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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
What an odd story. Which is saying something I guess, given that this is Philip K Dick. But after being frustrated by Valis, I am back on firmer ground as this feels like a proper story. Although with a bit of a disappointing solution somehow, rather like those murder mysteries that are so great to read until the last section when they explain it all away, and you're just left there sitting, oh, how dull. I wouldn't say the explanation here is dull, only a bit... I don't know, almost randomly thrown in.
But then this is a story that starts out as very, very normal and things start getting strange. Ragle Gumm lives with his sister and family in 1950s America. He doesn't have a traditional job, but makes his money entering (and winning) a daily competition in a newspaper guessing where the little green man will next appear. The neighbours often come over to eat or play cards. Then the random, odd little strange things happen. Ragle's brother-in-law goes in to a dark room and goes to pull the light cord. Except there's never been a light cord. Then the son goes playing in a ruined part of town and comes back with an old telephone catalogue and magazines he found. And in one of the magazines there is an article about a film actress, Marilyn Monroe, of whom no one has ever heard...
Ok, so these are the little signs that something isn't quite right. Seemingly this world is manufactured. Could it all be for Ragle's benefit? But why would anyone go to such lengths for one person? I'm not going to throw any spoilers in here. It gets a bit random and strange, and then, as I say, it's all explained and seems a bit... odd.
But then this is a story that starts out as very, very normal and things start getting strange. Ragle Gumm lives with his sister and family in 1950s America. He doesn't have a traditional job, but makes his money entering (and winning) a daily competition in a newspaper guessing where the little green man will next appear. The neighbours often come over to eat or play cards. Then the random, odd little strange things happen. Ragle's brother-in-law goes in to a dark room and goes to pull the light cord. Except there's never been a light cord. Then the son goes playing in a ruined part of town and comes back with an old telephone catalogue and magazines he found. And in one of the magazines there is an article about a film actress, Marilyn Monroe, of whom no one has ever heard...
Ok, so these are the little signs that something isn't quite right. Seemingly this world is manufactured. Could it all be for Ragle's benefit? But why would anyone go to such lengths for one person? I'm not going to throw any spoilers in here. It gets a bit random and strange, and then, as I say, it's all explained and seems a bit... odd.
Great story, like almost all of his; this time the writing didn't get in the way of enjoying the story.
Simply, it has been too long since I've read a PKD! Loved this one...may have to pick up another for March!
Neurotic also in its structure, this book lost my interest in a few places, though I've enjoyed many presented ideas that I wish would have led elsewhere or could have been better polished.
A good early and middle portion felt like a drag to read through, and while I can certainly admire the unconventional pacing and unwillingness to belong to sf labels, it does not always make for enjoyable storytelling in this case.
Captivating at parts and underwhelming in multiple spots, it still contains a relevant and applicable lesson: keep alive your own reality of the world. Though it would be best to hold a balance and align it with the reality of things to avoid being delusional and neurotic, bombarded and overwhelmed by the blunt of life, or continuously thrusted back and forth whenever you are exposed to a reality you have not sheltered in.
A good early and middle portion felt like a drag to read through, and while I can certainly admire the unconventional pacing and unwillingness to belong to sf labels, it does not always make for enjoyable storytelling in this case.
Captivating at parts and underwhelming in multiple spots, it still contains a relevant and applicable lesson: keep alive your own reality of the world. Though it would be best to hold a balance and align it with the reality of things to avoid being delusional and neurotic, bombarded and overwhelmed by the blunt of life, or continuously thrusted back and forth whenever you are exposed to a reality you have not sheltered in.
I really enjoyed this well known sci-fi classic. Although on the shorter side, the author still managed to create a captivating story. A strong 4 star read.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Time Out of Joint - Philip K. Dick's novel about what happens when the world fails to adhere to a fixed, predictable set of natural laws, when how you perceive profoundly influences and changes what you perceive. For, as philosopher George Berkeley stated in 1710, “to be is to be perceived”.
So, what am I to make of this PKD novel I listened to on audible, the book I see reviewed many times over here on Goodreads? I ask since, when I picked up the actual book, the entire story was different beginning in Chapter Three. Instead of Ragle Gumm shaving himself in the bathroom mirror, Ragle must deal with six Little Green Men who take him to Mars where he meets Bishop Berkeley himself. When Ragle asks Berkeley if he's dreaming or if this is true reality, George answers, “The only things we perceive are our perceptions.” And when Ragle presses him for clarification, the good Bishop replies, “A ray of imagination or of wisdom may enlighten the universe, and glow into remotest centuries.”
The book gets weirder and weirder, with references to House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. I'd be happy to include more detail but I strongly suspect the book you yourself will read with not be the book I see in front of me, the one I read, a book entitled Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick. However, I must admit I was given a warning right on the front cover, a warning telling me this Dick is “A Novel of Menace”. Whoever wrote that wasn't joking.
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book tells us a lot about Philip K. Dick’s brain and ways of thinking I think.
I enjoyed reading it and read it quite fast because of this but I agree with the afterword written by Lou Stathis in 1984 that the reveal sort of dulls the build-up and feels dissatisfying as the least interesting part of the book. But also I don’t know how much I agree with what I’m saying here.. maybe intellectually the least interesting part because the world revealed is sort of ridiculous and feels hammy and unnecessary but I suppose I don’t think I thought that until I read the Afterword. So maybe I’m lying!
I spend a lot of time at work with people with psychosis (largely drug-induced, sometimes not), so weirdly find reading about psychosis to be quite annoying?? cos I maybe associate it with work? It’s crazy how well this book creates the feeling of psychosis and paranoia tho, Mr. Dick you truly were bonkers, God bless x
I enjoyed reading it and read it quite fast because of this but I agree with the afterword written by Lou Stathis in 1984 that the reveal sort of dulls the build-up and feels dissatisfying as the least interesting part of the book. But also I don’t know how much I agree with what I’m saying here.. maybe intellectually the least interesting part because the world revealed is sort of ridiculous and feels hammy and unnecessary but I suppose I don’t think I thought that until I read the Afterword. So maybe I’m lying!
I spend a lot of time at work with people with psychosis (largely drug-induced, sometimes not), so weirdly find reading about psychosis to be quite annoying?? cos I maybe associate it with work? It’s crazy how well this book creates the feeling of psychosis and paranoia tho, Mr. Dick you truly were bonkers, God bless x
