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djvuuu's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
tittypete's review against another edition
3.0
A bunch of dudes work at a TV repair shop in Berkeley. One of them is a phocomelus, which means he's born with no arms or legs because his ma took Thalidomide. There's a guy nearby who's going to therapy (Dr. Bloodmoney) because he feels bad for a atmospheric nuclear accident he may have caused a while back at Livermore. Also a married couple is being launched into space to colonize mars. This is the setting when some sort of nuclear exchange happens between USA, USSR and Red China. (To be clear Dr. Bloodmoney is the guy going to therapy, not the therapist.)
Then is fast forwards to the post apocalyptic future. The no-arms-no-legs-guy has superpowers to fix stuff and telekinesis things. Dr Bloodmoney thinks he caused the disaster with his mind and the couple in space is stuck in orbit. The wife actually commits suicide and the guy is just sitting up there playing old tapes and reading books to people listening on the radio below on earth. Everybody lives in Marin.
We also get to meet a girl who, because she was conceived during the most recent nuclear event, has her twin brother living inside her as an unborn fetus. The two of them talk and the fetus boy is telepathic with the deceased. Dogs can sort of talk now and rats are super smart.
Anyway some more explosions start happening and Dr. Bloodmoney thinks he caused them with his mind so the phocomelus guy telekinetically smashes him against some rocks and kills him. The rest of Marin is stoked by this until they realize the phocomelus guy is also trying to take over the books on tape radio guy in space. This is when the fetus boy switches bodies with the phocomelus guy, who's name is Hoppy BTW. Somehow the fetus body is outside the girl now and Hoppy can't survive in it and he's eaten by and owl, I think.
Yeah. It's a weird one. I think the guy in space was supposed to symbolize god. But I'm not super sure.
Anyway.
Dr Bloodmoney.
It got published.
Hold on to your dreams.
Then is fast forwards to the post apocalyptic future. The no-arms-no-legs-guy has superpowers to fix stuff and telekinesis things. Dr Bloodmoney thinks he caused the disaster with his mind and the couple in space is stuck in orbit. The wife actually commits suicide and the guy is just sitting up there playing old tapes and reading books to people listening on the radio below on earth. Everybody lives in Marin.
We also get to meet a girl who, because she was conceived during the most recent nuclear event, has her twin brother living inside her as an unborn fetus. The two of them talk and the fetus boy is telepathic with the deceased. Dogs can sort of talk now and rats are super smart.
Anyway some more explosions start happening and Dr. Bloodmoney thinks he caused them with his mind so the phocomelus guy telekinetically smashes him against some rocks and kills him. The rest of Marin is stoked by this until they realize the phocomelus guy is also trying to take over the books on tape radio guy in space. This is when the fetus boy switches bodies with the phocomelus guy, who's name is Hoppy BTW. Somehow the fetus body is outside the girl now and Hoppy can't survive in it and he's eaten by and owl, I think.
Yeah. It's a weird one. I think the guy in space was supposed to symbolize god. But I'm not super sure.
Anyway.
Dr Bloodmoney.
It got published.
Hold on to your dreams.
wrenarf's review against another edition
3.0
This is the Philip K Dickiest Philip K Dick book I've read so far. I waffle between 3 and 4 stars.
rschmidt7's review against another edition
4.0
A must-read for anyone interested in nuclear fiction or science fiction of the mid-to-late 20th century Cold War. This novel is weird as hell but then that's to be expected with Philip K. Dick, and the batshit crazy is part of the appeal. Chapter 5 is one of the most effective imaginings of a nuclear war from the point of view of a mid-1960s civilian that I've read in fiction.
For fans of the game series Fallout, you can see many of the origins of ideas and influences here. So if you enjoyed Fallout 4, you should read this book.
For fans of the game series Fallout, you can see many of the origins of ideas and influences here. So if you enjoyed Fallout 4, you should read this book.
da7id's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely the weakest PKD I've read. Had some really cool ideas, but the prose wasn't great, character development wasn't superb... it just felt too short but also a bit laborious to get through. A decent read but not up to snuff with the rest of his work that I've read.
ladyjedi's review against another edition
5.0
Weird and wonderful
It was a long time coming. Me reading P. K. Dick. And I loved this book. His portrayal of a postwar society, the microcosm and the macrocosm and the relationships. I recommend this book to everyone.
It was a long time coming. Me reading P. K. Dick. And I loved this book. His portrayal of a postwar society, the microcosm and the macrocosm and the relationships. I recommend this book to everyone.
bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
All the elements for a great PKD mindfuck are there, but it kind of dies on the vine.
doctorw0rm's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Murder, and War
Moderate: Ableism and Mental illness
Minor: Racism