Tagged “dystopian”

The second Phillp K Dick I’ve read this year is his alternative-history sci-fi classic.

In this book, Dick protrays an alternate reality where the Axis powers have won the second world war and America is under the rule of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany.

Interestingly, many of the characters use the ancient Chinese text the I Ching for guidance, and there’s also a clever “book within a book” subplot in which the novel The Grasshopper Lies Heavy depicts an alternate history in which the Allied forces prevailed.

Having now read a couple of Philip K. Dick books this year, I’m arriving at the conclusion that while I don’t love his writing style, this is counterbalanced by his creativity and the interesting ideas which stay with you long afterwards.

In my ongoing quest to catch up on books I should have read years ago, I recently finished reading “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” – the book on which Bladerunner was based.

I’m a big Bladerunner fan – and also loved last year’s follow up movie, Bladerunner 2049 – but for me, the book was a mixed bag.

It illuminated some of the parts of the film that in retrospect hadn’t fully sunk in – like why animals (such as Tyrell Corp’s owl) were so important in post-apocalyptic San Fransisco, due to most species being endangered or extinct.

It also went much deeper into the question of whether empathy and similar social emotions were solely human abilities or could be felt by androids too. And I can see now see why this was explored further with lead character Joe in Bladerunner 2049.

On the downside, the techno-religious angle of Mercerism didn’t really work for me – although maybe I didn’t pick up properly on the metaphor. Also, I was kind of disappointed to learn that there actually is an electric sheep in the story! I had always loved the title and thought it was just a really clever reference to counting sheep in your dreams, rather than something so literal. Never mind!

All of the downsides were worth it, however, for the detailed parts about Voight-Kampff empathy tests. I have always loved the ideas and language around this, such as measuring androids for their Blush Response and other signs of empathy when asked questions which would normally elicit a reaction in humans.

All in, I’m glad I read it to gain the additional background to the movies.

I’m now off to watch Bladerunner again.

I really enjoyed this book, recommended to me by Gillian and Tom.

It’s set primarily in New York and tells the stories of a cast of interconnected characters (and their children) linked by the music industry, taking in themes of youth and ageing, loss and regret, insecurity, celebrity and image.

There are some great moments including Rob’s story which called to mind The Talented Mr Ripley; Jules’s unpublished and unhinged newspaper article on the celebrity interview which sent him to jail; and the dystopian final chapter which suggests where the internet and the world of influencers might be headed if we don’t watch out.

I loved author Jennifer Egan’s storytelling, dark humour and also the way she switched her writing style dependent on the era or character.

Recommended!

I’ve just read 1984 by George Orwell. I know, I know… I should have done this a long time ago. Anyway, here’s what I thought.

I remember a copy of 1984 being around the house when I was growing up but for some reason I never got around to reading it. I did, however, see the film when I was young – the “Room 101” scene in particular being unforgettable – and have always known the general plot.

On a recent work trip I realised while in the airport shop that I’d left a book at home so it seemed like as good a time as any to pick up a copy of 1984 and scratch this particular itch.

As a book about a dystopian future, I knew it would be dark, but it was even darker that I imagined. The constant sense of dread was really palpable.

I loved the concepts Orwell created – the Two Minutes Hate, doublethink, Thought Crime, Room 101 to name but a few.

I also loved the language in general and the appendix, The Principles of Newspeak.

And even though it was heart-wrenching and pretty harrowing, I loved the final descent into brainwashing (or “re-education”) and ultimately, betrayal.

This was an amazing book that I loved reading, while not necessarily always being ”enjoyable”.