The Man in the High Castle (1962) By Philip K. Dick

 

Alternative History is a distinct genre in literature. Perhaps the best known of the novels in its canon is Philip Dick’s The Man in the High Castle. Written in 1962, the novel supposed a “what if” take on World War II, one where the Axis forces were victorious over the Allied armies.

Another novel in this genre is Shattered Nation by Jeffrey Brooks which presents a different ending to the American Civil War. While these novels are works of fiction, they cause one to realize that current events have consequences, it’s best to pay attention to them. Never is that warning more dire than now, 2026.

Dick’s novel begins by massively undoing American history with a very big “what if.”  What if Franklin D. Roosevelt died by assassination in 1933, shortly after being sworn in to the first of what was four terms as President. How would that impact the Great Depression, the implementation of the New Deal, the entry and outcome of World War II, and a myriad of other events?

This alternative history changes the dynamics of many major events – starting with an economically crippling task of rebuilding a U.S. Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The aftermath of appeasement of Hitler and Mussolini by European powers and a continued isolationist policy by the United States government.

To imagine the results of this changed history, the west coast of America has become a Japanese ruled colony, the east coast becomes a German ruled colony, and the Rocky Mountain States of the former US have been basically ignored, becoming of a no man’s land, ostensibly governed by German appointees. Churchill is portrayed as a doddering old man, the Soviet leaders of the era are neutered, and Africa is being razed for farm land. Tensions remain however because while Germany and Japan are victorious allies, Germany is the undisputed technical and military heavy weight, with missions to Mars taking place; while Japan plays the cooperative junior partner, though is clearly resentful, playing the long game.

Hitler had died soon after the end of the war, now his heir Martin Bormann has also died. As this story begins, the battle of succession takes place.

Dick tells his complicated story through a few rebellious characters operating in the San Francisco and Denver areas, outnumbered but growing. These rebels are fans of a banned book titled The Grass Hopper Lies Heavy, written by Hawthorne Abendsen, a professor and author safely hiding away in the High Castle in the Rocky Mountains. Abendsen’s book tells an alternative history, one where the Allies won the war, and the Axis lost.

There are lots of subtracts in this book about the practices of I Ching, the Book of Changes, which was trendy when Dick authored the book.

Recommendation: Yes.