Le maître du haut château

by Philip K. Dick

French language

ISBN:: 978-2-290-15726-8

(4 reviews)

The Man in the High Castle is an alternate history novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. Published and set in 1962, the novel takes place fifteen years after a different end to World War II, and depicts intrigues between the victorious Axis Powers—primarily, Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany—as they rule over the Southern and Western United States. The Man in the High Castle won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1963. Reported inspirations include Ward Moore's alternate Civil War history, Bring the Jubilee (1953), classic World War II histories and the I Ching (referred to in the novel). There is a "novel within the novel", an alternate history within the alternate history where the Allies defeat the Axis (though in a manner distinct from the real-life events of the war). In 2015, the book was adapted as a multi-season TV series, with Dick's daughter, Isa Dick Hackett, as …

59 editions

jonn reviewed The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

An important book riddled with nuclear guilt

4 stars

It descends into psychosis, just as the other Philip K. Dick book I have read, which is alright, but not really my cup of tea.

The reason I give it four stars, not less, is that Westerners should really read it for a small glance of what it feels to live under occupation.

My biggest problem with the book is how glorified Japanese are in it. Of course, at no point we can see narrator's opinion on them, we only read the thoughts of people living under Japanese occupation, brainwashed and prone to rebellious outbursts, but I can't help but to observe the fact that the European holocaust is mentioned a lot, but the equivalent which has happened in Asia at the hands of Japanese is swept under the rug. It almost feels like the author doesn't want to touch this subject.

This quote about nazis, however, saves the book: …

It descends into psychosis, just as the other Philip K. Dick book I have read, which is alright, but not really my cup of tea.

The reason I give it four stars, not less, is that Westerners should really read it for a small glance of what it feels to live under occupation.

This quote about nazis, however, saves the book:

They are overcome by some archetype; their egos have expanded psychotically so that they cannot tell where they begin and the godhead leaves off. It is not hubris, not pride; it is inflation of the ego to its ultimate—confusion between him who worships and that which is worshiped. Man has not eaten God; God has eaten man.

And it is all so familiar as we see the events of the modern world unfold.

d10c4n3@bookwyrm.gatti.ninja reviewed L'uomo nell'alto castello by Philip K. Dick

Potere della propaganda e percezione

5 stars

Secondo romanzo ucronico che leggo in cui gli stati uniti sono governati da nazisti. Dati i tempi.

Thomas Neubauer (books) reviewed The Man in the High Castle/Das Orakel vom Berge by Philip K. Dick

Faszinierende alternative Realität mit eher schwacher Handlung

4 stars

Was wäre wenn Deutschland und Japan den zweiten Weltkrieg gewonnen hätten und danach die USA und die Welt unter sich aufgeteilt hätten? Dieses Gedankenspiel ist Grundlage des Buchs. Die Handlung spielt im Westen der USA und in der Bufferzone zwischen Japan und Deutschland, daher spielt sich auch der Großteil des Buches hier ab. Die konkreten weltpolitischen Folgen des Sieges der Nazis werden meist nur in kurzen Nebensätzen skizziert. Doch diese haben es in sich und lassen einen schaudern. Etwa was Deutschland nach Ende des Krieges mit dem gesamten afrikanischen Kontinent anstellt. Sehr interessant fand ich auch wie Nazi-Deutschland "innenpolitisch" dargestellt wird, wo sich wie in einem autoritären System üblich, die verschiedenen Institutionen selbst zu bekämpfen scheinen. Die konkrete Handlung des Buches mit den amerikanischen und japanischen Helden des Buchs fand ich eher schwach. Zu oft verliert sich die Erzählung im klein-klein und in Handlungssträngen die nicht ganz nachvollziehbar sind.

Rudi reviewed The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'The man in the high castle' on 'Goodreads'

No rating

Jeg har ikke sett TV-serien (enda), og jeg visste ikke at den var basert på ei bok før jeg så den i en bruktbutikk. Boka forteller (den kontrafaktiske) historien om da Tyskland og Japan vant andre verdenskrig, og vi følger en gjeng ulike personligheter i USA - som nå er delt mellom Tyskland og Japan. Ett aspekt ved boka er skildringa av denne alternative virkeligheten, og det er unektelig spennende å få et innblikk i hva som kunne ha vært. Men boka bruker overraskende lite tid på dette, og fokuserer heller på dramatikken i livet til et knippe figurer som er mer indirekte knyttet til storpolitikken. Og det fungerer bra. Ellers: Jeg likte godt hvordan "boka-i-boka" blir utforska, men er ikke særlig imponert av orakel-opplegget.