Book Review: The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick

 

I'm back on the Hugo Awards as I complete a reading prompt for my local bookstore's reading challenge.  This prompt was for a Classic.  While The Man in the High Castle might not come to mind as rapidly as Pride and Prejudice, it is most assuredly a classic of Sci-Fi. 

  Frankly, I am learning I'm not a big fan of early Sci-Fi.  It's really a strange mash up of male insecurity, weird obsessions and a heavy dose of the times in which the writers were living.  These guys were inventive, but it's clear their imagination didn't go as far as I originally thought.  Even with Space Travel as a part of the novel, the entire imagining of space travel was pretty nebulous. And I suppose that's fair, given that travel on airplanes itself was generally priced for only the wealthy and business class at that time.  I can see that imagining a future where cargo was carried all over the place without a blink of an eye wasn't top of mind.  It is always interesting to see how we imagine the future world.  In Dick's case, it's one where Germany can colonize Mars, but secret info is still passed on by Photostat.  Since currently, we can not colonize Mars, but have well outgrown a photostat, the juxtaposition is jarring. 

    I didn't love this book, but I also did not hate it.  Readers follow several main characters who are all pieces of literary art. We have:

 I could likely write a post about the motivations, emotions and representations of all the characters. But, I'm not that kind of book reviewer!  What I found interesting, was that the characters didn't all come together in one defining moment. Instead they all seem to share in common a loss of identity and a seeking for meaning in life. They are all passionate, but- they aren't finding satisfying outlets for their passion. 

Juliana was a fascinating character- at once shallow- concerned about wardrobe, getting a nice meal or hotel, and on another level, literally murderous when protecting people- who are really representatives of ideals she holds dear. She definitely doesn't totally understand her own actions.

The shared passion and seeking is what unites the characters, even though some of them never interact at all. 

  There is no Hero's arc here.  PKD leaves us all sort of feeling drained and fizzled out there at then end, wondering what the point of these semi-intersecting stories was.  I think Dick maybe meant for us to sit and stew in that for a bit.  I definitely have been thinking about the book in the days since I finished it. 

I'm not sure the whole story works for me, but the characters he created are amazing and worth the read.

STATS

First Published  1962

Pages: 240

Available as an Audio Book : ~9 hrs 

Trigger Warnings:  violence, racism, weird I-ching consultations, murder, sexism

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

 

Book Review: Morsel By Carter Keane

  WOW!  Just WoW!

What if there was a monster in the woods, but the only way to conquer this monster was to embrace it wholly, and completely?   This is where we find ourselves with Morsel. 

  Carter Keane is a new author to me, and Morsel  is their debut novella. 

This does not read like a debut.  It was one part polished writing, and one part gritty reality, all rolled into one delicious novella.  it's an excellent way for readers who are interested in horror to dip a toe in without committing to something more involved.  Readers will get a story that feels relatable on various levels, the grisly gore of horror, as well as a surprisingly satisfying ending. 

So honestly, Carter Keane, I was prepare to not like this.  Appalachian/mountain horror is considered "hot" right now - especially on Tik Tok where videos of deserted towns and haunted hollows are hugely popular. I enjoy those videos also, but with a bit of reservation, as I grew up in the world of "hollers" and valleys and some deep dark woods. And the place is a wild, weird and wonderful as it is touted to be... but it's also a difficult place to live, and as my own mother said, kinda boring day to day. The videos sort of use the people and places as props to support whatever it is they are selling, and that never quite feels genuine for me. To be 100% honest, things like internet, medical care and even phone service coverage all create unique challenges. Not to mention, your creepy neighbor who is an entertaining character in a book- is an actual real live creepy neighbor!  So I was a bit skeptical as I requested the book. I was wrong! I really enjoyed this fast paced ride through Southern Ohio. 

  This novella was the real deal. I felt the strong feeling of nostalgia hit me square in the face as the cicadas began singing in the first few page and I was hooked.  

I'm gonna try to give a spoiler free summary here: 

Lou is our main character. Lou grew up in poverty but she's done everything "right" found a way to go to college, and got an office job that pays better than what her Mother makes. She isn't a fan of the job, but she's taking care of her mother, and like it or not, there is a corporate ladder to climb. Lou doesn't fit in well, and when she is offered an opportunity to work independently - taking some appraisal photos in a rural part of the state, she's all for it.  Her friend Emma isn't so sure, but Lou wants to support her Mom, and to please her boss. 

    Once she and her trusted dog Ripley,  start on this project, she quickly realizes that something isn't right out here.   She uses all of her skills to try to right this situation, but it becomes more dire and bizarre as time passes.  I had several moments wondering  who was going to be our final girl as the situation devolves from just creepy to downright dangerous. Monsterus creatures are a foot, and no all of them are human. Lou, who has spent a lot of the novel seeking guidance/reassurance that she's doing what's expected of her from every person in her life, finally makes a choice that seems right, and owns her situation, reclaiming herself in the process. 

For me it was delicious. From start to finish. Is this for everyone? Probably not.  Readers who have enjoyed Steven Graham Jones, and CJ Leede will likely find this as satisfying as I did.  It is also perfect for those readers who want to explore the horror genre, but are a bit concerned about their reaction. This does contain some slasher type horror, as well as body horror, but it is also a novella, so if it becomes a problem, it's a short problem! 

Many Thanks  To Macmillan Audio for the advanced Listening copy.  Narrated by Lindsey Dorcus, a smooth reading was provided, with excellent timing and cadence - she was able to switch between snark and serious situations flawlessly.   I fully enjoyed the audio and felt that it was not distracting from the narrative.  

STATS

First Published  4/14/26

Pages: 264

Available as an Audio Book : ~ 7 hrs 

Trigger Warnings:  violence, blood, body injury, body horror, sexism, animal harm, motor vehicle harm, wild animals, angry leadership cult leaders, poverty, death of parent. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

    

Book Review Starship Troopers By Robert Heinlein

 I cannot believe this book won a Hugo award, even taking into consideration the times and political climate when it was written.  

With my theme of outer space, I was pretty sure that heinlein was going to come into play.  I don't know why but I've not really been able to appreciate his work, even when I am taking it with a grain of historical context. 

The original cover, is, however, very nice.  I will say that. 

Starship Troopers- as far as my read goes- is a book written by a man,  about men, and essentially for male readers. 

 

Our Main Man, Johnny Rico enlists in the Army, pretty much by accident, when he comes along for his friends enlistment. He works his way up through boot camp and to officers school, all the while occasionally fighting an alien spider/bug like species.  Johnny's father is inspired to sign up for the military as well, to discover if he's a "real man" and with the added bonus of being awarded voting rights if he completes his term of service. The entire novel really read like the author's experience in the 1950's military with a few space suits thrown in for decor. There are a lot of detailed moral and political messages throughout the book which may have seemed more prescient at the time, but now currently seem quite out of date. 

  With this novel heinlein was credited with creating the Military Sci-fi subgenre.  I honestly just kept waiting for the Science part to appear, because, this story could have been told without space travel and it would have been pretty much the same. my entire face through the whole thing was set in a glum frown.  I read this for a book challenge the prompt was 'A book that had a film made about it", and because I do one day hope to read all the Hugo award winners.  I must say I've now read 3 pre-1970 Hugo award winners and they were all... kinda terrible. I also note my Dad telling me he really had never been able to get into Sci-Fi, and yeah... if Starship Troopers was what was on offer, I totally understand. 

      I should note here, that-  the 1997 film, which was loosely based off the novel- and the novel- are two different animals. The 1997 film is a set up to mock the actual novel for it's gung-ho military stance. 

   Overall - heinlein is known as an innovative writer who was apparently ahead of his time, a nudist, and into some unconventional relationships. For whatever reason, this doesn't translate into Starship Troopers.  I wondered if I had missed a point, but I see that this book was controversial at the time because it was considered to possibly be promoting fascism, and indeed, I suspect it might have been though heinlein would have stated that was not the case. 

The only reason I can see to read this book is if one is interested in the evolution of science fiction over time.  I loathed my time with this book. I felt as if I was in a recruitment propaganda meeting and I honestly didn't like it. 

 

I have looked about and read some interpretations of this work and was hoping that maybe I missed the mark, but no... it seems this was just what he produced. 

Should you read this?  If you are interested in the development of American Science Fiction, yes... Otherwise... please pick something else up- anything else. 

STATS

First Published  11/5/1959

Pages: 264

Available as an Audio Book : Yes (10 hours) 

Trigger Warnings:  violence, sexism, war

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Japanese Gothic By Kylie Lee Baker

 This novel Blew me away!

  I enjoyed Baker's novel Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng. I thought it was well written commentary on the Pandemic (and it's effects on people/populations) at a time when other "Pandemic" books were not yet published or were sort of vague.  But, I am unsure if I REALLY  LOVED it... 

In fact, in part because it was so tied to the Pandemic, I kind of had a visceral reaction to it, which really had nothing to do with the novel, and everything to do with the Pandemic. 

Despite my reaction, I knew Kylie Lee Baker was an author to watch.  So, when Harper Collins/Hanover Square reached out with an e-arc of the book, I jumped at it. Although my eye condition remains - sort of- BAD, I can still read, so I wanted to give it a shot. I just have to kind of go slow.  

  I went into this book entirely blind. (not a pun about my eyes!!)  I had read not one word about the book at all, and I think, honestly that's the way to go with this one!

I LOVED IT with my whole body and soul. 

At this point, I am going to give a bit of synopsis, so, if you are taking my advice to go in blind, you probably should skip the next paragraph and maybe enjoy this image which may or may not be related... If you do read the book you'll come to find this photo from 1877 to be verrrrrrry interesting. 

 

Stillfried & Andersen, Publisher. Samurai or Retainer Kneeling Before Government Official or Daimyo. Japan, ca. 1877. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2009632874/.

   As  a synopsis, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.  Sounds simple enough.  We have all read a few of these time hopping type novels.  But, wait, there's more! 

        Lee is a college student  in 2026. He's sure he's done something horrendous, and illegal, so he flees to his father's new home in Japan. Sen is a Samurai who is in exile with her family in 1877. Sen's father is a Samurai who returned from conflict - but Sen is convinced that it isn't really her father, but some grotesque version of her father. 

        Both Lee and Sen know something is wrong, but neither can exactly pinpoint the problem.  The story alternates between timelines, with Lee and Sen.  Someone is a ghost, and one of the stories is a lie.  Over time, readers will realize that both Lee and Sen are unreliable narrators. Typically I do not like an unreliable narrator, as it usually makes me feel sort of duped or something...  BUT, a lot of the fun and excitement I had while reading the book was the generation of theory after theory about what was really going on, how there was a bridge between two worlds, and why it was occurring so regularly. I came close to drawing a few diagrams. 

Baker weaves a tale around the 1877 in Japan, Modern day current times and the myth of Urashima Taro- a fisherman who saves a turtle and dallies at the bottom of the ocean in the magnificent Ryugo-jo. As he enjoys his under the sea experience, time passes in unusual ways- and for Sen and Lee, time is also passing in unnatural ways. The intersection of these three story lines is crafted seamlessly, and kept me on the edge of my seat- formulating theories right up until the last chapter. 

Ok, OK- If you were skipping the synopsis - you can go back to reading now! 

When I was about 50% through reading the book, I was also approved for the audiobook version! (Thank you Harlequin Audio!)  It is narrated by Natalie Naudus!  Naudus is a real voice professional.  She does not rely on sound effects or large voice changes, but produces tension and emotion just by subtle changes in tone and timbre.  The result is a smooth narration, which made me forget I was even listening- her voice seems to fade away and the story continued to play out in my mind cinematically.  I loved the experience of the audio book, and I recommend it, if you enjoy audiobooks.  It was such a good rendering of the story that I felt I could go between the print book and the audio book with no issues and pick right up where I left off in one or the other! I even did some "immersive" reading with this one.  As the book has a lot of subtle plot points, and I had a lot of theories, it was definitely a great way to experience the novel. 

  This is the kind of horror I love.  There's no specific jump scare moment, but rather, a series of encroaching creepy moments that create that unsettling tension, punctuated with truly horrific moments that made me sit up and take notice! 

STATS

First Published :  4/14/2026

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book :  YES ( ~ 10.2 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: Child death, parental death, mental illness, main character death, body horror, blood, violence, references to racism, stereotyping, and more.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith

  Back to the 2026 reading theme of Outer Space we go! 

   I feel like I've been reading a lot of great Space Opera, but the idea of the theme is to really explore more than just the fiction and fantasy about Outer Space.  Enter:  A City on Mars. 

  This is a fun, snappy book that explores the ideas about Space Settlement in depth. 

   Kelly and Zach are self proclaimed Space nerds with a keen interest in all things "infinity and beyond".  Their enthusiasm for Sp-omes (Space homes)may be unmatched.  They are also a bit pragmatic, and so, if you are dreaming of a Spome, this might not be a book for you.  If you are seriously planning a Spome, this is one you might want to read. 

The authors explore all the ways life on space could work, or couldn't.  They discuss the enormous challenges of food production, waste disposal, Children, and child bearing/rearing in an atmosphere full of radiation and the legal ramifications of permanent settlements on Mars or other planets/asteroids/man made stations.  In addition, they discuss in a fairly nuanced way, why humans are motivated to pursue the idea of a Space Home!  This is all done in easy to understand language without a lot of math or chemistry thrown in to cloud the picture. It's "pop-science" at it's best! 

To be frank, as much as I would love to fall into the fantasy worlds of Deep Space Nine or perhaps The Ice planet Barbarians, I can see from Kelly and Zach's research that this is probably not going to happen in my lifetime.  This is because  (as Kelly and Zach so eloquently note) Space, as a place for humans... kinda sucks. It would require a great deal of planning, new technology, and research to really set up a sustainable Space Home. I really enjoyed reading about the different challenges space settlement faces, and Kelly and Zach's open and apparently non- biased assessment of how ready, or not ready humanity is for the step off world! 

   This would be an excellent book for young adults to old adults interested in space and spomes! It also made me think about how sustainable is my earth home life as well, so an interesting and thought provoking read overall. I feel like this would really be a good read for all those aspiring Sci -Fi writers who create a world on a fictional planet and then after chapter 5 forget that their characters can't breathe without a regulator mask! I do feel that the humor in the book was appreciated, but possibly overdone at times.  There was a lot of snappy one liners, and after the 10th one, I was ready for something just a bit toned down, but- this is a writing style that is popular currently in pop-science, so it seemed to fit the genre just fine. (and honestly, don't let that deter you, it was pretty easy to ignore, just like one ignores the one liners from that one friend...) 

So, if you, like me, have a passing interest in space, and you want to read more non-fiction this year, this one might be one for you!  I'd definitely read it again, though it did kind of crush my Ice planet Barbarian dreams.  Alas! 

STATS

First Published :  7/29/25

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :  YES ( ~ 10 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: Intimate details of space flight (rectal thermometers and more), discussions of sex and reproduction in space (both historical and theoretical), discussions of alcohol in space, references to some unpopular political figures - related to space. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: The Salvage By Anbara Salam

 The Salvage is a hold over from last year's water theme.  

I bought the actual physical book because the blurb was amazing and I LOVE the cover. 

 I mean, look at that cover. 

  The blurb was also amazing. It's 1962.  Marta, a female marine archeologist travels to Cairnroch, a small island off Scotland. She's there to dive a Victorian shipwreck. The ship and it's crew had personal significance to the small community on the island, especially the one family with wealth. Marta is struggling with the wreckage that is her personal life, which is also tied to her employment and thinks that her service in the community can bring her some sort of redemption. 

    Things start off well, but quickly turn a bit sour as odd things start happening, and Marta is not sure if she's seeing things, or if things are really just a bit creepy. Things get even stranger as a record setting cold and snowstorm settle in, at the same time as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ferries and trains aren't running. Fuel is frozen, and Marta has some things she must do to right her personal ship. 

    Salam tells the tale of the winter of 1962-63, but also tells, vaguely, the tale of the Victorian fleet in interspersed chapters. She then deftly ties the situation created up into a bow that still left a reader with some thought provoking questions. 

   The writing is tight and paints a grim, eerie picture of Cairnroch, Marta and the sea. I admit the writing itself paints such a picture, that I did start to feel a bit melancholy while reading the novel. I honestly did not enjoy it as much as I had hoped, but after waiting over 6 months for it on hold on audio at the library, I knew I was going to finish it. I loathed Marta.  She was a sad little hard character who created more drama than needed, but as the book unfolds, I realized that she wasn't the only pot stirrer, and I was glad that things seemed to come to a solid resolution there at the end. 

Do I recommend this novel?  YES - for those who enjoy literary fiction, and historical fiction, as it fits both genres pretty well. If you are primary horror reader, this horror might be too mild for you, are it might tickle your brain as something suspenseful but quite different. Did I enjoy this novel?  Kindof...but also not really. I recognize that it's well constructed, interesting and unique, but I can't say I Had a good time while reading it. I do wish I knew more folks who had read the novel so we could talk about it! 

STATS

First Published :  10/7/25

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book :  YES ( ~ 12 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: violence, death, prejudice, racism, LBGTQIA themes, alcohol use, nudity, references to attempted religious conversion, religious trauma. Historical event references. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: The Fourth Consort By Edward Ashton

   I saw The Fourth Consort on Net Galley and did not request it- as I was 8 ARC's deep at the time, but I really liked the cover, and I had enjoyed Mickey Seven, so I thought this one might be a hit for me. 

It certainly fits the theme of Outer Space- with main themes of the book being Space travel, First Contact, and Aliens.  (Someone has put forth a Love Triangle, but frankly, that's reaching, there is no love triangle that I could find anywhere in this novel. There wasn;t a whole lot of love at all.) 

  I found it via my library's Libby App, and I was sort of surprised that it wasn't several months deep in holds. 

   This book has the most interesting, creative premise.  Our "hero" Dalton has a berth on a ship run by Alien Snails where his job is to go planetside on various planets and make first contact, establishing various agreements with the inhabitants.  He's promised an enormous end salary with benefits, though the job itself is so dangerous he's pretty sure he won't be seeing those benefits. 

    At the start, readers find themselves stranded on an alien world full of an insectoid species, Dalton and his crewmate Nera and an alien known as "The Stickman" (from an opposing force also seeking to establish various agreements with the planet's inhabitants).

Chaos ensues.  (IF you want a spoiler free review, please stop here!) 

Nera retreats to the landing capsule, leaving Dalton and The Stickman to contend with the Insectoid species. Both the Stickman and Dalton seem sure that someone is coming for them, but honestly as the reader, I was suspecting that "no one is coming for you" was going to be part of the plot. 

Dalton finds himself unexpectedly given the dubious honor of becoming the Fourth Consort to the Insectoid leader "First Among Equals"  In this society, things are matriarchal, and Dalton is pitied because he is indeed male. Through a wild series of events, Dalton and The Stickman, establish a fragile friendship of sorts, while Nera- from afar, attempts to dictate things from her point of view. It's definitely an interesting read on how things are interpreted with various amounts of information.  Nera, from her removed perch in the landing pod is more prone to a violent response, while Dalton, who's deep in the city is discovering the nuances of this society, and learning more about the Stickman as well. 

As our story concludes, Dalton is given several choices for his future, and I must admit, I was not expecting his choice at all, though it did delight me.   In some sense, Dalton had been a reactive character, allowing things to happen to him, and in the end his choice allows him to become proactive, but it was so subtle, that I almost missed it. 

    Barrie Kreinik narrated, and really did a fantastic job with several voices, including alien voices.  Nothing was "over the top"  and the narration style kept me listening, so I highly recommend the audiobook. 

My main disappointment is the same one that I had with Mickey 7.  Although I enjoyed the story, I felt like - firstly- Ashton failed to explore the alien cultures deeply. Dalton is made a consort but we never quite fully understand what that entails. I was wildly curious about what that entailed, but most of the book did not actually involve interaction with the consort or the consortee. Nera and breaker are both interesting characters, and even though readers are given backstories on most of the characters, the characters themselves still seem to lack personalities. 

So, while I did enjoy this one, I didn't really LOVE it.  Definitely will be interested in more narration from Barrie Kreinik though! 

STATS

First Published :  2/25/25

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book :  YES ( ~ 8hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: violence, death, death of parent,  death of spouse, interspecies experiences, colonialization (in space),  abandonment, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)