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A review by michaelcoleallen
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was my introduction to PKD and it certainly has me hooked. The multiple narrators/split narrative allowed an experience of a high-power individual down to someone barely making it by with an alias to flesh out the world. Although, I felt that the cast of main characters might have benefited from paring down (I'm voting Reiss off, personally). And while worldbuilding was no doubt the strength of the novel, don't expect too many specifics on how the Axis powers won the war. What details there are about the government somewhat hinder the pacing of the plot. Also, keep a search engine handy for the references to Nazi figures and the occasional Japanese term.
The Man in the High Castle is more about how the realities of others come to influence and convince the individual of their own. That may be through history, government, media, social interactions, or even horoscopes. The scenes that explore this are doubtlessly where the novel has the most to say. This one is worth your time.
The Man in the High Castle is more about how the realities of others come to influence and convince the individual of their own. That may be through history, government, media, social interactions, or even horoscopes. The scenes that explore this are doubtlessly where the novel has the most to say. This one is worth your time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, Racial slurs, and Racism