In Counter-Clock World, one of the most theologically probing of all of Dick’s books, the world has entered the Hobart Phase–a v...
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Jan 08, 2012
Bron
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What a strange, dark world Philip Dick has conjured up here. Time is running backwards, the dead come back to life but it doesn't seem to be the joyful experience you might expect. Instead, the "old-borns" all seem be haunted by their memories of lying in their graves, the mind awake before the body can move. Another strangeness is that although this world has sentient robots, flying cars and advanced communications, they still have coal fires in their homes. In some ways, this is m
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Jan 21, 2011
Daniel
rated it: 
This is one of the strangest stories I have read, set in a world where time has reversed itself and the dead are coming back to life, books are being unwritten, food is no longer ingested but disgorged, and in general, as the title of the book suggests the world has started to move counter-clockwise. The real impact of this story however is in the philosophical and theological issues addressed by the characters, and the profound impact that mass resurrection has had on religious doctrine.
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Apr 02, 2011
John
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The book follows a few characters and develops them as they deal with living in the Hobbart phase- an era where time moves backwards rather than forwards (imagine the entire world become benjamin buttons--though I haven't even seen that movie, it seems like the premise). The particles of those who are dead reassemble, causing the resurrection of some individuals. So far, the resurrected dead have given only partial accounts of what death is like, but the rebirth of the Anarch Peak seems liable
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Jan 06, 2011
Jenny
rated it: 
So, this is what classic SF looks like. Sorry, but I can't see why Dick made it so big. His characters are laughably false -- particularly the women. I'd be insulted if it wasn't so ridiculous. As for the plot: almost as laughable. As for the whole idea behind the story: this is worth 2 stars.
Time has reversed, meaning the dead are rising, living their lives over and disappearing into the nearest available womb. When a dead guru begins to stir it seems everyone is interested in his r More...
Time has reversed, meaning the dead are rising, living their lives over and disappearing into the nearest available womb. When a dead guru begins to stir it seems everyone is interested in his r More...
Dec 29, 2011
James
rated it:
This wasn't bad for a short, quick read. Obviously it wasn't Dick's finest hour, but I do give him props for exploring ideas that no other author at the time even bothered exploring. However, it doesn't seem like his ideas were always well-executed, which was the case with Counter-Clock World. The idea of time reversing itself was what drew me into the book, but it didn't live up to its expectations. It sounded intriguing, yes, but I just felt that Dick didn't take advantage of the potential he
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Sep 15, 2011
Per Hoffmann
rated it:
This is not the strangest story from PKD, (you should read Lies, Inc. - now that is weird).
This story includes or rather is based on the short-story "Your appointment will be yesterday" written 1965.
Imho this is a typical PKD book, lots of tension between the characters, sporadic mentioning of drugs and sex without being explicit. And in the end you don't really know what happened, and for what reason. The journey is the reward.
The main focus is that More...
This story includes or rather is based on the short-story "Your appointment will be yesterday" written 1965.
Imho this is a typical PKD book, lots of tension between the characters, sporadic mentioning of drugs and sex without being explicit. And in the end you don't really know what happened, and for what reason. The journey is the reward.
The main focus is that More...
Jul 27, 2011
Darran
rated it:
Philip K. Dick gets a lot of respect from writers and critics from both inside and outside the Science Fiction establishment. This is the fourth book by him I have read and I am still astonished by what a bad writer he is. He has interesting ideas, and The Man In The High Castle was a good novel, but his prose is Dan Brown bad and his characterization is less subtle and three dimensional than The Bold And The Beautiful, or any bad soap opera you care to mention. I have enjoyed the film adaptatio
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Nov 27, 2010
Mike
rated it:
Yet another PKD novel which, despite the fact that his strange universe makes little logical sense and fails to obey its own rules, still captivates you to the point where you simply do not care about any of that: it simply becomes another way for the characters to question their own sense of reality, of existence, and what they want. In that sense it kept me intrigued from page one, and continued to do so all the way through to the (unusually sad for PKD) ending. Any complaints against the nove
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Nov 01, 2011
Geoffrey
rated it: 
I do not like the way Philip K. Dick writes his novels. He expects my undivided attention. The slightest disturbance from his story will totally throw me off course -at any given point. What's more, is that this book isn't even written for that purpose. He's not trying to confuse me, he just didn't consider whether or not I could understand. I am way more important than Dick!
In this novel he is basically trying to create a world that is going backwards, except he can't invent it in a w More...
In this novel he is basically trying to create a world that is going backwards, except he can't invent it in a w More...
Oct 09, 2011
Daniel
rated it:
I wouldn't read this book unless you're like me and read about 2-3 Philip K. Dick novels a year. Many of its parts are great examples of PKD's style, but it doesn't come together as an enjoyable novel.
His world-building and theology spinning skills are clearly demonstrated. He tells a story about time going backwards as a fulfillment of the end-time prophecies. Reading about people vomiting food up into well formed dishes or desmoking cigarettes never once burst the magic bubble o More...
His world-building and theology spinning skills are clearly demonstrated. He tells a story about time going backwards as a fulfillment of the end-time prophecies. Reading about people vomiting food up into well formed dishes or desmoking cigarettes never once burst the magic bubble o More...
Oct 09, 2011
Manuel
rated it:
The concept is simple, time has reversed and people instead of getting older, they get younger from the moment they return to life until they get conceived. It is a bit confusing, but this is the main issue of the whole book.
Few authors manage a credible story with different time lines, or time travel. Philip is not one of those. Time is reversed, but the plot is quite normal except on those quirks the author likes to point out, like people do not eat, they disgorge food... They then use so More...
Few authors manage a credible story with different time lines, or time travel. Philip is not one of those. Time is reversed, but the plot is quite normal except on those quirks the author likes to point out, like people do not eat, they disgorge food... They then use so More...
Nov 17, 2009
Mister
rated it:
This is the first Philip K. Dick book I've read in a while. True to his style, the book is trippy as hell.
The basic premise of the book is that time has been reversed. People unsmoke cigarettes, excrete whole food, and grow younger until they become unborn. The backwards nature of this, while appearing comical, also allows for a critique of modern society. Even in a world where time runs backwards, peoples actions there that may seem non-senical bear clear resemblence to actions More...
The basic premise of the book is that time has been reversed. People unsmoke cigarettes, excrete whole food, and grow younger until they become unborn. The backwards nature of this, while appearing comical, also allows for a critique of modern society. Even in a world where time runs backwards, peoples actions there that may seem non-senical bear clear resemblence to actions More...
Nov 01, 2010
Manny
rated it:
.good pretty is Memento Nolan's .screen the on best works it think I ,though Really .this do to way interesting more much a clearly it's but ,Arrow Time's Amis's of fan huge a not I'm .drink and food for Similarly .discard then you cigarette a into unsmoke you which air smoky of packs large buy you ,cigarettes buy don't you example for so ,time backward and forward of mixture incoherent of sort a there's that is problem The .novel successful most Dick's isn't really this but ,while a for amusing
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Jan 14, 2009
Jeff
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I've always enjoyed the treatment of time in sci-fi books, especially time travel stories. This isn't quite the same, but it's very interesting seeing PKD's treatment of what things would be like if time suddenly started going backwards. The weird thing is, while many physical things seem to be going in reverse, "history" as such keeps moving forward, sorta. The main thing that kept kind of bothering me while reading it was that I kept getting distracted wondering how things really
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Aug 21, 2011
Josh
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Just as every other person on the planet as mentioned, Counter-Clock World is not part of Dick's prime, and not the place to start with him. However, the book is by all means entertaining, and stays relatively coherent for the entirety of the novel. The "Hobart Phase" is disappointingly ignored, leaving much to the imagination, with its only addition to the novel is as an excuse for Anarch Peak returning to life to be sold to the highest bidder. Counter-Clock World also does not have a
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Oct 03, 2009
Ed
rated it:
For Dick fans only.
Like even the best of Dick, this has leaden dialogue and flat characters.
Like even the worst of Dick, this has interesting ideas, plot twists and reversals, and puts characters in interesting situations.
The central principle, that the dead come back and age backwards -- disgorging food instead of eating it, un-smoking cigarettes, etc., -- is preposterous. But it does lead to some interesting new insults, such as mouth-hole!
If yo More...
Like even the best of Dick, this has leaden dialogue and flat characters.
Like even the worst of Dick, this has interesting ideas, plot twists and reversals, and puts characters in interesting situations.
The central principle, that the dead come back and age backwards -- disgorging food instead of eating it, un-smoking cigarettes, etc., -- is preposterous. But it does lead to some interesting new insults, such as mouth-hole!
If yo More...
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Oct 21, 2010
Mad Dog
rated it:
Easy read that is not very time consuming. OK, most of the book is an easy read. Some of the philosophical/religious parts are hard for me to follow. I am a Dick fan that is probably missing the finer points of what he is trying to convey. I think he is telling us that we operate on a lot of false perceptions (like Hermes thinking he hates Ann Fisher when he really loves her and he is scared of his feelings for her). I think he is trying to appeal to us that we are all alike (Anarch Peak stating
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Aug 20, 2010
David
rated it:
Right from the get-go, this book snags your attention and doesn't let go.
However, in addition to the artistic merits of the novel itself, it is the typical mastery of Philip K. Dick again on his mark. In this case, it is his way of drawing you into this world he has created without giving you much detail to understand the whole scenario. Only giving enough information to make you want to put the pieces together, or rather to figure out what direction he is taking you.
In ' More...
However, in addition to the artistic merits of the novel itself, it is the typical mastery of Philip K. Dick again on his mark. In this case, it is his way of drawing you into this world he has created without giving you much detail to understand the whole scenario. Only giving enough information to make you want to put the pieces together, or rather to figure out what direction he is taking you.
In ' More...
Aug 20, 2010
Derek
rated it:
Every Philip K. Dick novel I've read has left the nagging feeling of being screwed around with at some level. The book is some kind of drug trip, or its plot and premise got inside my head, or that I'm on the outside of some elaborate joke. Most of the time I can't tell which.
The premise of the Hobart Phase--time running backward--is so jaw-droppingly preposterous that one must applaud, especially the way that it is presented. The characters' behavior runs forward, but their biolo More...
The premise of the Hobart Phase--time running backward--is so jaw-droppingly preposterous that one must applaud, especially the way that it is presented. The characters' behavior runs forward, but their biolo More...
Aug 11, 2009
Ben
rated it:
While I've been meaning to read more by Philip K. Dick, Counter-Clock World is worth skipping. It's a mildly-interesting premise lengthened into an uninteresting novel. In fact, the premise is pretty much the only part of the book I enjoyed (and only because of suspension of disbelief). I can't say I cared for either the plot or the characters.
The Hobart Phase that causes everyone to live their lives in reverse is somewhat unlikely, but whatever; I'll roll with it for the sake of More...
The Hobart Phase that causes everyone to live their lives in reverse is somewhat unlikely, but whatever; I'll roll with it for the sake of More...
Jul 23, 2010
Scott
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I enjoyed this book as a break between more serious nonfiction works. Here Dick describes the dystopia of a world where time spins backward due to being in the "Hobart Phase." He has an interesting problem in this narrative; physical processes work backward (people clean the air by "unsmoking" cigarettes, people regurgitate their food, place it in refrigerators and take it back to stores, etc.) but large societal organizations must force history backward. Libraries exists to
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Dec 25, 2008
Andy
rated it:
This is a fun little thriller to read, but leaves a lot of potential sitting wastefully on the table. In this book, some aspects of time have been moving in reverse; most significantly, the dead have been coming back to life and becoming younger and younger. A major religious figure is expected to revive soon, and a struggle emerges over control of his second influence on history.
The plot is exciting and very action-packed, which drives the reader on through. But things are not draw More...
The plot is exciting and very action-packed, which drives the reader on through. But things are not draw More...
Mar 01, 2008
Jack
rated it:
Actually kind of a crappy story, but the idea is fantastic: a world in which time is moving backwards. People begin their lives buried in cemeteries and have to be dug up before they suffocate. They regurgitate their food and put it back in the refrigerator. Before they get into bed every morning, they use a razor which puts stubble on their faces and legs. People get younger and younger and eventually turn into babies and crawl into their mothers. Nine months later (or earlier) their mothe
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Mar 11, 2009
Sean
rated it:
Whilst certainly deep theologically, I cannot help but feel Dick's obsession with hallucinatory drugs simply ruins the whole thing.
The story was certainly interesting, I'd read fragments in another PKD short story before and I was reminded of what I think is a Heinlein story "what the dead men say". Could have gone further with less theologism and philosophising but for all that the the plot kept me reading.
The story was certainly interesting, I'd read fragments in another PKD short story before and I was reminded of what I think is a Heinlein story "what the dead men say". Could have gone further with less theologism and philosophising but for all that the the plot kept me reading.
Dec 26, 2011
Sean
rated it:
Another strange world from PKD. In this one, time has reversed. The recently dead are returning to life, and everyone is getting younger. A religious leader is about to re-animate, and various groups are after him. Much pondering of theological matters. Along with people blowing smoke into ever lengthening cigarettes, babies needing wombs to disappear into, and the curse word 'food!' having replaced 'shit!'
Dec 20, 2011
Art
rated it:
It's not often I feel lukewarm about anything by PKD. The main idea of Counter-Clock World is that time has begun to run backwards and dead people are coming back from the grave. A major religious leader is about to be reborn and the social consequences are huge. We meet the police officers, the bureaucrats, and the morgue workers in a future where goodbye has replaced hello and the expression "full of shit" has become "full of food". Dick was always good at making crazy conc
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Aug 08, 2009
Darceylaine
rated it:
Really low 3 - I contemplated giving it a 2. I mean, time starts running backwards so the dead are reborn and you have to eat through your colon and puke up food? Is he in 6th grade?
Also, it's mostly chase scenes and spy counter-spy stuff. It is interlaced with theological tracts, which you might think would be my way in, but it's pretty unremarkable theology. What saves the book is the protagonist, who is so very human.
Also, it's mostly chase scenes and spy counter-spy stuff. It is interlaced with theological tracts, which you might think would be my way in, but it's pretty unremarkable theology. What saves the book is the protagonist, who is so very human.
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May 31, 2010
This is not one of Dick's better works, I don't think. It's not bad, there are just a lot of poop jokes (because time - and biological processes - run backwards, see?) and I'm not sure what the point is. Or there's too much setup and then the point bits are sort of thrown in. One of the two. The point is not very convincing, anyway.
Mar 02, 2010
Aris
rated it:
Another solid effort by Dick. The oddest thing about this book is that it everything is so normal, until you really try and wrap your head around someone un-smoking a cigarette. In that moment, you realize that Dick has left so much unsaid, for you to get lost in on your own time.
Sep 25, 2009
Morgan
rated it:
Sort of reminded me of The Simulacra, though it's been too long since I've read that one to be able to say why it reminded me of it. Some really great theological/philosophical debates, though.
Plus: Hobart Phase. How much of a genius do you have to be to think that up? Awesome.
But poor Joe Tinbane! Why did he have to die!
Plus: Hobart Phase. How much of a genius do you have to be to think that up? Awesome.
But poor Joe Tinbane! Why did he have to die!
