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The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick Book Review

 The Man in the High Castle 

By Philip K. Dick 


Released Year: 1962

Page count: 252 pages

Medium Used: Kindle PW 

Genre : Alternate Reality, Science Fiction, Multiverse. 

Rating 2.5/5 



I didn't understand what this book is trying to convey or suggest. The outcome of world War 2 is altered and the Axis powers(Germany, Japan, Italy) have won instead of the Allied powers ( USA, Britain, Russia). The author writes of the intense atmosphere created in the occupied USA. While Japan has the control over the west, German forces occupy the East. Jews and other Americans live in a state of fear and use assumed personalities. They change their appearances and names to live a life of deception and hiding. The Japanese in power, more than the Germans, suffer from the morality of what they are doing and this leads to some confrontations between the SD of Germany and the Japanese leaders on US soil. 


A man who lives in a isolationist high castle in Colorado has written a highly controversial and banned book where he suggests an alternative reality where thr Allied powers have won. He has written book over the years by consulting a Chinese oracle board I Ching. I didn't understand what the author meant when he said it is the inner truth - the allied powers have really won - towards the end. How can the reality that we see and the one which the I Ching suggests or operates in, be the same? 


I am only giving this a 3 pointer rating because it seemed to be dealing with political intrigues and ideaologies for a major part of the book which I didn't follow.  The idea of writing about an alternative universe is great but I think it is too narrow to limit oneself to USA or the situation of jews and not touch upon Russia or other elements. 

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