individual-person is iahklu’.” The Alien asks if all humans are “capable of iahklu’,” but Haber doesn’t understand what...
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Chapter 9
...Orr’s name in their language. The Alien tells Orr that he’s a “human capable of iahklu’,” which “troubles self.” It continues, speaking cryptically of Aliens being disturbed as well, of “concepts...
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Chapter 10
The Alien shopkeeper greets Orr. Orr asks the Alien if he can define “iahklu’” for him. The Alien pauses a moment before explaining that this word is “incommunicable” in...
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...looks like a Buddha. After he pays, he asks Ennbe if it’s possible to control iahklu’. Ennbe struggles to speak in terms Orr will understand. Finally, he walks away and returns...
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Orr asks Haber if he knows what “iahklu’” means. Haber doesn’t. Orr tells Haber it would be wise to talk to an Alien...
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