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Author Philip K. Dick booklist (click here)

Book Review By Alexander Babiera
Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick

When reading this book, you feel as if there is no plot and things are just going round and round without much care shown to the development of an actual plot. But this book is much more than that. Its about emotion, religion, sex and beliefs. Its about how people cope with the world they are given. Even though Jason Taverner is supposedly listed as the main character, I feel much more empathic towards Felix Buckman who loses his wife/sister and needs some form of human contact. The impulsivity of human emotion is described in a heartwarming scence where Felix pulls up to a gas station and hugs a black man. So if you are in the mood for a bizarre tale of lost identity and gained emotions, read this book. (You might not like the part about the mind-and-space altering drug, I didn't! I felt that maybe Philip K. Dick wasn't trying hard enough in explaining Jason's predicament.)


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Repressive society story Yes
Repressive because:
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's
If magical mental powers: - is very quick - healing

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Eccentric: Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century -
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
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