Dr. Bloodmoney, Part 1

I find it interesting that this novel had a different approach to the characters in the novel. We don't just follow one character, we get to see a few different characters perspectives on the bomb. It seems as though instead of focusing on governmental control of the people playing a major theme, in this story it's more about basic fundamentals of survival. With everyone competing with each other, it reminds me of that TV show "The Colony". 

The thing that is most intriguing to me is to find out who Edie's father is. She seems to not be George Keller's daughter, so I'm wondering if she is Andrew Gill's daughter. She also believes that her twin brother is living inside her. At first I thought she just had a very creative imagination, but it'll be interesting to have some more information. Hopefully that is coming soon. 

PKD still amazes me with the different characters he comes up with. Some of them seem to have a common theme though. Edie, Dr. Bluthgeld and Richard Kongrosian all have mental disabilities it would seem. But even though Kongrosian had a condition, he had similar powers as Hoppy. Hoppy is using his abilities to work at the mechanic shop and Kongrosian uses his to play the piano. 

Simulacra: Part 2

I will admit that I did get a bit confused at first jumping around from story to story, but once action started happening and certain events went into play I feel that the story moved very quickly. I think that the simulacra and the von Lesseringer time machine were just government ploys to be able to control and deceive the people of the USEA. I also found it interesting that the government in the novel was trying to perfect Nazi ideology. I mean, look how well that worked for the Nazis. Plus the only thing the Nazis were truly interested in was total eradication of the Jewish race and gaining power. I also wonder why they government felt the need to use two fakes to be the faces of the "legal system". Since the der Alte was a simulacra, is the government able to control it easily to it's will? I mean how do they make sure all goes the way the government wants it to? I'm pretty sure the government had to see that eventually someone would tell the whole world about the der Alte being a fake as well as Nicole.

From Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? there is a question: What does it mean to be human? I think the book itself attempts to explain its answer to that question and does a good job of doing so. In The Simulacra though, are we (humans) the dominant species on earth and should we continue to be? I think the book was trying to show a possibility of what could happen. Similar to when the novel's government would look at several events to see possible outcomes. I think the book was trying to show that while we are the dominant species, it was unsure whether we would continue to be. They were just starting what seemed to be their 4th World War. Plus the government was very corrupt and it their lies came back to bite them in the end. In the novel, it seemed that the second second was also answered. Survivors of the radiation and those born with deformities (chuppers) were recognized as Neanderthals. Almost like mankind was starting over - being reborn. My personal answers to those would be: in our real society, I think we are the dominant species and I don't think that will be changing anytime soon. I'm very doubtful that anything will come along to take the human race's spot as the dominant species.

But overall, I did enjoy the book. It had me on the edge of my seat needing to find out what was going to happen next.

Simulacra Chs. 1-8 & Minority Report

Some typical PKD elements that I've noticed in both are government control, some sort of destruction that leads to apocalypse, androids or other simulated things that are supposed to be human-like, and he has a fascination with life in space and living on other planets. Mystery seems to also be a big PKD element. 

What did I think of the story? With the Simulacra, I was a little bit confused. But I think I'm starting to get it. I found it intriguing that there's a First Lady and she's in charge. I'm wondering if she's a Simulacra because she doesn't age. 

With Minority Report, I had actually seen the movie before reading the novel. I had to remember not to compare them both to each other because they are two different things. Everyone in the novel seemed to be doing stuff only to benefit themselves. The idea of Precrime was interesting, trying to stop it before it could actually happen. As well as the precogs being able to "see" the future granted that minds did not change. Once you get to the end, it was really easy to see that the government and the Army is trying to control the minds of the citizens. PKD really does have some interesting ideas when it comes to "future" technology. 

Stories of PKD

It's interesting to see how a lot of PKD's stories have fear and mystery that are common throughout the stories. Many of his stories, he drops you into it without any background information. He gives you the information you need to know throughout the story from characters, but you don't learn any more than he wants you to know. Mystery scares not only the characters in his stories, but also the reader. Because humans like to know what is going on and not being in control scares people. If we cannot control what is going on, we don't know what will happen. This creates mystery that surrounds the characters who in turn also fear mystery.

I love that all of PKD's ideas are original/so creative. I really wonder where he comes up with his ideas: a man with superhuman powers & is gold from head to toe; a story written from a dog's perspective, bounty hunters looking for androids or humans with superhuman abilities (deviants). I never thought I would like Science Fiction so much, but I have found that I really do enjoy it!!