Scan barcode
mbwatson20's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
meatballhead02's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jurassicreads's review against another edition
4.0
Philip K. Dick presents a world where World War II has a different ending, and thus the world is changed, marred. Germany and Japan rule the majority of the United States; Japan controls the western coast (titled the Pacific States of America), and Germany controls the east until about the Rocky Mountains. History has been shifted, racial inequality and racial purging are at an all time high (both inside and outside of the U.S.).
This novel is political and dangerous. Within it, characters read a novel that depicts a world that is far closer to the truth (i.e. Japan and Germany lose WWII). For obvious reasons, this is a banned book, but it does not halt its spreading throughout all parts of the nation.
This book follows several characters - Frank, Juliana, Robert Childan, Mr. Tagomi, and Mr. Baynes - and the way this novel within a novel effects not only their political views of the current occupation, but their views from BEFORE WWII. If they'd had time to formulate opinions, who do they side with? Have they adjusted to the occupation, or do they intend to thrive better than before?
________________
I was recommended this book by a customer at a bookstore. He was an older gentleman and told me the general plot: the Nazis win WWII, alternate history fiction. This summary is an understatement. I was constantly blown away by Dick's ability to not only pull you into each scene, but make you feel like you are TRULY in the 1960s. There is true tension in this novel, among all races - Japanese, Germans, and whites (in this case, Americans - there is a distinction in the novel, not by my own judgement). The dialogue is interestingly clipped in the western (Japanese) portion of the United States in an interesting touch of detail that allows you to see that the culture has truly become more Japan-ified by the ~20-year occupation.
Following several characters, you become invested in what they are invested in: who do they love? Who do they want to kill? What do they believe in, despite it seeming foolish? I did find myself straying from one character in particular: Juliana. She is a strong woman, physically and emotionally, but throughout the novel she becomes far more emotionally wrecked and unclear than it seems necessary. The novel ends with her point of view, and truly the only reason I did not give this novel a 5/5 stars...
When I came to the last two pages, I realized there was no real ending. There are a few sentences that seem like they are an 'answer' as to what is really going on, but there is no real conclusion. Almost in a romance novel sort of way, we are given closure about something Juliana wants to do BEYOND the end of the novel, but the huge questions she asks at the end are left ultimately unanswered.
I still have answers.... Is there some sort of time paradox? Is this purely a work of fiction within fiction, and the ending has no real meaning? I looked into some theories online, but I don't quite agree with them.
I gave this book 4/5 stars because I don't believe it ends.... Not in the sense that it has a cliffhanger, but because it spits out an answer at the end, but it is only words and has no real weight behind them because it could not be concluded truly. **I may look into author interviews (if there are any) to see if Philip K. Dick actually makes note of this anywhere.**
This novel is political and dangerous. Within it, characters read a novel that depicts a world that is far closer to the truth (i.e. Japan and Germany lose WWII). For obvious reasons, this is a banned book, but it does not halt its spreading throughout all parts of the nation.
This book follows several characters - Frank, Juliana, Robert Childan, Mr. Tagomi, and Mr. Baynes - and the way this novel within a novel effects not only their political views of the current occupation, but their views from BEFORE WWII. If they'd had time to formulate opinions, who do they side with? Have they adjusted to the occupation, or do they intend to thrive better than before?
________________
I was recommended this book by a customer at a bookstore. He was an older gentleman and told me the general plot: the Nazis win WWII, alternate history fiction. This summary is an understatement. I was constantly blown away by Dick's ability to not only pull you into each scene, but make you feel like you are TRULY in the 1960s. There is true tension in this novel, among all races - Japanese, Germans, and whites (in this case, Americans - there is a distinction in the novel, not by my own judgement). The dialogue is interestingly clipped in the western (Japanese) portion of the United States in an interesting touch of detail that allows you to see that the culture has truly become more Japan-ified by the ~20-year occupation.
Following several characters, you become invested in what they are invested in: who do they love? Who do they want to kill? What do they believe in, despite it seeming foolish? I did find myself straying from one character in particular: Juliana. She is a strong woman, physically and emotionally, but throughout the novel she becomes far more emotionally wrecked and unclear than it seems necessary. The novel ends with her point of view, and truly the only reason I did not give this novel a 5/5 stars...
When I came to the last two pages, I realized there was no real ending. There are a few sentences that seem like they are an 'answer' as to what is really going on, but there is no real conclusion. Almost in a romance novel sort of way, we are given closure about something Juliana wants to do BEYOND the end of the novel, but the huge questions she asks at the end are left ultimately unanswered.
I still have answers.... Is there some sort of time paradox? Is this purely a work of fiction within fiction, and the ending has no real meaning? I looked into some theories online, but I don't quite agree with them.
I gave this book 4/5 stars because I don't believe it ends.... Not in the sense that it has a cliffhanger, but because it spits out an answer at the end, but it is only words and has no real weight behind them because it could not be concluded truly. **I may look into author interviews (if there are any) to see if Philip K. Dick actually makes note of this anywhere.**
gusbook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
neilmartin's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
What is real?
mborer23's review against another edition
2.0
I've been hearing for years how great this book is, and with the Amazon series out, I thought I'd finally give it a try. Big mistake. Alternate history is an iffy thing at best, and this just never worked for me. It only started picking up around the end, and I would have liked the science-fiction angle to be explored a bit more.
marsbars24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I feel unequipped to properly comment on the political theory payed out by PKD in this book, and feel his books more centered philosophy and the human condition in regards to technology are more effective than the more overt political science fiction in this book, but still solid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism
It discusses a possible future where the Nazis won. Clearly not a pro nazi book, I believe it is quite anti-facist, but discusses some pretty difficult topicszxcvbnmackie's review against another edition
2.0
The synopsis and conceptualised setting of the book showed incredible potential for a brilliant readable sci-fi piece. Arguably, it was well written as an alternative historical aftermath story, but there was no excitement, cliff hanging chapters or big unexpected twists. I felt myself acting sanguine throughout reading it, expecting the story to pick up and catch me off guard which it never did. It didn’t deliver as nearly as much as I had hoped.
aritrigupta's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first PKD, and wow, I was disappointed.
And I absolutely hate to admit that the series season 1 was better.
For a premise that could be so interesting, the story was, ultimately, going nowhere. I did not care for the characters, or their random plot lines. The verse was detached and erratic.
For me to enjoy any book, irrespective of its genre, I need to be emotionally invested in the story, and in the characters - but this turned out to be a shorter version of what I suppose was an elaborate saga in the author's mind. The book certainly needed more than what was written in it, for us to entirely grasp the impact of the alternate history.
[author:Philip K. Dick|4764] did try to build a believable world where the Axis powers ruled - however the story was just plain cold.
And I absolutely hate to admit that the series season 1 was better.
For a premise that could be so interesting, the story was, ultimately, going nowhere. I did not care for the characters, or their random plot lines. The verse was detached and erratic.
For me to enjoy any book, irrespective of its genre, I need to be emotionally invested in the story, and in the characters - but this turned out to be a shorter version of what I suppose was an elaborate saga in the author's mind. The book certainly needed more than what was written in it, for us to entirely grasp the impact of the alternate history.
[author:Philip K. Dick|4764] did try to build a believable world where the Axis powers ruled - however the story was just plain cold.