From the Bookshelf of SpecFic Buddy Reads…

Martian Time-Slip

Philip K. Dick

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion: Group Reads

Discussion leader: DivaDiane SM

Why we're reading this: Group Read SF - February 2020
[close] Group Read SF - February 2020

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The Raven Scholar (Nov) - Full Discussion
By DivaDiane , Our Lady of Perpetual TBR Optimism · 5 posts · 7 views

last updated Nov 15, 2025 11:43PM

The Raven Scholar (Nov) - General Discussion
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last updated Nov 15, 2025 12:26PM

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What Members Thought

Dec 15, 2012 Lyn rated it really liked it

Martian Time Slip by Philip K. Dick, published in 1964, is one of PKDs better books.

Set on Mars, this is largely about Terran colonists taking care of business. Dick provides a snapshot of social, political and economic life on Mars. “Bleekmen” are the long suffering indigenous extra-terrestrial native Martians, cast aside like Native Americans and called the N word by a fat cat union boss.

Carrying on the tradition set by Robert A. Heinlein in Red Planet and Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicl ...more

191 likes · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2020 DivaDiane SM rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, buddy-read-book-club-read

I usually like, no, love PKD stories, but this one made me shake my head so many times. I admit to being pretty disappointed. I have loved nearly everything I’ve read by PKD, but not this one. I find it unbelievably dated. Especially when it concerned mental health or what we now call neurodiversity and even racism and cultural bias. And why didn’t any SF writers from the 50s and 60s anticipate digital?!? I don’t normally fault authors for that, because it’s so widespread.

I didn’t hate it, mind ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Mar 01, 2020 Lindsay rated it it was ok

Shelves: science-fiction

So at this point I need to admit that this is the first of this author's books that I've been able to make my way through. I've attempted a few others, but have always DNFed because of a writing style that I really haven't enjoyed. This one I did with a buddy read group who had interesting comments which spurred me on to finish it.

This is a conception of Mars from 1964, with a breathable atmosphere, local aliens, canals and human colonists. We follow many interesting characters, including applia ...more

9 likes · Like · see review