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neonskylite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Also I could give a 30 minute presentation about the many covers of this book
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Antisemitism and War
Minor: Slavery
one_womanarmy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
In the alternate timeline that serves as a spine, Franklin D. Roosevelt was assassinated in Miami in 1933 and the New Deal never got off the drawing board. After victory in Europe and the Pacific, Nazi Germany and Japan attacked the United States, ultimately dividing the U.S. in half, with the Rocky Mountains region a buffer zone between the superpowers. German technological superiority has drained the Mediterranean and converted it to farmland, while their moral depravity used atomic energy to unleash a holocaust on Africa. But reading this novel was like reading the dayplanner of a middle manager: thought provoking at times but terribly dull with little motivation or context for characters behind their immediate surroundings (and prejudices).
My rather middling rating reflects the fact that this is a slow and technical novel. It is not a particularly emotionally-engaging novel. Dick focuses on the politics and technicalities of the world, never developing much of a connection between the reader and any of the large cast of characters. My brain was impressed, and I'm glad I read it, but my heart wasn't really feeling it.
Graphic: War, Antisemitism, Genocide, and Xenophobia
damesies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Slavery
jstilts's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Once you have read this book, I highly recommend you seek out an interview with the author "Vertex Interview with Philip K. Dick" which will give you further insights into the nature of this books relationship to the I Ching. Also, look up "Atlantropa" on Wikipedia, it's in relation to a minor and what seemed to be a somewhat fantastical note in the book, but was actually something genuinely planned by the Nazis.
Moderate: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Antisemitism, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Colonisation
Minor: Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Police brutality
butlerebecca's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Death
Moderate: Slavery, Genocide, War, and Toxic relationship
blackberryjambaby's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Ableism, Classism, Colonisation, Genocide, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexism, Body shaming, Racial slurs, War, Slavery, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
fluffywhiskers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Antisemitism
Minor: War and Police brutality
raxus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Racism, and Genocide
Moderate: Slavery and Sexual content
axeles's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: War, Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Transphobia
racheybee77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, and Xenophobia