science fiction

The Man Who Japed - Philip K. Dick Book Review

Enter a review
of your own!
Other books by
author Philip K. Dick

"The Man Who Japed"
Message Board
Philip K. Dick Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR: David Loftus

SCHOLARS:
Scott David Mclemore  Robert Hadley  Harriet Klausner  Sam Batterson  Jason Seward  M Gandy  Alexander Babiera  Jesi Bornemann  Future Boy  
Would you like to be a scholar and make five dollars per review? Click here to submit a review!

Click here for free online dating advice!

Review Summary
In the year 2114, Allen Purcell heads his own private research agency in Newer York. Ever since the late 20th century revolution headed by Major Jules Streiter, society has been run by the principles of "Morec" (Moral Reclamation). Most of Allen's work supports Telemedia, the government agency that controls all media communications, according to Morec. When the director of Telemedia announces his retirement, Allen is tapped as the replacement, but Allen has discovered gaps in his memory and evidence that he has been "japing" (which in his industry's terms means parodying, or making fun of a stale theme) some of the pillars of his society, such as Streiter and Telemedia itself. He may be turning into a "noose" (neuro-psychiatric case), so he seeks treatment while trying to keep it a secret from his new bosses. This is one of Dick's simpler but better early novels, first published in 1956.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Allen Purcell is comfortably placed in a strict, humourless, bland, extremely moralistic society. Everything seems to be going his way; a long-term lease, the head of a successful company, a promotion in the works. Deep in his subconcious, however, a sense of humour is struggling to break free.
Robert Hadley, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of The Man Who Japed
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.

New movie search (click here) New book search (click here)
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%




Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Repressive society story Yes
Repressive because: - strict rationing of freedoms/goods
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - business executive
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain - Domed/Underground City
Earth setting: - medium future 22-24th century
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a contemporary society
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to The Man Who Japed
Soon by Jerry Jenkins
Degranon by Duane Simolke
My Petition For More Space by John Hersey
In Gaia's Tears by Natalie Le Gendre
A State of Disobedience by Tom Kratman




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Try our new Star Wars & Star Trek puzzle pictures! Click here

Advertise with us
Feedback
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith plot spoilers
Hobbits
The politics game
The lawyer game

3 Movie search options!
1) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
2) Detailed movie search
(click here)
or

3) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion


Games:
Trivia Masters!

Rescue your favorite
scifi characters from
slavery!


Talk to your favorite
scifi characters!


Eating New Yorkers
Computer Game


Pomeranians

Most recent TV & Movie discussions:

The Borrowers: The Borrowers 5/11/2008 10:53:57 PM

Xena: 37 reasons why Xena and Gabrielle are... you know.... 5/11/2008 7:02:04 PM

Star Trek Voyager: Did B'nana find her labor pains to be erotic? 5/11/2008 6:55:09 PM

A Boy and His Dog: A Boy and His Dog 5/8/2008 8:17:30 PM

Blade Runner: Blade Runner 5/6/2008 12:23:07 PM

The Space Explorers: The Space Explorers 5/6/2008 10:16:13 AM

2010: Exactly why was 2010 a lame movie? 5/4/2008 10:19:38 PM

Star Trek Classic: "Mark of Gideon"--A pitch for family planning 5/4/2008 10:15:47 PM

Star Trek Classic: Star Trek's dim view of earth-hugging hippies 5/4/2008 10:10:06 PM

Star Trek Classic: Nancy Crater a bisexual monster? 5/4/2008 10:02:29 PM


Newest slaves:
Galadriel 11:57:52 AM
Hercules 11:57:26 AM
Heather Locklear (Melrose Place) 11:57:21 AM
Bo Derek 11:56:56 AM
Reese Witherspoon 11:56:42 AM
Heather Graham 11:56:31 AM
Rebecca DeMornay 11:56:20 AM
Gabrielle 11:55:52 AM
Catherine Zeta Jones 11:55:44 AM
George Peppard (Hannibal Smith A Team) 11:55:25 AM
All slaves
(click here)


Celebrity interviews:
President George W. Bush 6:32:00 PM
Jan-Michael Vincent 2:16:51 PM
Captain Kathryn Janeway 3:47:46 PM
Jack ONeill (Richard Dean Anderson) 1:39:22 PM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 5:01:07 PM
All celebrities
(click here)