I picked this up from a remaindered book table because of the magical name "PKD." And as I am having a big clearout of my books, I decided to "read and release" when I realized that it was one of Dick's lesser known output -- a mainstream novel, and one that was unpublished during his lifetime. Knowing something of Dick's life and career, I know that he yearned, all of this life, to be taken seriously as a writer, and not-so-secretly considered his SF work to be an obstacle to that serious recognition. So I started this novel fearing the worst (just think of Sir Arthur Sullivan, who was ashamed of the wonderful comic operas he wrote with Gilbert, and placed all of his hopes for eternal fame on the tedious, justly forgotten serious operas he wrote ...) --
But I was pleasantly surprised. This might not appeal to anyone who isn't a fan of PKD's SF work (Unless you are fascinated by late 1950s Idaho, and the plight of commercial reps, your reaction might be "huh"?) but "Milton Lumky" had enough of the offbeat Dick style, characterization and attitude that I know and love. As a period piece (again, 1950s Idaho) it's interesting and well done, and the plight of the three main characters, who yearn to find their American Dream, but just keep undermining themselves, is actually quite touching.
And in the end, I was delighted to note -- you just can't keep a good SF writer down! If you read this novel, and find the ending baffling, (trying to avoid spoilers, here) just remember Dick's wonderful alternative history "The Man in the High Castle." Mainstream and "realistic" it might be, but it's still all very Dickian ....
But I was pleasantly surprised. This might not appeal to anyone who isn't a fan of PKD's SF work (Unless you are fascinated by late 1950s Idaho, and the plight of commercial reps, your reaction might be "huh"?) but "Milton Lumky" had enough of the offbeat Dick style, characterization and attitude that I know and love. As a period piece (again, 1950s Idaho) it's interesting and well done, and the plight of the three main characters, who yearn to find their American Dream, but just keep undermining themselves, is actually quite touching.
And in the end, I was delighted to note -- you just can't keep a good SF writer down! If you read this novel, and find the ending baffling, (trying to avoid spoilers, here) just remember Dick's wonderful alternative history "The Man in the High Castle." Mainstream and "realistic" it might be, but it's still all very Dickian ....
