Vulcan's Hammer - Philip K. Dick Book Review

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Review Summaries

"A world government has finally been achieved, after many years of warring and turmoil, earth is united under the governing force of Unity, the worldwide governing system. Unity is not all that it's cracked up to be however; under the surface plots and counterplots seeth. The directors of the 11 regions that now make up the united Earth government are constantly jockeying for position, while those in the lower ranks vie to make the step up to the directorships. Over it all is the Managing Director; the only link of communication between the government of Unity and its real decision-maker, the massive computer Vulcan 3. Are the wranglings and subterfuge that wrack the government of Unity just "human nature" or are they result of an even more sinister plot from an unguessed direction?"
Robert Hadley, Resident Philip K. Dick Scholar

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Overall Review

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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 - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Robots, Computers, VR Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets: - fighting bad computer AI
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Computer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Setting
Terrain - Domed/Underground City
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
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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