We Can Build You - Philip K. Dick Book Review

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TOP SCHOLAR: David Loftus

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Review Summary

It is 1982. Louis Rosen and Maury Rock are partners in a faltering keyboard factory in Oregon. Maury's 18-year-old daughter Priscilla (who has been hospitalized in the past for schizophrenia), has an idea for the company to create Civil War robots. Their first prototype is an Edwin Stanton, then they make a Lincoln. Seattle millionaire tycoon Sam Barrows shows interest in both the simulacra (as the robots are called) and Pris, but rather than deal he contrives to steal both, which infuriates the narrator, Rosen. Who is sane and who is not becomes increasingly blurred. Dick's 1972 novel starts off focusing on the robots but leaves that interesting ascpect behind for his real interest -- the antagonistic romance between Pris and Rosen, and the nature of mental sanity.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of We Can Build You

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

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Romance Yes
Robots, Computers, VR Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets: - good robot(s)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - small businessman
Age: - 20's-30's
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 - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - a teen
Profession/status: - artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

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

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