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O Homem do Castelo Alto, 1
177 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
4 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,989 books22.7k followersPhilip Kindred Dick was a prolific American science fiction author whose work has had a lasting impact on literature, cinema, and popular culture. Known for his imaginative narratives and profound philosophical themes, Dick explored the nature of reality, the boundaries of human identity, and the impact of technology and authoritarianism on society. His stories often blurred the line between the real and the artificial, challenging readers to question their perceptions and beliefs.
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 26, 2016
O NAZISMO VENCEU! Finalizo semana com o último doce de aniversário e o segundo livro do ano! Até agora 2016 com bola cheia!! Livro de ficção, drama que nos leva a um mundo não desejável, sombrio. Philip K. Dick me fez viver realidades paralelas. O mundo criado pelo famosa expressão do "E se..." a Alemanha e o Japão fossem os vencedores da Segunda Guerra mundial... Mostra o cotidiano de como seria 18 anos pós guerra. E ao mesmo tempo rola, paralelamente dentro da história, um livro que conta o inverso: como seria o mundo se os aliados fossem vencedores. Pontos fortes são os diálogos, as diferenças culturais, o ponto de vista sobre o que é justiça (é claro a inexistência de direitos humanos), a vergonha e as condutas para conviver com a inferioridade social, a necessidade de se resgatar uma identidade, além das eternas questões de gênero. A África num ostracismo pior, os EUA repartido, o mundo dividido entre japas e alemães sob uma guerra fria. A Lufthansa como principal empresa aérea, colonização do espaço. Há também a predominância do misticismo chinês sobre a tomada de decisões das pessoas...um verdadeiro caldeirão. São vários personagens cujas histórias entrelaçam - se. O final me lembrou matrix, é intrigante, um pouco desconcertante, já até li que era pra ter continuação, mas não foi possível. Descobri que foi filmada uma série por Ridley Scott pelo Amazon prime... Não está disponível para o Brasil
February 10, 2022
A book merging several parallel stories that seem to be connected somehow. But in the end the final does not close the story. Left me with mixed feelings. I liked the story but disliked the fact that it does not have a proper end.
June 16, 2014
Gostei de ler. Muito criativo. Recomendo.
August 9, 2019
3,75*
October 22, 2019
Um mundo bem construído, mas se torna um tanto desconcertante, não espere um final bonitinho.
August 26, 2014
Livro muito difícil de encontrar, o meu último recurso foi a biblioteca da minha cidade, e com certeza valeu a pena. O extensivo currículo do autor antecipa a sua brilhante narrativa e construção de mundos fictícios. A história começa partindo do ponto de vista de cada uma das personagens, todas elas de extracto social e raça diferentes neste mundo alternativo em que Alemães e Japoneses vencem a segunda guerra mundial subjugando os Estados Unidos e o resto do mundo ao seu domínio. Todas as atrocidades feitas pela Alemanha nazi continuam a acontecer, sendo "aceites" pela maioria da sociedade pois nada podem fazer contra isso, existindo no entanto uma revolta latente, silenciosa. Ao longo da história o caminho das personagens começa a cruzar-se sendo que todas elas têm um ponto em comum, o livro "O gafanhoto pousa com força" escrito por um homem misterioso que se refugia numa fortaleza conhecida como Castelo Alto. Este é um livro proibido pois descreve um mundo alternativo em que as Forças Aliadas ganhariam a guerra, e todos os líderes nazis pereceriam.
É muito interessante ver todas as pequenas coisas que se tornaram diferentes neste mundo alternativo desde os diferentes valores éticos e o choque cultural até á adopção de uma nova religião influenciada pelo povo nipónico, muito bem construída pelo autor, o qual é de louvar pela excelente atenção ao pormenor. Este I volume termina num ponto de viragem, por isso, o final ainda me aguarda.
É muito interessante ver todas as pequenas coisas que se tornaram diferentes neste mundo alternativo desde os diferentes valores éticos e o choque cultural até á adopção de uma nova religião influenciada pelo povo nipónico, muito bem construída pelo autor, o qual é de louvar pela excelente atenção ao pormenor. Este I volume termina num ponto de viragem, por isso, o final ainda me aguarda.
February 27, 2015
Conceito interessante mas ainda não parece ter uma história concreta
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews