Time Out of Joint - Philip K. Dick Book Review

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Review Summary
This is an older PKD work written in '59 but well worth a read today. It sets up the the theme of Man vs. Reality which became prevelant throughout all his subsequent writings. Interesting to note is how closely the film the Truman Show borrows the concepts from this novel. "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, it doesn't go away" Phillip K. Dick. strider, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Time Out of Joint

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Robots, Computers, VR Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets: - virtual reality

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can see into the future
Eccentric: Yes - emotionally unstable
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status: - government investigator
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can change shapes - mind reading - mind control - can see into the future
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century - 19th century - general past - distant future
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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