Reviews

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick

dreynoldsbook's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

My least favourite of the PKD novels I’ve read recently. The characters were flat and not really empathetic and it wasn’t as witty. Also, it didn’t make sense to me that Barney would feel the need to atone for not helping out Leo, especially as Leo’s experience apparently lasted a second of real time so he couldn’t have done anything anyway!

godofwar's review against another edition

3.0

I was hesitant to believe the hype around PKD, but I've only read one book of his and I'm ready to believe the hype. for his era, he was definitely a visionary, with intriguing mythology and effortless worldbuilding - I hardly struggled to understand the history and terminology, which is typically where hard scifi tends to suffer. there's definitely some problematic elements re: racism and misogyny that's hard to overlook, which is why I'd given it a 3 instead of 4, but it wasn't unexpected (it's just sad that so many decades later scifi still embodies the same problematic elements of a book written in the 60s). beyond that, there's little I have to complain about. and finally knowing the source to which del Toro paid homage in The Strain really makes me appreciate The Strain even more

indium's review against another edition

4.0

Very interesting ideas discussed in lots of depth, but a little chaotic at times verging on incoherent. Intense and engaging, particularly in the second half.

trammy's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

angie_dutton's review against another edition

5.0

Phillip K Dick is the gift that just keeps on giving.

I was pretty disappointed with the VALIS books I've read so far, not because they are bad but because people say they are soooo crazy and insane... but to me they weren't, they were just political literature with a spiritual bent. I'd still not read any truly "crazy and insane" Phillip K Dick books... I'd not felt warped yet... but after Palmer Eldritch I finally felt warped, the last quarter or so of this book is unputdownable. It's like Being John Malkovitch meets Independence Day. Highly recommend this one to really see how complex and odd Dick can be.

daines's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

idiosigil's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

sj_books's review against another edition

4.0

Really interesting yet trippy

urikastov's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jeffcass's review against another edition

4.0

Oh my, this was a weird one. Philosophical fiction at its best. Not one for the faint-hearted. This novel left me feeling utterly defeated, but is nonetheless unique and a must read for the genre.