The Man in the High Castle

Available as Kindle.

Positives: As with most PDK books, the background / backstory is actually more interesting than the plot and storyline. This one is steeped in understanding the intricate nature of the European and Asian cultural differences. Very SF in that the book explores how those cultures come into conflict, and what would happen if someone (presumably the Americas) did not intercede. Hero is female (different for 1963 SF). The insight is on a cultural basis, and accurate; history is often dependent on the larger than life leaders in the short term, and on cultural evolutions in the long term which individuals influence in small degrees.

Negatives: Like a lot of calssic SF novels of the early sixties, too many characters, and none of them fully developed, especially the protoagonist, and the association of characters as cultures is overly grandiose. As such the drama is in the clash of perspectives, and it is difficult to really care about the individuals. As such the characters are stereotypes, which are charactures in relation to each other. None adapts, and none really evolves. Thus the plot itself ends without any real insight into the human situation.

Conclusion: Highly speculative alternative history needs a point. Dick makes the point well. The backstory is the real story, not the plot, which is disappointing. The insights into culture through stereotypes turns out flat. Style is distinctive, and thus classic for that reason. Characters are one dimensional, which misses the opportunity to really understand history as personal impact. Overall more hype than delivery.