Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
I should have reviewed this book before I watched the series two years ago (and then again last year with a friend), because although I think I have them separated in my mind, I can't be sure because memory is never 100% reliable and our brains just make shit up (it's proven). In any case, the book is definitely a classic, and I am speaking as a person who really doesn't like the alternate history genre. I only read this book because I only mildly liked a couple of other books he wrote, like [b:Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|36402034|Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|Philip K. Dick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507838927l/36402034._SY75_.jpg|830939] and [b:Martian Time-Slip|697251|Martian Time-Slip|Philip K. Dick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1426354158l/697251._SY75_.jpg|802401] and I wanted to give him one more chance because he's this well-regarded writer. This was way better than those for sure.
Unlike the series, which adds a whole lot that isn't in the book (and is a big improvement on the story, I think), [b:The Man in the High Castle|216363|The Man in the High Castle|Philip K. Dick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1448756803l/216363._SY75_.jpg|2398287] is barely more than a novella, and it focuses on the characters, who aren't quite as upright as the ones in the series. There is no happiness in this alternate world: the US is a defeated country, the economy is crappy, and everyone just tries to make ends meet. But then someone publishes a book, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, which is about how the Allies really won WW2. In other words, there is an alternate history novel within this alternate history novel, though that alternate history is not our history either. The author in the novel somehow got all this from the [b:The I Ching or Book of Changes|534289|The I Ching or Book of Changes|Unknown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406503668l/534289._SY75_.jpg|521797]. Nothing much really comes of this even after a character tracks down the author to explain it, and my interpretation was that maybe it is meant to be laying the seeds of hope to overthrow the Nazi and Japanese overlords in their future. There was supposed to be a sequel, which would have been nice of ol' Philip, but I guess he was pretty drug-addled -- like a lot of those beatnik and 60s era writers. Thanks, Dick, for leaving us hanging for the rest of eternity.
[b:The I Ching or Book of Changes|534289|The I Ching or Book of Changes|Unknown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406503668l/534289._SY75_.jpg|521797] (which I read and used in junior high but never saw any alternate history reveal itself to me) is an important part of the novel, there's a certain Eastern flavor to the story here and there and I guess Philip K. Dick was into that at the time -- like a lot of those beatnik and 60s era writers . But there is nothing like what happens in the series: transporting yourself physically into another reality -- namely, our reality. That is the one thing I hated about the series (which was otherwise excellent, I thought): introducing that mystical stuff which wasn't in the book.
Anyway, read this book if you like classics of sci-fi/alternate history. If not, I'd still recommend the series, which is very well-done. In fact, I'd recommend it more than the novel, so I guess this isn't a very great plug for the book after all. Do whatever you want....
Unlike the series, which adds a whole lot that isn't in the book (and is a big improvement on the story, I think), [b:The Man in the High Castle|216363|The Man in the High Castle|Philip K. Dick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1448756803l/216363._SY75_.jpg|2398287] is barely more than a novella, and it focuses on the characters, who aren't quite as upright as the ones in the series. There is no happiness in this alternate world: the US is a defeated country, the economy is crappy, and everyone just tries to make ends meet. But then someone publishes a book, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, which is about how the Allies really won WW2. In other words, there is an alternate history novel within this alternate history novel, though that alternate history is not our history either. The author in the novel somehow got all this from the [b:The I Ching or Book of Changes|534289|The I Ching or Book of Changes|Unknown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406503668l/534289._SY75_.jpg|521797]. Nothing much really comes of this even after a character tracks down the author to explain it, and my interpretation was that maybe it is meant to be laying the seeds of hope to overthrow the Nazi and Japanese overlords in their future. There was supposed to be a sequel, which would have been nice of ol' Philip, but I guess he was pretty drug-addled -- like a lot of those beatnik and 60s era writers. Thanks, Dick, for leaving us hanging for the rest of eternity.
[b:The I Ching or Book of Changes|534289|The I Ching or Book of Changes|Unknown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406503668l/534289._SY75_.jpg|521797] (which I read and used in junior high but never saw any alternate history reveal itself to me) is an important part of the novel, there's a certain Eastern flavor to the story here and there and I guess Philip K. Dick was into that at the time -- like a lot of those beatnik and 60s era writers . But there is nothing like what happens in the series: transporting yourself physically into another reality -- namely, our reality. That is the one thing I hated about the series (which was otherwise excellent, I thought): introducing that mystical stuff which wasn't in the book.
Anyway, read this book if you like classics of sci-fi/alternate history. If not, I'd still recommend the series, which is very well-done. In fact, I'd recommend it more than the novel, so I guess this isn't a very great plug for the book after all. Do whatever you want....
“The terrible dilemma of our lives. Whatever happens it is evil beyond compare. Why struggle then? Why choose? If all alternatives are the same…
Evidently we go on, as we always have. From day to day. At this moment we work against Operation Dandelion. Later on, at another moment, we work to defeat the police. But we cannot do it all at once; it is a sequence. An unfolding process. We can only control the end by making a choice at each step.
He thought. We can only hope. And try.”
Evidently we go on, as we always have. From day to day. At this moment we work against Operation Dandelion. Later on, at another moment, we work to defeat the police. But we cannot do it all at once; it is a sequence. An unfolding process. We can only control the end by making a choice at each step.
He thought. We can only hope. And try.”
After watching the Amazon movie of the same name, I was curious to find how closely it followed the book. To my surprise, very little of the book is in the movie. The plot is completely different. Only a few characters and events remain so, if you've seen the movie, read the book for another treat.
The background story, Nazi Germany and imperialist Japan have won WW II and vanquished the U.S. as well as its allies and have occupied the U.S., is well-formed and the plot of the book is fascinating and colorful until near the end when Dick focuses more on philosophy than story-telling. Of course, this philosophizing occurs from the beginning as characters mull their existence and its meaning, apart from history. As long as the story and the theory were side-by-side, Dick had a good book but when he dropped story for theorizing, he lost my interest. The latter part of the book was somewhat interesting but would have made a better conclusion had he continued the two, story and theory, in tandem.
The book deserves its accolades. I can't imagine a better story in this genre of alternative history. Dick masters the joint portrayal of history with current events and persons. I enjoyed the book for that reason.
The background story, Nazi Germany and imperialist Japan have won WW II and vanquished the U.S. as well as its allies and have occupied the U.S., is well-formed and the plot of the book is fascinating and colorful until near the end when Dick focuses more on philosophy than story-telling. Of course, this philosophizing occurs from the beginning as characters mull their existence and its meaning, apart from history. As long as the story and the theory were side-by-side, Dick had a good book but when he dropped story for theorizing, he lost my interest. The latter part of the book was somewhat interesting but would have made a better conclusion had he continued the two, story and theory, in tandem.
The book deserves its accolades. I can't imagine a better story in this genre of alternative history. Dick masters the joint portrayal of history with current events and persons. I enjoyed the book for that reason.
For me it was way better then "Blade runner"!
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel unfortunately was quite a let-down. I'm not particularly interested in alternative history, but I must admit Dick made his post-war world, in which Japan and Germany are the victors of World War II, quite convincing and intriguing.
But this world is only the backdrop for quite a rambling story mostly set in San Francisco, and featuring five different protagonists with only a very slight connection to each other or even the main events of the background story. None of these people is remotely interesting, and some portraits are on the verge of stereotyping. Moreover, many pages are wasted on a very uninteresting account on fake historical artifacts, the shop owner selling these, and a goldsmith forging these.
Two story ideas dominate the novel: the use of '[b:The I Ching or Book of Changes|534289|The I Ching or Book of Changes|Anonymous|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406503668l/534289._SY75_.jpg|521797]' and the appealing concept of an alternate history written in this alternate history, which describes a world more akin to ours.
More interesting even is Dick's writing style, which uses often a simplified English without articles as a new lingua franca in the occupied US. Towards the end of the book there are two very delirious passages in which Dick's more surreal writing style takes over. These are hard to follow, but are without doubt the most interesting pieces of prose in the entire novel. Yet these passages cannot save a book that scores much higher on ideas than on execution.
But this world is only the backdrop for quite a rambling story mostly set in San Francisco, and featuring five different protagonists with only a very slight connection to each other or even the main events of the background story. None of these people is remotely interesting, and some portraits are on the verge of stereotyping. Moreover, many pages are wasted on a very uninteresting account on fake historical artifacts, the shop owner selling these, and a goldsmith forging these.
Two story ideas dominate the novel: the use of '[b:The I Ching or Book of Changes|534289|The I Ching or Book of Changes|Anonymous|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406503668l/534289._SY75_.jpg|521797]' and the appealing concept of an alternate history written in this alternate history, which describes a world more akin to ours.
More interesting even is Dick's writing style, which uses often a simplified English without articles as a new lingua franca in the occupied US. Towards the end of the book there are two very delirious passages in which Dick's more surreal writing style takes over. These are hard to follow, but are without doubt the most interesting pieces of prose in the entire novel. Yet these passages cannot save a book that scores much higher on ideas than on execution.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Initial thoughts to be edited later!
Unique. So clever. Loved the concept of an alternative reality after WWII.
Enjoyed reading a genre that I didn’t think I’d liked and being blown away by the intelligent writing and wonderful style.
A bit jarring on the amount of racists elements that are targeted at so many types of people.
Didn’t expect it to end that way? Will need to look that up.
Unique. So clever. Loved the concept of an alternative reality after WWII.
Enjoyed reading a genre that I didn’t think I’d liked and being blown away by the intelligent writing and wonderful style.
A bit jarring on the amount of racists elements that are targeted at so many types of people.
Didn’t expect it to end that way? Will need to look that up.
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes