Vulcan's Hammer

By Philip K. Dick and Dick Philip K.

Book Overview

After the twentieth century's devastating series of wars, the world's governments banded together into one globe-spanning entity, committed to peace at all costs. Ensuring that peace is the Vulcan supercomputer, responsible for all major decisions. But some people don't like being taken out of the equation. And others resent the idea that the Vulcan is taking the place of God. As the world grows ever closer to all-out war, one functionary frantically tries to prevent it. But the Vulcan computer has its own plans, plans that might not include humanity at all.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547572638
• ISBN13: 9780547572635
• Release Date: October 2012
• Publisher: Mariner Books Classics
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Who "is" a Philip K. Dick fan?

Well, it seems to me like this book has a little bit of controversy around it. "Is" it a "true" Philip K. Dick sci-fi masterpiece, or isn't it? I suppose your answer to that question will depend on whether or not you like this book. For me, so far I'm still just dipping my toe into the PKD world. I've read Man in the High Castle, Flow My Tears the Policeman Said, Lies Inc, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and A Scanner Darkly so far. I have to say, I very much enjoyed Vulcan's Hammer. Yes, it's certainly more conventional than some of the others, but I found plenty to like. I especially liked the thematic device that all of the humans were acting like robots (I suppose except the Healers), and the computers were acting more like living organisms. A bit predictable perhaps on some of the story threads, a bit immature perhaps when compared to later works, but still... highly enjoyable, at least to this reader. I have to say, I certainly prefered it to Valis, which I've attempted and given up on. I found that one just a bit too... obfuscatory, I guess. If you can keep an open mind, if you like good classic sci-fi, I think Vulcan's Hammer stands up pretty well. If you liked HAL in 2001, then the Vulcan 3 might have some resonance for you. But if you're expecting the full-on Dickian mind-twist, then this book probably will not live up to your expectations, unless you really dig down into it (and even then, it's not the same). But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. I did, and it certainly encourages me to continue delving the world of all things Dickian.

suspenseful and fun; perhaps not for Philip K. Dick fans

Vulcan's Hammer is a very conventional early science fiction story about the future of the world dominated by a computer. Naturally the humans catch on that this situation has drawbacks, and a rebellion is launched. But with Vulcan's Hammer the computer doesn't take kindly to any encroachment on its reign.Unlike the author's later works there aren't any deep-rooted social commentary with Vulcan's Hammer. And this story is completely readable; I believe many Philip K. Dick fans enjoy deciphering his often unintelligible prose. Best of all the story reads as a suspense novel, with the author deftly placing in twists to keep the reader hooked .. and it worked for me. Bottom line: a fun if somewhat unremarkable read. Recommended.

Man and machine

In the world of `Vulcan's Hammer', humans have apparently given up on their political power. They are under the authority of Vulcan III, a massive underground computer that ended war, unemployment and poverty years ago. Two human factions are set against each other: the Union, led by many high-profile directors including William Barris, and the `Healers', a rebellious group seemingly led by a mysterious figure named Father Fields. Many questions are submitted daily to Vulcan III, but the machine has not yet said a word about the group; people are quick to blame head-director Jason Dill, the only one allowed to submit such questions. In addition to the powerful Vulcan III, there's also the older Vulcan II, which is destroyed but still reveals crucial insights about the Healers and Vulcan III when some of its remains are reconstructed. The `Union versus Healers' opposition can be multiplied by at least three, because there is some discord a) in the Union itself, b) in the Healers movement, and, most interestingly, c) between the machines. Both of the Vulcan computers play as big a role as the humans, and often seem just as `alive' as they are. The entire work can be seen as an ongoing mind game, sometimes between men, sometimes between man and machine, sometimes between the machines themselves; it is a lot more substantial than its dismal reputation would lead the unsuspecting reader to believe.

Vintage PKD; worth searching for

One of the joys of reading PKD is the complexity of his novels. In VULCAN'S HAMMER the world is governed by a super computer that believes it is threatened by earlier versions of itself, (fun stuff here), and feels threatened by an anti-computer movement called "The Healers". There are no cut-and-dry good guys/bad guys in this novel, creating more twists and turns than a roller coaster. Look hard for this one. You won't be disappointed.