Our Friends from Frolix 8 - Philip K. Dick Book Review

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Philip K. Dick Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR: David Loftus

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Review Summaries

"It's 2135, and Earth is ruled by a coalition of 6,000 "New Men" (mutants with hugely increased brain capabilities) and 4,000 "Unusuals" (individuals of more normal intellection but ESP powers). Nick Appleton, a humble tire regroover (he carves new treads in old used tires so they can be resold), hopes his son Bobby will test high enough to qualify for training as a New Man. Willis Gram, Council Chairman of the Extraordinary Committee for Public Safety, oversees the control of society, but also worries about his messy divorce proceedings and the potential return of Thors Provoni, a rebel who escaped Sol System in an old space ship many years ago in search of more intelligent life. As Nick and Willis chart a collision course over the nature of their society (including their mutual attraction to a canny gutter waif named "Charley"/Charlotte), Provoni approaches Earth accompanied by a Frolixan--a 90-ton gelatinous mass of protoplasmic slime from Frolix 8 that can transform itself into any shape or object, whether inanimate or internal organ, and has unknown, possibly unimaginable, powers. This 1970 novel is one of Dick's stronger efforts."
David Loftus, 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 - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
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: - controls your mind
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - blue collar worker
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric - emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - medium future 22-24th century
Spaceship setting: - one or two man fighter/scoutship
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

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

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