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What are readers saying about The Man in the High Castle?
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-04-11 03:55:43.
(Language: English)
 
Loose & open ended but interesting & scarily convincing.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-07 09:40:04.
(Language: Italian)
per me il libro piú bello di PK Dick, ed uno dei piú bei romanzi ucronici che abbia mai letto. Storie quotidiane in un mondo in cui l'Asse ha vinto la guerra. L'assunto è deboluccio, ma non assurdo (Roosevelt viene assassinato nel 1933; gli USA non riescono a superare la grande depressione e restano isolazionisti, quindi incapaci di prestare assistenza all'Inghilterra e di resistere all'avanzata giapponese). In italiano è "la svastica sul sole".
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-02 07:13:56.
(Language: English)
One of the first books to explore the idea of alternate history, this book looks at a world in which the Axis powers defeated the Allies. The US has been shared between Japan and Germany, with an autonomous zone and a Nazi puppet zone. Several loosely connected individuals are followed in this alternative reality in a lives without much hope.This book is very clever - one of the characters despises his Japanese superiors, but speaks and thinks in a very Japanese style, the horror of Nazism is obliquely referred to through the book and within the book there is another story in which the Allies did win the war (although with different results to that which we know).There are no tidy endings - just a lot to think about!
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-24 06:46:24.
(Language: English)
Dick clearly can't claim to have invented the alternate history genre, but I believe that this book really brought the concept to the forefront of science fiction. The Man in High Castle is certainly a thought-provoking, if somewhat uneven book. At times it seems that Dick is close to offering some profound insight into the human condition, but then the storyline meanders off into something that feels quite superficial. Still it's a quick read, with interesting characters and storyline. If found the enigmatic ending, which slips into a self-aware commentary on the role and interplay of The Author, The Reader and Reality to be a bit of a disappointment.Dick clearly can't claim to have invented the alternate history genre, but I believe that this book really brought the concept to the forefront of science fiction. The Man in High Castle is certainly a thought-provoking, if somewhat uneven book. At times it seems that Dick is close to offering some profound insight into the human condition, but then the storyline meanders off into something that feels quite superficial. Still it's a quick read, with interesting characters and storyline. If found the enigmatic ending, which slips into a self-aware commentary on the role and interplay of The Author, The Reader and Reality to be a bit of a disappointment.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-28 03:07:06.
(Language: English)
What do you expect from a book set in an alternate universe where the Axis won the second world war? Whatever it is, The Man in the High Castle, is far from it. It follows the lives of five main characters and a few minor ones in the Japanese occupied territory of the former united states. Childen is the proud owner of an antique shop that specialized in pre-war american memorabilia. Tagomi is a Japanese businessman who collects american memorabilia. Frank Frink is a Jew who workers at a company that builds fakes of ancient american memorabilia. His Ex-Wife, Juliana is a judo instructor who has an affair with an Italian truck driver. And finally Mr. Bynes, an agent of a resistance movement within the Reich who disguised as a wealthy Swedish industrialist. They affect each other's life from time to time, sometime even meet. But their stories are mostly separate. One of the things that tie the characters together is a book called "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy", which tells the story of an alternate history where the Allies won the war. The man issue of the book is reality and fake. it's a theme that runs through every character. Each are deceived or discover major parts of their life to be fake. It's an interesting book to say the least. And one that has interesting things to say on a political level as well as a personal one.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-06 04:38:48.
(Language: English)
The concept is brilliant. A world where the Axis powers won the war, Africa is wiped out and North America is divided between Germany and Japan. But as much as I wanted to like this book and this 'legendary' sci-fi writer, this book was just DULL! Another example of a classic people rave about that just isn't a good read. I tried to battle on with this book only to lose it over the past few days. Subconsciously, I think I was meant to lose it but maybe if I do find it (it might be in the parents car) I might battle on again in the hope it has a colourful ending. It can be intriguing in parts and as a history student, its hypothetical situation is interesting here and there. But I just loathe his writing style and how the novel mostly revolves around men in high places.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-19 11:34:12.
(Language: English)
while not as good as flow my tears, pkd did an excellent job on portraying the nightmarish world which we would live in if the axis had won WWII, with the reich and the japs dividing the world up. dick writes in a rather cold and almost mechanical manner, which portrays the machine-like, artificial civilization in the book. mr. tagomi's contact with the tao in chapter 14 is one of the greatest book passages i have ever read, not to mention the rest of the book was great too. i do understand the main theme of the book was the difference between real and fake, such as portrayed in the historicity of the american artifacts that the germans and japanese crave, but i dont quite understand how the two powers would be able to cover the truth that they lost the war and therefore control everyone with a simple lie. overall, though, this book was great. to make my rating more specific, i would give it an 8.9 out of 10.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-13 07:17:36.
(Language: English)
I’ve read this novel twice now, and still can’t say that I fully understand it. What stays with me are the wonderful characters, and the haunting and convincing alternate reality, with post WW2 America divided between the victorious Germans and Japanese. It’s a reality which feels shifting and unstable, and the sense that you never quite know what’s going on is reflected in the shifting viewpoints and the contrast between ‘authentic’ and ‘fake’ which presents in different layers of this complex novel. I love the way that the calm yet enigmatic instructions of the ‘I Ching’ (which several characters use to guide their decisions) is contrasted with the insane brutishness and hubris of the Nazis. And in Japanese-run San Francisco, every character is memorable and deeply human, especially the unforgettably ordinary Mr Tagomi. The moment when two worlds collide and he briefly experiences a wildly different San Francisco is an amazing scene. And all this complexity is expressed in completely unfussy, easy-to-read writing. ‘The Man in the High Castle’ is one of the great SF classics. Read it – and if you’ve already done so, then read it again!
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-06 07:29:51.
(Language: English)
Whoa!! I have never been so engrossed in any other novel as this. PKD is undoubtedly a genius and he takes on a challenging task of weaving an alternative history in this masterpiece where America lost WWII and the world is now run by the Nazi's and the Japanese. What is so intriguing about this novel is the amount of characters PKD has in the storyline. I estimate (although I didn't count) at least 400 different characters, each given its own texture. That's a huge cast. The storyline is killswitch-engaging and I found it hard to put down the book. The politics, the economic conditions, the wars that followed, all are described in exquisite detail. I just don't want to ruin the fun for the potential reader but if you want a different twist on today's politics and world history, look no further and pick up this book. (Five stars)
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-10 02:47:43.
(Language: English)
This is the second novel by Dick I've read; the first being Do Androids Dream of Electric sheep. This is one of his earlier success and a Hugo winner. I didn't really care for it as it dealt more with an alternate history and less with the science fiction I love so much. I'm sure it was quite controversial for its time as it takes place in a world where the Axis won WWII. It follows the exploits of several characters. The resolutions of each character arc never fully satisfies. I found myself caring greatly for one character only to have an abrupt ending to his arc. I've started another novel of his from the 60's called Ubik. It's off to a great start and is shaping up to be my favorite PKD novel.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-04 07:22:49.
(Language: English)
My rating is based more on the back story of this novel, which I found much more fascinating than the overall plot. The novel is an alternative take on world history leading up to World War 2 and the aftermath. The back story hinges on what would have happened to the world had Giuseppe Zangara succeeded in assassinating FDR in 1933. In a nutshell, the United States takes an isolationist stance as Germany and Japan begin slicing up Europe and Asia. The Allied forces, without the strength of the American armies, are conquered and the Axis powers then focus their attention on the United States. The US is ultimately conquered by both sides, divided up between the victors, and puppet governments are installed on the remnants. This leaves Germany and Japan as the lone superpowers as they drift into their version of the Cold War and to the brink of nuclear war. Oh, and the Mediterranean Sea has been drained and used for farmland. An incredible story, right? Well, you pick up those pieces intermittently throughout the novel. The bulk of the novel focuses on a few Americans and how they interact with their conquerors. I will give the author some credit: he spent some time on character development. Unfortunately the details of them are so mundane that it is easy to become bored while reading about them. Also, I wonder how the war affected the rationale and ability for critical thought of those conquered. Because several are of the characters rely upon the I Ching (a Chinese divination system) to direct them on important decisions. True, the use of the tool was for plot points but all that comes across is that this is a truly superstitious group of people. This is one of the few books that began as a pleasure to read and ended as an absolute chore. Which is sad because Phillip K. Dick was an amazing sci-fi writer whose works were adapted into the most fantastic and thought-provoking films (Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Minority Report, etc.) But I simply could not get into this book. Such a shame, because I have always been fascinated by examining specific points in history and contemplating "What if...?" If you are interested in alternative history as fiction, check out Harry Turtledove. That is someone who has honed his skill into a true art form.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-21 06:46:06.
(Language: English)
Philip Dick interweaves the characters in this book in ways that don't make sense at first, and that could possibly turn some people off. But once you see the genius of it and how it is all pieced together, you can really appreciate it. It follows the lives of people who are living post WWII, but with the outcome of Axis powers winning the war. The reflection in the book upon the author who writes The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is magnificent as it is the same project that Dick worked on in this book, but only in the opposite direction... this book will boggle your mind. An essential book for anyone studying literature and the creative process of writing.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-02-26 10:19:50.
(Language: English)
Simply put, "The Man in the High Castle" is one of the best novels I've ever read. It mainly takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area during the postwar period, but there's one major catch. The axis powers ended up winning World War II and as a result, they divided up the world (and the US) to their liking. In the novel, there's a man who writes of an alternate Earth, where the allied powers had won the war instead. Ultimately, this novel raises a lot of interesting questions about reality, fakes, and events that shape our history. If you're a Sci-Fi fan, history lover, or you're just looking for a book that'll grab your attention from start to finish, then I highly recommend this PKD classic.
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Christopher posted a review at 2011-04-14 05:56:48.
(Language: English)
thought it was a neat idea, well explained. thought he spent a little too much time working on the intricate details of the customs of both the japanese and germans. Also had a great deal of references to characters whom were never formally introduced and were tough to follow
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-15 04:48:34.
(Language: English)
First I must say that I am a Philip K. Dick fan – for some reason his dystopia meshes with what I envision. Now that that is out, I must say that I loved this book. The writing (especially when dealing with the Asians or Germans) was excellent. You definitely felt the culture of each differing faction. I have read various alternate history books and I have always found them fun. But, this one was intriguing since it had many changes (and many not) to the world as we know it now. I would recommend this as a must read for any science fiction fan.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-01-26 11:11:30.
(Language: English)
Characters are great, plot is definitely K. Dick at his finest, which with him doesn't necessarily MEAN anything. I was left a little puzzled at the end, but not in the frustrated sort of way. Recommended, but not highly.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-23 02:11:30.
(Language: English)
Unsurprisingly, due to both its author and its subject matter, this book has left me with a lot to think about in terms of form and substance (as I result, I am not too confident in the rating I have temporarily assigned to it). I think the thing I like most of PKD's writing is not necessarily what he puts down on the page, but what he does not: fleeting references to other realities and possibilities. This was used here to great effect: the tantalising references to alternative history are combined with the multiple character narratives, the changes in person and the clipped, non-native style of the prose (which in turn has implications) to create a fractured, complex and multi-faceted other world.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-15 09:38:56.
(Language: English)
I'd been looking forward to reading this book for a long time. Far be it for me to tell a published author how to write, but I can say this- I was not impressed. One keeps waiting for things to happen, and they never do. A must-read for the historical value of the book and for anyone looking to familiarise themselves with the works of PKD.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-30 12:28:19.
(Language: English)
Each subsequent Philip K. Dick I read, I can't get this nagging feeling that I'm reading pulp science fiction. Being a fan of alternate history, I was excited to read this book, but the more I read, the less I liked it. I think it was a great (if not common) idea, but it was really underdeveloped and I can't help thinking that if the author had taken more time and expanded it, I would've liked it more. He seemed as if he was skimming over deep water, letting us occasionally catching a glimpse of the depths, but never actually diving in. Perhaps it was because I listened to this book read by a man who seems to think every sentence is an apocalyptic news report, but it seemed like it was made out of melodrama without depth.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-12-04 04:30:40.
(Language: English)
“Then it is in me, too, the psychotic streak. A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power. How long have we known this? Faced this? And – how many of us do know it? Perhaps if you know you are insane then you are not insane. Or you are becoming sane, finally. Waking up. I suppose only a few are aware of all this. Isolated persons here and there. But the broad masses…..what do they think? All these hundreds of thousands in this city, here. Do they imaging that they live in a sane world? Or do they guess, glimpse the truth…?” Imagine how would world look like if Germany and Japan won the Second World War. It is easy to think that a world ruled by Nazis should be awfully different from what we have right now and It is possible to start this kind of argument for almost all important historical events, but don’t you think that these events do not have that much effect on the big picture of what is going on in this world. World has changed a lot during history but main worries and problems of people remained the same. The Man in the High castle is the story of living in a world governed by different super powers, Germany and Japan, but with similar pros and cons of our real world. “Without a woman we’d discuss racing cars and horses and tell dirty jokes; no civilization.”
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-09-22 06:14:45.
(Language: English)
Really loved it up until that ending which came across as rushed.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-17 11:24:22.
(Language: English)
Alternative history from a sci-fi master, wherein America is conquered by Japan in the west and Germany in the east following WWII.If you have never read PKD, this is good intro. I would also suggest "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" or "Radio Free Albemuth" (this one is kind of difficult to find) for first time readers. Better known for film adaptation of his work, e.g., "Bladerunner," "Minority Report," and "Total Recall," "High Castle" is the "poor man's Pynchon" as his best.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-04-11 08:54:53.
(Language: English)
An innovative and exciting read!
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-08 04:09:21.
(Language: English)
What a phenomenal work. If you are interested in reading something that will mess with your mind, then this is definitely it. Dick interweaves two possible realities into his work, the alternative history that his characters live in, and the alternative to alternative history in the form of a book, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy written by the man in the high castle. In Man, Dick tells a multi-person narrative under the hypothesis of a Nazi victory. The Germans rule Europe and New York. The Japanese have the Pacific and much of western U.S. The U.S. has become a trivialized country consisting of the middle states where the citizens read a work of fiction fantasizing about what would happen if the Axis powers had not won. Remarkable imagination and excellent story-telling ability allow Dick to work through his many levels to pull away at everything the reader thinks he knows.
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