What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science fiction and speculative fiction? Which is The Man in the High Castle?
According to Brown (2001), Science fiction puts the focus on the effect of events on individuals. With regard to The Man in the High Castle, he elaborates, ‘Dick has set the stage in a sub-genre of science fiction little explored at the time he wrote the novel, that of the Alternative World’. The book is identified as science fiction and as treading ground on a sub-genre, too.
What does Brown (2001) identify as the central themes and concerns of the novel? What elements conform to the wider generic features of SF?
Beyond the exploration of an alternative world, Brown identifies ‘The terror of implicit evil, the claustrophobic sense of being imprisoned in a world seemingly without hope’ which are feelings embedded in the unknown of science fiction.
According to Mountfort (2006), what role does the I Ching have as an organisational device in the structure of High Castle? How does the use of this device illuminate the character of the novel’s protagonists?
Mountfort (2006) explains the I Ching serves as the meta-narrative for the story. The consultations with the I Ching guide each character such that their actions affect (though they never meet) other characters the Ching manoeuvres as a plot device. ‘‘I’ve used it to develop the direction of a novel’ – Philip K. Dick on the I Ching’
‘Dick regarded the I Ching itself as having in a sense written High Castle.’
What does Dick (1995) himself theorize about the I Ching?
Dick’s (1995) claim of its wide usage, e.g. ‘John Cage, the composer, uses it to derive chord progressions.’ has me concluding the ‘I Ching’ as an object outside of the story is metaphorical; readily substituted by whatever token one feels comfortable with. Dick appears to rationalize the I Ching as an outlet for schizophrenic behaviour.
The concept of synchronicity is examined, wherein coincidence occurs via a shared meaning instead of cause.
‘If... they... ask for a cab so they can visit their good friend the pope, a garbage truck will run into the taxi, and if, after getting out of the hospital... another taxi is called and they try one more time, another garbage truck will appear and ram them again. They know this. They’ve had it happen. (Dick, 1995)
Synchronicity has been going on all the time; it’s only news to us that such coincidences can happen.’
Among the users listed are physicists, who ‘...use it to plot the behaviour of subatomic particles’ (Dick, 1995) suggesting, in theme with coincidence and possibility, a relation to quantum physics.
The benefits in using an ‘I Ching’ professed are reminiscent of Socratic dialogue; where questioning can help prompt critical thinking to help practitioners understand, cope, or find meaning in coincidences.
Dick invites readers to experiment with the I Ching; ‘If you’re totally schizophrenic now, by all means use the I Ching for everything ...If you’re partially schizophrenic... use it for some situations – but sparingly... If you’re not schizophrenic at all... kindly use the book a very, measured little ... Use the book as a sort of (ugh) fun thing.’ (Dick 1995) Dick suggests use of the I Ching can give focus to Schizophrenics whose thinking process is disrupted.
Interesting comments - especially the last one which is developed in more detail. You only need to respond to two discussion questions weekly - which is preferable as the onus then is on a more indepth discussion. In the first response - a definition of speculative fiction would have been useful and it wasn't particularly clear why you view tMitHC as 'science-fiction'. Also an important point is that Dick consulted the i-ching as a device for writing tMitHC in the same way that his characters did. Don't forget page numbers fro direct quotes . . .
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