Amazon Pilot and Modern Adaptation Better than the book?

[Meri]

What do folks think about The Man in the High Castle and it's upcoming Amazon Prime series? I read the book after watching the pilot...aside from the premise and the name of some characters, I actually liked the Amazon pilot a lot better than the book.

[Gerd]

Never actually made it through that book, which probably speaks in favour of the Amazon series. :)

[Tim]

I ended up watching The Man in The High Castle and I didn't care for it. I fell asleep many times, but watched all 10 episodes. I didn't like it. It was too dramatic for me. The concept is too weird for me to watch. Much like the book, it was mellow dramatic. I kept falling asleep.

For some reason the symbol of the Swastika always bothered me and I can see some group watch this show over and over of their pea brain hatred for others.

Yeah, I actually didn't liked this one at all.

The book was enough for my imagination.

[David]

I saw the pilot and then had to read the book. I was surprised that the book was not as good as I expected. It seemed a bit slow and got bogged down in small details about jewellery and metal objects of Americana, and Mr Tagomi's thoughts, and did not ever explain the significance of the Grasshopper Lies Heavy. It started to get exciting at the end, but ended too quick without resolving things.
The Amazon Prime TV series, of which I have seen 3 episodes so far, is already much more interesting and exciting.
Maybe the book was great for 1962-audiences, but for today's audience, the Amazon Prime series is more like what people will want to see.
I am enjoying the TV series far more than the book, but I am also glad that I read the book first.

[Cybertraveller]

I started the series after reading the book. They have absolutely nothing in common. The book is an in-depth review of individual thoughts and cultural interaction in a post-war world dominated by Germany and Japan. The series does not use the same characters, invents new ones, completely changes the plot, is dark and dramatic, has no depth of character etc...
In short, difficult to compare, it is probably best to judge each on its own merits. Not sure I like the book, not sure I like the series either...

[April]

I attempted the pilot episode, but I gave up on the series because the progression of events didn't seem believable, and the actors had little chemistry with each other. A week later, I read the short novel. As Cybertraveller said, the program is nothing like the novel---laughably different. Of the two, I found the novel to be superior, but it was a definitely a slow read. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it used PKD's signature stream-of-consciousness style to develop certain characters. The end got interesting, but ended abruptly.

[Cybertraveller]

April wrote: "I attempted the pilot episode, but I gave up on the series because the progression of events didn't seem believable, and the actors had little chemistry with each other. A week later, I read the sh..."
I just finished the whole series and having read the book twice now (once in Italian and once in English) I am still searching for the deeper message behind the book. This is my suggestion: We can be happy the Germans did not win the war and this book may be a reminder not to forget this. It can show each of us, how precious our freedom is and how often we tend to forget that over the last 2000 years, there has never be so much freedom for the "common man". We can speak freely, read, must not be afraid of denunciation, no oppression or coercion by state or church, a working judiciary system, freedom of movement etc.... This is fairly new to most countries in Europe. As a reminder the dictatorship of Franco in Spain, Salazar in Portugal is only a generation away. Interesting is the cultural difference (in both the book and movie) between Japan and US culture, showing the refinement of japanese culture and probably a message to be open to other cultures and to heed ostracism. After this book we are reminded that we live in free countries, and must thank the soldiers again who have fought for this freedom. And to those who criticize the system we live in, a reminder how much more difficult is to maintain a working democracy than to organise a dictatorship. When we look at political campaigns today, most politicians and voters seem to have forgotten how valuable the cause of feedom is. It may serve as a reminder that it is not employment or taxes or healthcare, but ultimately freedom and democracy which we need to preserve at all cost.

[April]

Like you, I'm not sure what PKD's message was (might not have been one even), so finding something in the book that spoke to you on a personal level is sufficient in my book.

I was most struck by each character's attempt to define what she or he wanted to accomplish. Most of their goals, subsequent actions, and happiness or disappointment revolved around each person's unique perception of how to be successful---the age-old struggle we all share.

[Gerd]

Watched the first two ep's now, so far I like the series. I see why it's been compared to Fatherland.
I'm surprised at the high production value of the Amazon Serieses - or maybe I just have low expectations from watching to many SyFy productions. I did expect more SF content though, but this far it easily holds my interest, which is more than PKD managed in his book (it happens for me with some of his work).

[Tom]

Cybertraveller wrote: "I started the series after reading the book. They have absolutely nothing in common. The book is an in-depth review of individual thoughts and cultural interaction in a post-war world dominated by ..."

I don't think this is true. The book and series share the same essential setting, at least some of the characters and some situations. (view spoiler)[They both take place in a United States occupied by the Axis Powers. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is a book in the novel and a set of films in the series. At least 4 characters that I can think of - Juliana, Frank (who for some reason isn't Jewish but only has Jewish ancestors in the series, and Juliana and Frank are estranged in the novel), Mr. Tagomi and Mr. Childan all appear in both the book and series. And without going too far into it, Childan's dinner with the wealthy Japanese couple and Mr. Tagomi's meditation are in both the film and the book. (hide spoiler)] So I'd say they aren't totally unconnected. I'd also add I'm not saying they're attached at the hip either - it's a pretty free form adaptation of the novel, but one in which the source material is recognizable.

As for an overall message - I think it's that we might be closer to the Nazis than we think. (view spoiler)[ The US is not above using questionable methods in the pursuit of power - as in the placement of American Indians and Japanese Americans into reservations/concentration camps. The Germans had Jewish registries and there are calls for Muslim registries here in the US. Also, this might be in the series only, but the Germans dropped the bomb on Washington DC ending the war, whereas the US dropped two on Japan to end WWII. (I know in the series, Tagomi's assistant is from Nagasaki and he describes it a bit toward the end of season one.) If I recall correctly, in the book, slavery has been reestablished in the Southern US during the Nazi occupation. I think there's a certain contingent in the US that would love to see that happen here. (hide spoiler)] So a cautionary tale perhaps.

[Maciej]

In my opinion - the Amazon series and the book are 2 completely different things. The series is a nice spy movie, the book focuses on something different, but they share some characters and plots.
But what disappoints me mostly, is the fact that the series lacks the I-ching "component" (one of more important topics in the book)

P.S. Now, after I watched the whole season 1, I must admit, I nearly missed (view spoiler)[the "enlightenment" of Julianna scene. It's just a single sentence in the episode. Comparing to Mr Tagomi ending - it's almost absent (hide spoiler)]. This didn't happen when I first read the book (for me the book absolutely wins!)

[Carina]

I'd seen the trailers for the Amazon series which prompted me to read the book. Yesterday I marathoned the series and must admit was hoping to find a topic on the two.

I think I agree with Maciej - the book and the show are rather different entities.

As other commentators have pointed out the show clearly retains some elements of the book (some of the named characters, a couple of events and locations, and the title) but has certainly adapted the overall premise into, what I found to be, something far more accessible.

The book really wasn't my cup of tea (and I might be wrong in this but I doubt a lot of modern readers would like it) - it feels dated somehow in a way other books from that time period don't. The show on the other hand is very modern - and if it gets people to consider the 'what if' scenario then well done to the show.