Time Out of Joint
by Philip K. Dick
List Price:
Our Price: $10.47
You Save: $4.48 (30%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.20 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Philip K. DickEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-05-14
ISBN: 037571927X
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Vintage
Book Reviews of Time Out of Joint
Book Review: A good PKD introduction
Summary: 4 Stars
It's unfortunate that the blurbs on the backs of the Vintage editions are so spoilerrific, because the narrative hangs on a significant surprise. In fact, after browsing through my local bookstore, I've discovered that these chunks of info are more like synopses, rather than something enticing or mysterious.
The story stands well enough, even when you already know what the mystery is (thanks, Vintage!), and it's a fascinating look at PKD before he began his long slide into metaphysical paranoia. The characters aren't particularly interesting, to the point where it's difficult to distinguish who is who, but this is not surprising given the era in which the novel came out. It's still leagues above its pulp brethren, and it's a nice companion to what Alfred Bester was doing around the same time. If you're looking for heart-stoppingly weird PKD, you'll be disappointed. But it's a compelling read with increasing tension. The climax is a bit of a letdown, and the story is hurt overall by other books and films that have explored similar territory in the decades since.
Despite its flaws, I believe its overall quality is still head and shoulders above the hack work that clogs the shelves these days. It's a political piece, and one that explores the weaknesses of our perceptions, rather than hinging itself on gee-whiz technology or exotic planets.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.92
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Counter-Clock Worldby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 2002-11-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Simulacraby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 2002-05-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.74
Price in other shops:
A Writer's Referenceby Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers
Bedford/St. Martin's; Published: 2010-10-25; Plastic Comb; Book
Best price: $44.00
Martian Time-Slipby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 1995-05-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.41
Price in other shops:
Confessions of a Crap Artistby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 1992-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.77
Price in other shops:
The Penultimate Truth: A Novelby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 2004; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.74
Price in other shops:
The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s (American Century Series)by David Farber
Hill and Wang; Published: 1994-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Meridianby Alice Walker
Harcourt; Published: 2003-05-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.93
Price in other shops:
The Man in the High Castleby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 1992-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.52
Price in other shops:
A Maze of Deathby Philip K. Dick
Vintage; Published: 1994-05-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: