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Sun 22 Jan, 2017 01:18 am
Wikipedia
The Man in the High Castle (1962) is an alternative history novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. Set in 1962, fifteen years after an alternative ending to World War II, the novel concerns intrigues between the victorious Axis Powers—Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy—as they rule over the former United States, as well as daily life under the resulting totalitarian rule. The Man in the High Castle won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1963.
Reported inspirations include Ward Moore's alternative Civil War history, Bring the Jubilee (1953), various classic World War II histories, and the I Ching (referred to in the novel). The novel features a "novel within the novel" comprising an alternate history within this alternate history wherein the Allies defeat the Axis (though in a manner distinct from the actual historical outcome).
I have not read this book, but I recall a time when it was making the rounds. I think I will look for a copy.
I was a sci-fi fan from about 1960 approximately. My uncle was a fan, and he had hundreds of pulp magazines and paperback novels. The first Phil Dick novel I read was Time Out of Joint around 1962. There was always something different about his books and stories. His reputation has grown and grown. I am sure you will enjoy The Man in the High Castle. I believe it has recently been made into a TV series. I suggest you read the book first!
An interesting feature of The Man in the High Castle is an "alternate history" novel, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy by "Hawthorne Abendsen", which several of the characters read.
@centrox,
I don't think the TV series has too much bearing on the novel. It's way too long for a start. My favourite Philip K Dick novel is
The Three Stigmata Of Palmer Eldrich but I also liked
Ubik and
The Transmigrations Of Timothy Archer.
They're all bloody good though.
Another alternative history book is this one.
I liked Ubik (well, I like all of his books) and I think the last books (more or less) that he wrote, the VALIS concept books, are worth reading. Radio Free Albemuth (written 1976 published after his death in 1982) and the VALIS trilogy: VALIS (1978), The Divine Invasion (1980), and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer (1982).
@centrox,
Some of his non SF books are good. I liked
The Man Whose Teeth were All Exactly Alike about a Piltdown man type con in middle America.
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