The Man in the High Castle

Philip K Dick

Expectations are always high when reading the master of modern sci-fi. Unfortunately, this book didn't do anything for me. It is an alternate history, set in San Francisco in the 60's after the Axis victory in WWII. San Francisco is part of the Pacific States of America, a territory of Japan. The East is controlled by Germany, with the Rocky Mountain states in a semi-autonomous buffer zone. Germany has all the technology (they control hydrogen bombs, travel to Mars and offer 45 minute flights from Munich to San Francisco on their rockets). We are following several intertwined characters without any of them really rising to the role of protagonist. A dealer in American antiquities, a closeted Jew who makes fake American antiquities, Japanese trade minister, German special forces officers, etc. Throughout, Dick is painting a picture of what life might be like in this world. The novelty is in the introduction of the man of the title. He has written a book that is itself an alternate history that describes life in a world that the Allies win WWII. So alternate - alternate history. Clever. But clever in and of itself does not make an engaging book.

Skip