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kerrygold's review against another edition
3.0
The Man Who Japed, published in 1956, is the third of Philip K. Dick’s novels, following Solar Lottery and The World Jones Made. The first two novels each give the impression that PKD stitched together loosely related ideas to create the overall story. It doesn’t mean that these books aren’t fun to read, though perhaps they are flawed artistically. What about the aliens in Solar Lottery, those responsible for the Flame Disc? What is the purpose of the Venusian subplot in The World Jones Made? And so on.
The Man Who Japed, on the other hand, has a single, unified plot line. Like the first two novels, other star systems are already inhabited, although the action takes place mostly on Earth; unlike the first two novels, there is no mention of aliens.
The Man Who Japed envisions the future Morec (Moral Reclamation) society, which arose after the wars that ended the Age of Waste—the latter presumably our own era. Morec enforces stifling moral correctness, in which those who fall short are denounced at block meetings reminiscent of 1984, though lacking the sense of horror and viciousness that comes through in 1984.
The main protagonist, Allan Purcell, stages practical jokes, or “japes,” against Morec, while at the same time being a powerful member of the Morec society and having key responsibly for its propaganda. PKD describes Purcell as conducting the japes in a kind of dream state, although I don’t think this adequately accounts for the split in Purcell’s personality.
The story ends with a grand Swiftian satire, with Purcell set to continue working to undermine Morec society.
PKD makes a very unusual use of language in The Man Who Japed. The book is written entirely in standard English, except where he puts the word “is” at the end of sentences in character dialogue, as in, “This unworthy is.” Why PKD does this, I do not know, but it interesting is!
Morec is a good choice of dystopian society, quite different from that of Solar Lottery or The World Jones Made, and the idea of japing to undermine Morec is fun. Nevertheless, there is something missing and something not quite believable. The Morec establishment, for example, should be a lot nastier and more ruthless than PKD portrays it. Perhaps the 1950’s, when the book was written, were more naive. Overall, however, The Man Who Japed does not strike me as one of PKD’s better novels.
The Man Who Japed, on the other hand, has a single, unified plot line. Like the first two novels, other star systems are already inhabited, although the action takes place mostly on Earth; unlike the first two novels, there is no mention of aliens.
The Man Who Japed envisions the future Morec (Moral Reclamation) society, which arose after the wars that ended the Age of Waste—the latter presumably our own era. Morec enforces stifling moral correctness, in which those who fall short are denounced at block meetings reminiscent of 1984, though lacking the sense of horror and viciousness that comes through in 1984.
The main protagonist, Allan Purcell, stages practical jokes, or “japes,” against Morec, while at the same time being a powerful member of the Morec society and having key responsibly for its propaganda. PKD describes Purcell as conducting the japes in a kind of dream state, although I don’t think this adequately accounts for the split in Purcell’s personality.
The story ends with a grand Swiftian satire, with Purcell set to continue working to undermine Morec society.
PKD makes a very unusual use of language in The Man Who Japed. The book is written entirely in standard English, except where he puts the word “is” at the end of sentences in character dialogue, as in, “This unworthy is.” Why PKD does this, I do not know, but it interesting is!
Morec is a good choice of dystopian society, quite different from that of Solar Lottery or The World Jones Made, and the idea of japing to undermine Morec is fun. Nevertheless, there is something missing and something not quite believable. The Morec establishment, for example, should be a lot nastier and more ruthless than PKD portrays it. Perhaps the 1950’s, when the book was written, were more naive. Overall, however, The Man Who Japed does not strike me as one of PKD’s better novels.
mcfade28's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this is my new favourite Philip K Dick novel. It's set in a dystopia society, where our lead character has a fairly senior role, producing propaganda. On the eve of him gaining a promotion, he seemingly takes leave of his senses and secretly vandalises a statue of a key political figure.
It felt very reminiscent of 1984 to me. It was interesting to see Purcell try to understand his own motivations while still progressing his career.
I usually think PKD is a good concept man who struggles with the execution but I really enjoyed this one. Maybe the fact it was a slightly shorter novel helped.
It felt very reminiscent of 1984 to me. It was interesting to see Purcell try to understand his own motivations while still progressing his career.
I usually think PKD is a good concept man who struggles with the execution but I really enjoyed this one. Maybe the fact it was a slightly shorter novel helped.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
2.0
PKD’s version of 1984. But too much of a social commentary with a science fiction setting as opposed to a science fiction novel with a message about societal mores. For a PKD book I didn’t find it all that entertaining nor prescient in a science fiction sense. Definitely not one of my favorites among his books.
zwwwp's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
johnayliff's review against another edition
3.0
An unremarkable early Philip K. Dick novel. The ideas are interesting but don't quite come together in a satisfying way. One can see the ghosts of better-known later works, in particular A Scanner Darkly, with the main character's half-unconscious double life.
kdog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jimmypat's review against another edition
4.0
A really enjoyable novel that has plenty to say about today's cancel culture. Enforced group think (ala Twitter woke mobs) and committees run by overzealous Karens are the backdrop to this early Dick novel about a man who tries to have a sense of humor in a very unfunny and unforgiving world.
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
An early book by Philip K. Dick--from the mid '50s--so not as complex and out there as some of his later stuff. Short and from the era but still chock full of some of his themes--repressed society, technology and how it is used to control the population, the power of media. Dick is one of the masters of science fiction so pretty much anything he's written is worth checking out.