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Product Description
Review
‘An entertaining and disturbing read’
Sunday Times
‘As full of muscle, teeth and flashing surprises as an alligator pool’
Brian Aldiss
‘A fine parable, grippingly written’
Tribune
‘A great philosophical writer’
Independent
Book Description
A masterly tale of political deception from the most significant writer of SF in the 20th century.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ok, so this is the 5th in the series of SF Masterworks I have read in as many weeks. I cannot, so far, recommend this list enough, having started on 'I am Legend', to 'Do androids dream', 'The Forever War' and 'Time out of Joint'. So far, I have been blown away by them all, but this story has really got to me.
The other review here will tell you about the story. I don't need to repeat that. But really, I was quite unsettled by this book (which is a good thing!!!).
There was no easy solution. The story was full of twists, conspiracies and points where I actually thought about what I would do if I were faced with the same choices.
For those of us growing up in the 80's with all the propaganda about what to do in the event of a nuclear war (what were those cartoons all about?) the harsh reality of what could happen, combined with the politics and greed behind it all, is all dealt with, and in a way that seems, even today, totally believable (if you can excuse all the time travel stuff!).
Not an easy read to start with, but one you will find immensely satisfying, even if all you do is remember the total insignificance of war.
The other review here will tell you about the story. I don't need to repeat that. But really, I was quite unsettled by this book (which is a good thing!!!).
There was no easy solution. The story was full of twists, conspiracies and points where I actually thought about what I would do if I were faced with the same choices.
For those of us growing up in the 80's with all the propaganda about what to do in the event of a nuclear war (what were those cartoons all about?) the harsh reality of what could happen, combined with the politics and greed behind it all, is all dealt with, and in a way that seems, even today, totally believable (if you can excuse all the time travel stuff!).
Not an easy read to start with, but one you will find immensely satisfying, even if all you do is remember the total insignificance of war.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Whilst the description may give the impression of a Matrix-style awakening and eventual hostility, The Penultimate Truth is rather a decent examination of propaganda and its methods. The book runs parallel stories of the man who discovers said truth and the political (and ethical) wrangling that the people maintaining the lie experience.
SPOILERS***************
Nicholas St. James is the President of the underground tank, the Tom Mix, which manufactures components vital to the perceived war effort. However, when their chief mechanic becomes ill he is chosen (through dubious methods) to go topside to find an artificial pancreas. What he discovers is what the reader already knows - that the war is in fact over.
Of the two stories, though, the liars' is more convincing and entertaining. Memorable characters such as the ancient, overweight and artiforg-enhanced Stanton Brose as the true world dominus add an aspect of ghastliness - he can only understand people when he can see their lips move.
As the alternative protaganist, Joseph Adams is the speech-writer with whom the people underground connect to albeit through the lies of a simulacrum called Talbot Yancy - what they think is their leader. Along with the 'Yance-men', Adams preserves the lie until all is disrupted by a young, genius speech-writer called David Lantano.
It is here, in the middle third that a murder mystery is thrown in and really starts finding its feet. Unfortunately as with many Philip K. Dick books the end feels rushed (e.g. Flow My Tears..., ) and whilst a conclusion is necessary perhaps it shouldn't have needed such an ending as was written. Perhaps a little more dystopian maybe...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A book that, for me, just didn't reach it's potential! A great story that starts really well and then gets bogged down in a conspiracy story that doesn't really add much to the overall tale. I wanted to know much more about the plight of the tankers, the feelings of the con-apt dwellers and the guilt of the elite.
Like other books in this genre that haven't quite satisfied, this book skims over some of the things that I find so interesting - the nature of human survival against terrible conditions. The lead characters are possibly too numerous to really learn about their deeper feelings and so the book never quite gets to the core of the issues.
I did enjoy the book and it was a story that kept me interested but again it was a book that just didn't quite make it to the brilliance that Dick could have achieved.
Like other books in this genre that haven't quite satisfied, this book skims over some of the things that I find so interesting - the nature of human survival against terrible conditions. The lead characters are possibly too numerous to really learn about their deeper feelings and so the book never quite gets to the core of the issues.
I did enjoy the book and it was a story that kept me interested but again it was a book that just didn't quite make it to the brilliance that Dick could have achieved.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another Fine Novel by The Great PKD
"World War III is raging - or so the millions of people crammed in their underground tanks believe. For fiteen years, subterranean humanity has been fed on daily broadcasts of a... Read more
Published 14 months ago by M. D. Jenkins
Enjoyable read!
This was the second book i read from sf masterworks and i chose this over others because i really liked the premise. The story doesnt dissapoint and overall its a great read. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by M. Shaw
A *very* hard read.
I gave up after about 30 pages, the story was getting interesting but it's very very hard work. Almost every sentence is of the form: 'Jack said, quietly, not that he meant to - he... Read more
Published on 16 April 2009 by N. Wilkinson
Good but not his best
This is PK Dick treading his usual themes:
what is reality?
how can you tell what is real?
are the people around me real?
am i real?
etc etc. Read more
what is reality?
how can you tell what is real?
are the people around me real?
am i real?
etc etc. Read more
Published on 1 April 2008 by Johnny London
Sci-Fi??
Not being a great reader of sci-fi Philip K Dick is an author that I do read. What he writes is so much more than mainstream sci-fi, raising both metaphysical and philosophical... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2008 by M. Dowden
Straightforward book on propaganda, lies and stupidity
Ph. Dick entagles us straightforwardly in intrigues, propaganda and human stupidity. This author appears to be quite pessimistic about our capability to think for ourselves - not... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2008 by Rupf Peter
Theres something great about this book
I'm begining to be quite a big fan of Philip K. Dick, but I think this is probably one of, if not the, best I've read so far. Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2007 by Andrew
A post-apocalyptic detective story
The story is set in North America, which is now part of an alliance known as Wes-Dem, following a nuclear war with the USSR-based Pac-Peop group of countries. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2007 by Dr. Andrew Phillips
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