Reviews

The Variable Man: A Science Fiction Novella by Philip K. Dick

laplaine's review against another edition

2.0

This short piece brought me back to my days of reading Asimov and Bradbury as a kid. I had forgotten how much I like these campy "futuristic" stories and like imagining just how the author envisioned the future turning out like this.

krishl's review against another edition

4.0

First ~half excellent, then bogged down in battle etc.

masyukun's review against another edition

3.0

Enjoyable short story. SPOILERS AHEAD:


Not entirely believable, since the story's predicated on a random tinkerer from the past being able to solve the far future's biggest technological challenges. Human reactions unreasonable too: the man from the past should have become "the man with one eye in the kingdom of the blind": king, but it always seemed he was barely holding on.

jokoloyo's review against another edition

4.0

I admit I have only read a few of PKD's works. But from my very limited experience, after I read The Variable Man, I think this one should be read by general readers, not only by PKD's fans or SF fans. And we can get this story in Gutenberg site. :)

This story is short, has a really excellent sci-fi plot twist (I already said too much here), and has some PKD's standard troupes.

Spoiler

Such as: time travel, prediction the future, war/weapon race against Alpha Centauri people, cat-and-mouse-chasing plot.

And I found one pleasant surprise in this story. I put spoiler for anyone people who want to strictly read it all by yourself. I just can't help myself not mentioning it on my review, but don't worry I won't spoil the details:

Spoiler

I was so surprised finding this story had one of the most happy ending compared to other PKD's fictions that I have ever read.

alyssaarch's review against another edition

dark medium-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? Yes

3.5

eininthebird's review against another edition

3.0

Overduidelijk een verhaal dat sterk beïnvloed is door de koude oorlog en dat de nadruk legt op vrede boven vechten. Vind het wel een beetje ongeloofwaardig dat een man uit 1914 beter zou weten hoe hij als mechanicus iets in elkaar zou moeten zetten dan iemand uit 2100, zeker als het gaat om de techniek van de toekomst. Maar misschien heeft dat met het moraal van het verhaal te maken? Omdat Cole niet gecorrumpeerd is door oorlog?
Leuk dat aan het eind een anarchistische staat wordt geopperd. Dick is in dit verhaal kritisch over macht. Verder ook thema's als specialisatie vs generalisatie van kennis en hoe we vertrouwen op techniek als een soort orakel, een soort god die de toekomst kan voorspellen.

vladdbad's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

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

4.25

theelleintheroom's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting.

sallysimply's review against another edition

5.0

Sometimes I forget how much I love Philip K. Dick, and then I read something great and fall in love again. It's always hard to resist the urge to figure out what twist might happen at the end, but I didn't see this one coming, which made it even more satisfying.