The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick (4.5)
As a fan of PKD, this is a re-read for me. I enjoyed it
even more than the first time, not surprising, as this is one of his most
accessible stories. Based on an alternative past in which the Axis powers won
WWII and divided the Allied forces between them. Japan rules the western US and
Germany has much of Europe and Africa. Written in 1962, it has many post-WWII anger
scenarios such as the Germans targeting and obliterating the Africans in much
the same way they did the Jewish people. Interestingly, the Japanese are
treated as somewhat more gracious winners, though just barely. They covet items
of past Americana and antique shops become popular. As the story unfolds, PKD
dips into the meta-world as it becomes clear that a resistance is forming based
on a book written about an alternate future in which the Allies won! Clever and
thought provoking as usual, this is one of his best.
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