misty_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Drug use
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia
jimmypat's review against another edition
2.0
I knew going in that this was not one of Dick's better novels, but even then it disappointed me. It was all a bit lackluster and familiar.
kilburnadam's review against another edition
5.0
Another awesome book by Philip K Dick. Still so many of his books to read. I'm so glad he was was such a prolific writer.
sepptb's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
shadowknight_79's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
david_agranoff's review against another edition
4.0
Recording the episode of Dickheads podcast soon. Excited to talk about it.
marissavu's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't my favorite PKD (it sits pretty low in the pack), but it's still PKD which means I had a ton of fun reading it. I'll list a few things I enjoyed.
- Wives criticizing their husbands in a manner described as 'wifewise' (lol)
- A gov organization called THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
- A world where alcohol is illegal (punishment is one year mandatory confinement without possibility of parole) but where drugs are legal and used casually;
- Society's equivalent to street pushers are pamphlet dealers, who pick up their goods from secret 'printing stations' and who tend to be volatile, aggressive, and abusive to their young girlfriends.
- Genderless police officers who have had all their sexual organs removed;
- more insights into Philip K Dick's wandering eye, infidelity, and his obsession with young black-haired girls;
- people who are so intellectually advanced they have huge bobbleheads and need neck braces;
- protoplasmic aliens who become fretful and anxious when humans do that weird sleep thing once every 24 hours, where our minds 'disintegrate' into deeper interior levels and we interact with archetypes and primordial entities we've never met. That IS kinda creepy when you think about it.
- A ship-encompassing alien who wants a pet dog when he reaches Earth because his analysis has shown him cats are insincere hypocrites.
These, and many more brilliant explosions of imagination, are why I love PKD's writing and why this book is still very good, even though it's not one of his greatest.
A deeper review/discussion will appear on the SFF Audio podcast where I join Jesse Willis and Paul Weimar to chat about this book. Will post the link when the episode drops.
*edit - Here it is! SFF Audio Episode 406
Long live Dick.
- Wives criticizing their husbands in a manner described as 'wifewise' (lol)
- A gov organization called THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
- A world where alcohol is illegal (punishment is one year mandatory confinement without possibility of parole) but where drugs are legal and used casually;
- Society's equivalent to street pushers are pamphlet dealers, who pick up their goods from secret 'printing stations' and who tend to be volatile, aggressive, and abusive to their young girlfriends.
- Genderless police officers who have had all their sexual organs removed;
- more insights into Philip K Dick's wandering eye, infidelity, and his obsession with young black-haired girls;
- people who are so intellectually advanced they have huge bobbleheads and need neck braces;
- protoplasmic aliens who become fretful and anxious when humans do that weird sleep thing once every 24 hours, where our minds 'disintegrate' into deeper interior levels and we interact with archetypes and primordial entities we've never met. That IS kinda creepy when you think about it.
- A ship-encompassing alien who wants a pet dog when he reaches Earth because his analysis has shown him cats are insincere hypocrites.
These, and many more brilliant explosions of imagination, are why I love PKD's writing and why this book is still very good, even though it's not one of his greatest.
A deeper review/discussion will appear on the SFF Audio podcast where I join Jesse Willis and Paul Weimar to chat about this book. Will post the link when the episode drops.
*edit - Here it is! SFF Audio Episode 406
Long live Dick.
sinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
5 stars for the cosmic chicken
Unfortunately I'm not into sci fi, you'd probably enjoy it more if sci fi or cyberpunk was in your lane.
Unfortunately I'm not into sci fi, you'd probably enjoy it more if sci fi or cyberpunk was in your lane.