The Man in the High Castle

I didn't dislike it, but I also don't feel like I connected with it? I liked the initial structure of it feeling like multiple vignettes that had all connected somewhat to the same book. And while I understand what was happening, I felt like it wasn't quite hitting the right notes for certain characters or even the overall theme. In a lot of ways, it felt like it kept fumbling some of them. (Edit: Upon reflection, it isn't actually true that the stories were woven around the same book because three of the characters never actually engage with the book in any capacity and their stories don't even mention it from the background.)

It was fine. Not my favourite book, but it was okay.

Secondo romanzo ucronico che leggo in cui gli stati uniti sono governati da nazisti. Dati i tempi.

Was wäre wenn Deutschland und Japan den zweiten Weltkrieg gewonnen hätten und danach die USA und die Welt unter sich aufgeteilt hätten? Dieses Gedankenspiel ist Grundlage des Buchs. Die Handlung spielt im Westen der USA und in der Bufferzone zwischen Japan und Deutschland, daher spielt sich auch der Großteil des Buches hier ab. Die konkreten weltpolitischen Folgen des Sieges der Nazis werden meist nur in kurzen Nebensätzen skizziert. Doch diese haben es in sich und lassen einen schaudern. Etwa was Deutschland nach Ende des Krieges mit dem gesamten afrikanischen Kontinent anstellt. Sehr interessant fand ich auch wie Nazi-Deutschland "innenpolitisch" dargestellt wird, wo sich wie in einem autoritären System üblich, die verschiedenen Institutionen selbst zu bekämpfen scheinen. Die konkrete Handlung des Buches mit den amerikanischen und japanischen Helden des Buchs fand ich eher schwach. Zu oft verliert sich die Erzählung im klein-klein und in Handlungssträngen die nicht ganz nachvollziehbar sind.

This was an interesting book, but having read it after watching the TV series makes me feel I did not appreciate it as much. While the setting seemed well crafted, the plot and characters suffered somewhat from my comparisons to the series. There are a few odd quirks (notably the emphasis on the I Ching) and a somewhat weak ending, but other than that it's a decent book.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-man-in-high-castle-by.html

I read this book because I'd seen a couple of episodes of the TV series. Honestly, as usual, the book is better. They took a lot of liberties with the series (only way to stretch a relatively short book that long,) and the characters are sometimes quite different.

This is classic Phillip K. Dick. Dystopian alternative future. It's very conceptual, rather than character-driven, although a couple of the characters are better developed than the rest. Worth a read, for sure.

Very good, intellectually stimulating, and the book's end is great!