_dilliam_william 's review for:

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick

3.75

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was my favourite book when I was like 16. And upon rereading it I see why I liked it so much whilst also finding something different in this story! Despite the flaws in this book and its attitudes, that are more apparent to me than ever, I really enjoyed reading this.

The idea of being and unperson I would argue is one of the most interesting in the book

. There’s just so much to explore through this novels depiction of information. The feeling of being completely unable to stop producing points of information for the government is really interesting and quite scary that this is framed as a dystopia yet feels more familiar to our modern day (I know that’s the point but still).

I also just like Dick’s strange and manic fears seeping into the narrative. He depicts a world in which all the forces of social corruption are turned to an 11 (police, drugs, sex, media, etc). It’s just so overwhelming and so beautifully described that it’s almost like sublime. There just seems to be these huge tidal forces that everyone is swept around by.

My main problem with this book obviously is the backwards attitudes reflected in the book. Some of this works alongside the idea that Jason is a terrible person and therefore would be sexist and racist. But a lot of it just seems to be Dick’s own biases coming to the surface. This element is probably what sinks the novel most for me. Despite my love for the fantastic style and the really interestingly constructed characters. 

My final point is that Dick doesn’t know how to write endings. We all have our downsides and this is his. Additionally, I did really like the final ‘scene’ before the epilogue, other how it is undermined by the fact that we (as readers) didn’t get enough time with the police chief, also the guy he meets (even after saying his name!) is constantly referred to as ‘the black man’.

In all, despite its flaws, I think this is one of the sci-fi novels that has sparked my own imagination the most. There are so many quotes in this book that I find memorable and it sits alongside my favourite books in the genre, flaws and all.