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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I happened to be watching the film, The Adjustment Bureau, which prompted me to pick this short story up. And it's a chilling story -- there are times when I've wondered if chance events like spilling your coffee, or missing the bus, or finding 50 cents, are actually not chance encounters, but events that work together to create a ripple-effect to cause certain things to happen -- in other words, every event, from the smallest to the largest, happens according to some unseen plan/structure. A world of determinism where human free-will/autonomy is quite nonexistent, since even our impulses/thoughts/actions are predicted.
The creepiest part for me was that the Adjustment Team (the Clerks, the Summoners, the Old Man) are alluding to angels/God/Heaven. I was once religious, and the thought of a technocratic Heaven/God/angel is kind of chilling, since it seems to be the antithesis of peace/love/warmth, etc.
But anyway, this was such a fantastic read.
The creepiest part for me was that the Adjustment Team (the Clerks, the Summoners, the Old Man) are alluding to angels/God/Heaven. I was once religious, and the thought of a technocratic Heaven/God/angel is kind of chilling, since it seems to be the antithesis of peace/love/warmth, etc.
But anyway, this was such a fantastic read.
Adjustment Team was the first Philip K. Dick story I read. I went through this quick story in preparation for the movie. The setting and characterization was sparse, but I gather that's the norm for a Philip K. Dick short story. I couldn't help thinking of scenes in Dark City when I read about the adjustment hours. I probably would have liked this story better if I hadn't known what it was about.
Too short..
Even though the story is very brief, it is quite mind-bending.
The idea that hidden manipulators controlling our lives is the main focus of the story.
The lack of free will and the existence of a Plan for every person or a global master Plan is unbearably poignant and there are multiple ways of interpreting and develop upon that idea: fate, destiny, religion, true love?
Who was adjusting the adjustment team and the Old Man?
Also, the talking dog - really?!
Our methods may seem strange and indirect. Even incomprehensible. But I assure you we know what we're doing.
Even though the story is very brief, it is quite mind-bending.
The idea that hidden manipulators controlling our lives is the main focus of the story.
The lack of free will and the existence of a Plan for every person or a global master Plan is unbearably poignant and there are multiple ways of interpreting and develop upon that idea: fate, destiny, religion, true love?
Who was adjusting the adjustment team and the Old Man?
Also, the talking dog - really?!
Our methods may seem strange and indirect. Even incomprehensible. But I assure you we know what we're doing.
Eh. This was just kind of strange. And I actually didn't really care for Phil Gigante's audio version. I normally enjoy his stuff, but this short story just didn't do it for me.
Ok I just watched the movie (I love Matt Damon) and the short story just didn't live up to the movie. But still a worthwhile read!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dick's story crescendos into a simple, thoughtful scene explaining one version of the relationship between people and their puppeteer.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Adjustment_Team
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Adjustment_Team
YEAH. If only the movie was this good.
"You summoned too late. We won't get A Friend with a Car. There's no telling what will come instead."
"You summoned too late. We won't get A Friend with a Car. There's no telling what will come instead."
I read this in preparation for the film. I found it fun, and a little weird. I still left wanting a little bit more though.
It was interesting to read the story after seeing the movie based on the story. I think the movies a much more flushed-out version of the story and there are some issues with this story. Over all I liked it and thought it was interesting the way the life insurance salesman and the vacuum cleaner salesmen were used to affect the plot.