This is my new thing, reviewing books via journal entries instead of full reviews.  I think I’ll still do full reviews when I’m inspired, but I’ve been moving into something of a more graphic mode lately.

Here’s my notes for Philip K. Dick’s The Penultimate Truth

1. Lacking a central character with a conflict; it was difficult to keep interested.
2. Far from the author’s best work.
3. The resulting novel just highlighted his shortcomings.

To save humanity from disaster, move them to safety in a series of underground bunkers.  If the disaster never comes, just keep humanity safely locked away.

While reading this book I kept thinking of all the people over the years who have complained about Philip K. Dick, the various reasons they dislike him.  This is the first book of his that I’ve read that really matches their description of his writing.  It was like reading a catalogue of his flaws.