Not much to say about this one, as I didn't really like it. I can't even remember half of it.

via houdinination.com

I jusr added some rudimentary information with relevant links to extensive resources. And a new cover by Eyke Volkmer for the short story collection "Die Kobaltblume" (The Seeds of Time).

I really like books that challenge your sense of reality and normality, that make you think about different viewpoints. And obviously I like people with psi-powers and slime moulds from Ganymede.

Well, I think it's true, anyway.
Get this shirt at 18,40 EUR only (+ shipment).

"One of the most theologically probing of all of Dick's books" it says in the blurb. That may well be true.

I'm not so firm, theologically, but there sure are a lot of refences in the book, be it in the form of direct quotes or the "appearance" of people connected to the theme.

If you, as a reader, wanted to be on par with the author on this book, you would need to research 13 people and their life and works, including jazz musician Herbie Mann or the writings of St. Paul.

Some, like Malcom X or James Pike are obvious (wiki some of the names, if you like), but the similarity of the character "Harold Agee" to the real "James Agee", one of the most influential film critics in the America of the 1940ies, who was a close friend to the Episcopal priest Father "James Harold Flye" are less so.

They might even be coincidences.

Given Dick's attention to detail, I doubt it. And then there is "Herb Caen", who could be the influential columnist of the same name and one "Michael Harrinton", who may well be the real "Edward Michael Harrington", a socialist, writer and political activist, born in the same year as Dick and who attended the same university even ...

Yes, it was fun doing this little bit of research. It's enlightening. In some shape or form.

Further on in my quest to read all 162 "Weltraum Taschenbücher" (being disracted by the pile of books by Philip K. Dick and some by Buckminster Fuller ...).

Here is one by James Blish from 1957 dealing with humans colonizing the planets of our universe not by means of adapting the planets, but the people ...

I'm slowly starting to hate these covers created by Heidi North. What does this have to do with the story? Nothing. It's just one of those computer generated heads that she seems to like so much and grabbed from another designer.

Do I really have to buy all those books by Philip K. Dick again, just to have them with a nice design?

The book itself is probably the most weird and unconnected piece of writing I read by PKD. It seems pieced together ... hang on, it is! Published as "The Unteleported Man" as a part one and then there is a long and winding road for the extension material to travel until it was finally integrated ...

Not the best PKD, more like the worst I read so far.

Maybe one of the nicest covers (by Eyke Volkmer) for any of Arthur C. Clarke's books.

I have to admit, though, that the story about 17 year old Roy Malcolm arguing his way into a space station (by winning a television quiz show and turning the small print against the producers) and experiencing a set of adventures is of the "teenage" variety (the 1960ies version). It makes a relaxing read, though.

Now here is a nice example of a book with two alternate covers, one done in the sixties (as pictured) and one in the seventies. It is also one of the very few occasions where I like the "remake" by Fred-Jürgen Rogner better than the original by Eyke Volkmer, whose name I keep mentioning.

The story itself is slighty Asimov-ian in tone, with robots (The Humanoids) protecting their human masters from harm. Any harm, that is. No bike riding, no smoking, no drinking and best: no thinking ...