Science Fiction Books > T Science Fiction Books > Philip K. Dick

Advantages: fascinating
Disadvantages: confusing

...is probably best known to the world at large for having writen the books that 'Bladerunner', 'Total Recall' and 'Minority report' were based on. It would be fair to say that none of these films really do credit to the author's mad, disturbing genius. I will say now that if you like your reality dependable, predictable and to be exactly where you thought you left it, then Philip K Dick is not for you. Equally, if you like indepth explorations of gadgets, ...
...of science fiction. The story. Herb Asher has emigrated to earth. He lives on a distant planet where he spends most of his time listening to a computer designed singer - Linda Fox (you may draw comparisons with our music industry.) Asher lives alone in a dome on a small mountain. The previous occupant, Yah, a deity is still living there and occupies himself by wiping tapes and making strange noises. In the next dome is a woman called Rybys, who is ... Read review

Advantages: Good concept
Disadvantages: Poorly executed

...as much that lies in the category of Art > Modern Art > British can be summarised in just a few words ("dead shark in liquid"), so much in the way of Fiction > Science Fiction > Alternate Worlds/Realities can be described in a similarly short way. In the case of The Man in the High Castle, it would be "WW2 ended the other way round". But just as we might like also to know what liquid, how the shark is portrayed, the dimensions of the tank, etc, ...
...this case, it would be the following. Japan and The Nazis managed to win the second world war, and as a result became the super-powers. The Germans have ploughed on ahead with those new-fangled plastics, and now the world is littered with Lufthansa skyways, rocketing people around the globe in minutes. They also have the monopoly on the rest of the solar system too, von Braun (presumably) getting all the industrialists out there and bringing all ... Read review

Advantages: Fast paced. Clearly written. Fairly short novel.
Disadvantages: None other than Dick is dead.

...I am currently taking the reigns from Lori for a day or so. She wanted me to write an opinion on Philip K. Dick, and so here I am. Master of the Dystopian future landscape, (ala the movies, "BLADERUNNER" and "TOTAL RECALL" which were both based on Philip K. Dick stories) THE MAN WHO JAPED sees Philip K. Dick at his dark humoured best. Amongst the crowded urbanized landscape of a distant planet, in a now stellar wide commercial earth empire, THE ...
...almost Quizotic character tilting at the "windmills" of a sterile society that has taken politics of contemporary "gated communities" and set their petty restrictions in legislation. In a universe where, literally, personal space is a luxury that few can afford, apartments are now computer controlled to remodel a single living area as kitchen/bedroom/living space. The ultimate accolade a citizen can achieve is permission to return to, and settle ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting ideas and story, may appeal to non-sci-fi fans
Disadvantages: Bit dated (set in 2002)

The World Jones Made was the second of Philip K. Dick's sci-fi novels, originally published in 1956, and, coincidentally, the second I read. While he's undoubtedly best known for his later Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - the novel which became the film Blade Runner - I can't comment on his progression as a writer, merely what I thought of this book. I do know enough of Dick's work to know that the near-future ...
...war that only ended in the early 1980s (there are a few passing mentions of Hitler, Nazis - who were no doubt very much in Dick's mind in 1956 - but it's unclear whether this war was an extended WWII or a separate event). The radiation produced many freaks and mutants, but perhaps more significant was the political change. The entire planet is now ruled by Fedgov (federal government) according to the dictates of Hoff's Relativism. Reasoning that ... Read review

Advantages: Everything is turned upside down.
Disadvantages: Violent in places!

The All Star ranges of comics that have been released by DC on a monthly basis are something completely different to that of the normal comic run that DC publishes. These are totally separate to the normal line of monthly publications from DC and are giving some well known characters a little bit of a reboot and re-programming. They are also treated in a manner that some would say that they take place in a parallel universe or some would say that ...
...His style of build for all the male characters are tall and muscular with the obligatory quaffed hair style, in fact all the male heroes look big, the females are drawn as sexy and curvy and are on a equal footing with their male counterpart when it comes to fighting. The look suits the characters well and get the point across that Batman is a determined man with what he does. In my mind All Star Batman and Robin is a very good example of how the ... Read review