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The Simulacra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Cover of first edition (paperback) |
|
| Author | Philip K. Dick |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
| Released | 1964 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| ISBN | NA |
The Simulacra is a 1964 science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick. The novel portrays a future totalitarian society apparently dominated by a matriarch, Nicole Thibodeaux. It revolves around the themes of reality and illusionary beliefs, as do many of Dick's works. Additionally, it touches on Nazi ideology.
Set in the middle of the twenty-first century, The Simulacra is the story of several protagonists within the United States of Europe and America (USEA), formed by the merger of (West) Germany and the United States, where the whole government is a fraud and the President ("Der Alte") is an android. As well as the USEA, other global superpowers are the French Empire, Peoples China and Free (Black) Africa. There is some mention of a World War Three, which may have involved some tactical nuclear weapons, and no mention of a Soviet Union. Society is stratified into Ge (elite) and Be (professional)classes, and there is conspicious consolidation of political and broadcast media power. The Democrat and Republican Parties merged into a single (Democrat-Republican) party, and the United Triadic Network presumably resulted from an amalgamation of NBC, CBS and ABC.
In addition, actual political power has devolved to the First Lady, Nicole Thibodeaux. Although the current 'der Alte,' Rudi Kalbfleisch, is a simulacra/android, Nicole is human (although 'she' died several decades ago, her 'role' has been portrayed by four consecutive actors, and the latest is Kate Rupert). A secretive governing council controls the USEA, although Karp und Sohnen Werk exerts some power, as manufacturers of the simulacra Altes, even if the next simulacra contract will be given to Frauenzimmer Associates. One subplot involves Karp und Sohnen Werk's threatened exposure of what has been a state secret over the last five decades. Nicole dislikes Kalbfleisch, although inbuilt obsolescence means that he is about to suffer an obligatory heart attack and be replaced in his turn.
Against this backdrop Dr. Egon Superb, the sole remaining psychotherapist, is struggling to practice in a world full of the maladjusted. Superb encounters additional difficulties because A.G.Chemie, the leading USEA psycho-pharmaceutical drug cartel, has engineered the prohibition of psychotherapy under the "MacPhearson Act." However, the USEA is willing to let him continue to practice, and treat Richard Kongrosian. Richard Kongrosian refuses to see anyone because he is convinced that his body odor is lethal, and although it is not, he begins to exhibit telekinetic abilities. Nicole Thibodeaux is anxious to keep his abilities under control, as are Wilder Pembroke, head of the National Police, and members of the covert national governance council.
Bertold Goltz (a neofascist) is trying to overthrow the government, and runs the Sons of Job, a religious paramilitary organisation, although he is not what he seems, and is secretly head of the covert USEA governing council. Ian Duncan is desperately in love with the First Lady, whom he has never met. In addition, there is a subplot that involves Charles (Chic) Strikerock, Vince, his brother and a cut-price colonisation spacecraft sales firm involved in Martian colonisation. Mars boasts insectoid life, the sentient and empathic 'papoola', while Ganymede is inhabited by multicellular primitive life forms.
Nothing is as it seems, and the novel ends inconclusively. The Der Alte simulacra has been revealed as an android and Kate/Nicole has been disclosed as an impostor, while the National Police and USEA armed forces are engaged in civil war.
There is a further subplot that involves Reichsmarshall Herman Goering, as the USEA strives to assist Nazi Germany to win the Second World War in an alternate timeline. The USEA and Nazi Germany have troubling similarities - both are one-party states, both have powerful quarrelling police and armed forces factions, and both have authoritarian leaders in place. Of all Dick's work, The Simulacra most resembles his earlier masterpiece, The Man in the High Castle, set in an alternate universe where the Nazi/Japanese Axis did win the Second World War.